Tokyo Weekender - October 2017

EXPERIENCES THAT
LAST A LIFETIME
TEACHING KIDS TO BECOME PART
OF A COMMUNITY OF DIVERSITY
IS ALL IN A DAY’S WORK FOR
AOBA-JAPAN EXTENSION
Aoba-Japan's Expansion (AJE) program,
initially featuring only camps, expanded
in April this year to include
continuing programs. These classes
take place on Saturdays and weekday evenings
and are open to the public. Their popularity has
skyrocketed over the past few months as AJE is
working to meet demand.
AJE's first continuing program, “Action Saturdays,"
began at the school's Waseda campus
this past April. Their plan is to open in two or
more new locations in central Tokyo by April
2018. AJE Director Greg Culos explains further,
“Our Saturday and evening programs are based
on the same philosophies and approaches as our
camp programs. They have proven so successful
that we're expanding rapidly. We realized there
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE
WHO MAY NOT NECESSARILY
WANT THEIR KIDS TO GO TO
AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL,
BUT DO WANT THEM TO GROW
UP IN AN INTERNATIONAL
ENVIRONMENT
SIGN UP FOR AJE'S
WINTER DISCOVERY
CAMP 2018
AJE's next Winter Discovery
Camp will be held in Iwate, over
five days from January 2 to
January 6, 2018
P
articipants will get the chance to
immerse themselves in Tohoku's
rich culture of old and new, as
well as rediscover winter through a
number of unique activities, including
staying overnight in a Mongolian
Ger, learning curling from Olympians,
bathing in a barrel onsen, and
riding a kotatsu train along the coast.
Other activities include skiing, and
making mochi and soba with locals
from Iwate.
It's a fantastic opportunity for
young people to communicate with
people from all over the world and to
become part of a community of diversity.
On a more serious note, children
will also learn about the 2011 Great
Tohoku Earthquake directly from the
people most affected by the disaster.
For more information and to sign up
for AJE’s Winter Discovery Camp 2018,
visit www.campsinjapan.com
are many people who may not necessarily
want their kids to go to an international
school, but do want them to grow up in an
international environment."
When asked about the differing English
levels of students in one class, Culos
emphasizes that successful learning is
a factor of encouragement and inclusivity.
Though kids with similar abilities are generally
grouped together, AJE does sometimes
mix it up a little. The reason for this, in part,
is that the children can teach and learn
from each other. There is no "English only"
policy since Culos believes restrictions are
counterproductive to learning. Instead, he
believes children learn more when allowed
to process new information naturally. “Usually
kids who switch to their native language
are asking for confirmation and making sure
they understand. They're not talking about
unrelated things," Culos says.
The Mommy and Me Saturday class has
proven especially popular and gives parents
a chance to learn, too. Greg Culos says,
“The parents get right into it. It's a lot of
fun and effective too. When these toddlers
move up to higher level classes, the transitions
become easier since they have begun
to develop the mindsets key to independent
learning and collaboration."
The goal for both camps and continuing
programs alike is to create an environment
where children can feel excited about
learning and confident to use their new
skills to help them grow.
TOKYO WEEKENDER | OCTOBER 2017 | 43