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| Elementary students walking to school, Japan photo credit: Everything, Japan |
Ohayou Gozaimasu!
How does a typical day in a Japanese school go?
Based on my experience and on research, Japanese students and teachers spend way more time in schools than other countries. They spend really way more time and days in the school than in their houses.
Schools officially start around 8 am and officially end at around 3 pm. But this is only the "official" time. In reality, students come to school as early as 6:30 am for club practice. Don't be surprised seeing students all sweaty and dirty even before class starts.
Before Actual Classes
As I've said, some students have club practice before 8 am. Five minutes before 8, all students must be in their classrooms. There, they'll have either homeroom time or individual reading time. This usually lasts for 20 minutes.
A few days in a month, this 20-minute pre-class time is allotted for student assembly. If you're working in schools and you can't find anyone during this time, they're probably in the gym for the assembly.
Class Time
There are 6 class periods in a day. Each class lasts for 50 minutes. There are four class periods in the morning and 2 after lunch. In between these classes are 10-minute breaks.
This is the typical class schedule in Japanese schools:
8:00-8:20 Homeroom/ Reading Time
8:20-8:30 Break
8:30-9:20 Class 1
Break
9:30-10:20 Class 2
Break
10:30-11:20 Class 3
Break
11:30-12:20 Class 4
12:20-12:30 Lunch Preparation
12:30-12:50 Lunch Time
12:50-1:20 Free Time
1:20-2:10 Class 5
Break
2:20-3:10 Class 6
There are days when classes are shortened to 45 minutes. Usually it happens when there's a PTA meeting, student assembly in the afternoon and other activities.
Class periods are marked by school bells. Watch a Japanese anime with a school as the setting and you'll hear the Japanese school bell.
The 10-Minute Breaks
The 10-minute breaks in between classes are for toilet breaks and preparation. From their lockers, students have to get the things they'll need for the next class. Toilet breaks are not, ideally, allowed during class so this is also the perfect time to go.
During this 10-minute break, you'll see students bursting out from their classrooms to talk to their friends. They loiter along the hallways. Some students read, play or do their homework. Typical like in other countries. They're expected to be back inside their rooms 2 minutes before class time.
Mokuso Time
Mokuso means meditation. In Japan, each class begins with a minute of meditation. Two minutes before class time, students are expected to be on their seats with all their things on their desks. A minute from the actual time, class leaders will order "Mokusoshite!" The other students will close their eyes until the bell rings signalling the start of class.
The Lunch Break
Lunch break in Japan is quite distinct. Students in elementary and junior high schools have lunches prepared by the schools. Students will form lunch groups while lunch leaders will get their lunch from the school kitchen.
Within 10 minutes, food and milk should have been distributed to everyone in the class including the class teacher. By 12:30, everyone should be ready to eat. Eating time only lasts for 20 minutes. By 12:50, everybody should have finished their food.
Free Time
The remainder of lunch break is devoted to leisure activities such as playing sports, reading, hanging out with friends or doing homework. Students are not allowed to bring toys and gadgets. Even cellphones are forbidden until junior high school.
After Class
Classes officially ends at 3:10 but students stay on hours afterwards.
Once a week, students clean their classrooms after school. There are also short student meetings. And then, there's the time-consuming clubs.
In my school, the arts and computer clubs are the earliest to finish, at around 5 pm. The sports club finish in various times. Some at 6, some at 8 and some even at 10.
Students also do clubs even on weekends and holidays. They spend around 2-3 hours of club practice on these days.
In elementary, students go home earlier. Club life is not as intense.
The Schedule and the Teachers
Because students stay long in school, teachers stay longer. Teachers usually go home at 8 pm. Some stay as late as midnight. They're also in school earlier than 8. (Don't ask me how do they sleep. I'm puzzled too)
For the ALT, don't worry. You don't need to stay in school for this long. You just need to be in before 8 am and you can leave a bit past 4 pm. Your work is easier compared to the Japanese teachers.
And that's how a typical Japanese school day go. Sayonara!
