Global Education In Japan: An Interview With Hayama International School

In a bid to gain perspective on what education professionals at international schools in Japan are doing to provide global education to their students, Savvy Tokyo reached out to Hayama International School, based in Tokyo and Kanagawa prefecture. Here is what they had to say. 

What does your school specialize in?

Our curriculum is based on play-inspired early learning. We also have a multi-age elementary school program.

What parts of the school curriculum and activities include a global perspective? What technologies do you use in and out of the classrooms?

We have a school-wide cleanup community service, a “Food Drive” event organized by elementary school students, fundraising events to support the mission of Care International, and used clothes donations to support children in the Philippines. We also have various Japanese cultural lessons.

We use iPads in our classrooms to support all learning activities, and movie-making, for example, is an elective class in elementary school grades. Computers are available for students to use in our media room.

How do students gain a real-world international perspective while studying at your school?

For example, they attend a summer camp program in Oregon, USA every year.

According to your school’s educational policy, what is the most essential factor for raising competitive and fully international future leaders?

To cultivate a way of thinking that makes them understandable of the differences between self-assertion and self-centered firmly, as well as to perceive cross-cultural interaction as a positive factor.

What does your school value most in children’s education? 

Through the process of “Play, Think and Learn,” students become interested in various difficult tasks and are enabled to develop creative thinking. This is what we value the most in our education.

To learn more about Hayama International School, see here.