A Word Gift
My artifact is a reference book of Japanese history. The title of the book is “Memorizing the Terms of Japanese History B by Era and Currents.” It published by Buneido. It is not covered by book’s cover. It is white, but it is dirty in places. The size is a little smaller than A4 paper. It is thin like a notebook. The pages in the book are written in, and makers are drawn on the pages.
My Japanese History teacher is Mr. Isizuka. He always wears a suit. I took his lessons in my second and third year of high school. He gave a fun lesson to help student remember Japanese History. In addition, he often drawled diagrams and pictures of Japanese History lesson contents on blackboard to help student understand.
One day during my third year of high school, he talked about studying for a university entrance exam at lunch break. Then, he introduced us his recommended reference books. He recommended reference books of English and Japanese history because he is very good at humanities. I didn’t know about reference books well at that time, and they were not too difficult for me and easy to understand. So, they were really helpful. He said, "It is important that you study using the same book repeatedly to get high score." Besides, "A reference book you used a lot will be your confidence."
I always took his recommended reference book of Japanese history to school and cram school and studied by it. As the teacher said, I studied using the book over and over again. Then, my mock test scores gradually increased. Problems that were taught intuitively could be answered thoughtfully.
The day of standard university entrance exam, I left home early and arrived examination center, Niigata University of Management. My mother sent me. Because I arrived there an hour before starting the test, I studied first test subjects, Political Science and Economics. At that time, I also put down the reference book of Japanese History for second test subjects on the desk. I studied Political Science and Economics without worrying about time.
Suddenly, "Please put away textbooks and reference books into your bag." Proctoring of the exam said. The air there frozen. I was very surprised because I was concentrating on the subject. I couldn’t look important thing that I’m going to check it out. "I will explain about this standard university entrance exam." I haven’t check it out yet! My hand was shaking, and I couldn’t think anymore.
Then, I see my reference book of Japanese History on the desk. It was appealing with me to remember what my teacher said, "A reference book you used a lot will be your confidence." I think I can do it because I studied hardly for one year, and I calm down.
Examination of Political Science and Economics begun. I have been nervous yet, but I’m able to concentrate on it.
At the graduation day of my high school, I went to meet Mr. Isizuka to say thank you. At that time, the college acceptance announcement had not been made yet, and I was very worried about it. So, he encouraged me and say, "Because I know you have study hard until now, it's okey." I think I couldn't have entered this university if I hadn't met him. And I can't imagine my life without him.
In Japan, long working time of teachers is big problem. They come school before student come and go home after student go home owing to club activity, preparing for classes and school chores. Tokyo Newspaper shows middle school teachers work an average of 113 hours and 44 minutes of overtime per month. High school teachers work 95 hours and 32 minutes. Its number is exceeding 80 hours per month as the Line of Death from Overwork (Tokyo newspaper, 2023). Teachers in my high school taught club activities until 6p.m., listened my worries, answered student’s questions and organized school trips. They help me a lot of time, however, I think they did not rest. I consider Japanese government should make new rules of prohibition of teacher’s long working hours.
The university entrance examination in Japan and U.S. is quite different. Mainavi states, "In Japan, high school student study hard for exam, and test results determine whether you pass or fail. On the other hand, in U.S., "The Significant Six” are emphasized. It includes high school grade, essay, letter of recommendation, extracurricular activities, test, and interview. Personality and what you have done so far are important (Mainavi, 2021)." Universities in U.S. look at student's humanity. I think universities in Japan should look at all the person because they only look at test scores.
References
Tokyo newspaper. (2023). kyousi no jikangai roudou ha tukiheikinn 96 jikann, karousi rain koeru tyuugaku ha 113 jikann zennihon kyousyokuin kumiai n tyousa [teachers work an average of 96 hours of overtime per month, exceeding the line for death from overwork.]. https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/238354. (accessed on 22 November 2023)
Mainavi. (2021). Nihon to zenzen tigau! Kaigai no daigaku nyuusi tte donna sisutemu no mono ga aruno? [Totally different from Japan! What kind of entrance exam systems do overseas universities have?]. https://gakumado.mynavi.jp/gmd/articles/22444. (accessed on 13 November 2023)
One day during my third year of high school, he talked about studying for a university entrance exam at lunch break. Then, he introduced us his recommended reference books. He recommended reference books of English and Japanese history because he is very good at humanities. I didn’t know about reference books well at that time, and they were not too difficult for me and easy to understand. So, they were really helpful. He said, "It is important that you study using the same book repeatedly to get high score." Besides, "A reference book you used a lot will be your confidence."
I always took his recommended reference book of Japanese history to school and cram school and studied by it. As the teacher said, I studied using the book over and over again. Then, my mock test scores gradually increased. Problems that were taught intuitively could be answered thoughtfully.
The day of standard university entrance exam, I left home early and arrived examination center, Niigata University of Management. My mother sent me. Because I arrived there an hour before starting the test, I studied first test subjects, Political Science and Economics. At that time, I also put down the reference book of Japanese History for second test subjects on the desk. I studied Political Science and Economics without worrying about time.
Suddenly, "Please put away textbooks and reference books into your bag." Proctoring of the exam said. The air there frozen. I was very surprised because I was concentrating on the subject. I couldn’t look important thing that I’m going to check it out. "I will explain about this standard university entrance exam." I haven’t check it out yet! My hand was shaking, and I couldn’t think anymore.
Then, I see my reference book of Japanese History on the desk. It was appealing with me to remember what my teacher said, "A reference book you used a lot will be your confidence." I think I can do it because I studied hardly for one year, and I calm down.
Examination of Political Science and Economics begun. I have been nervous yet, but I’m able to concentrate on it.
At the graduation day of my high school, I went to meet Mr. Isizuka to say thank you. At that time, the college acceptance announcement had not been made yet, and I was very worried about it. So, he encouraged me and say, "Because I know you have study hard until now, it's okey." I think I couldn't have entered this university if I hadn't met him. And I can't imagine my life without him.
In Japan, long working time of teachers is big problem. They come school before student come and go home after student go home owing to club activity, preparing for classes and school chores. Tokyo Newspaper shows middle school teachers work an average of 113 hours and 44 minutes of overtime per month. High school teachers work 95 hours and 32 minutes. Its number is exceeding 80 hours per month as the Line of Death from Overwork (Tokyo newspaper, 2023). Teachers in my high school taught club activities until 6p.m., listened my worries, answered student’s questions and organized school trips. They help me a lot of time, however, I think they did not rest. I consider Japanese government should make new rules of prohibition of teacher’s long working hours.
The university entrance examination in Japan and U.S. is quite different. Mainavi states, "In Japan, high school student study hard for exam, and test results determine whether you pass or fail. On the other hand, in U.S., "The Significant Six” are emphasized. It includes high school grade, essay, letter of recommendation, extracurricular activities, test, and interview. Personality and what you have done so far are important (Mainavi, 2021)." Universities in U.S. look at student's humanity. I think universities in Japan should look at all the person because they only look at test scores.
References
Tokyo newspaper. (2023). kyousi no jikangai roudou ha tukiheikinn 96 jikann, karousi rain koeru tyuugaku ha 113 jikann zennihon kyousyokuin kumiai n tyousa [teachers work an average of 96 hours of overtime per month, exceeding the line for death from overwork.]. https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/238354. (accessed on 22 November 2023)
Mainavi. (2021). Nihon to zenzen tigau! Kaigai no daigaku nyuusi tte donna sisutemu no mono ga aruno? [Totally different from Japan! What kind of entrance exam systems do overseas universities have?]. https://gakumado.mynavi.jp/gmd/articles/22444. (accessed on 13 November 2023)
Hi, I'm Rui. Emotion were in thee sentence and easy to understand. I realized the greatness of the book.
返信削除I was surprised that such an entrance examination method is implemented in the US. And I want to find a solution to the problem of overtime working in school.
返信削除