Junior and senior high school students
find special emphasis placed on English programs at Mejiro
Kenshin, reflecting the philosophy that we must train our
youth to take their proper place in Japan's ever more internationalized
The Mejiro English Program allows students
to interact with native English-speaking teachers and provides
the opportunity for junior high students to develop foundational
skills in English before they enter the senior high school.
In addition to regular classes, the program provides intensive
studies beyond the classroom that allow for further opportunities
to engage in English. During the third year, students also
take part in a study tour to Canada to apply their expanding
knowledge of English.
Junior high students are required to take
courses in Japanese, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science,
Music, Art, Physical Education, Home Economics and English
as outlined by the Japanese Ministry of Education. In requiring
students to carry out a thesis project at the end of their
third year, the curriculum seeks to cultivate scholarly
skills and nurture a sense of intellectual inquiry even
at the junior high school level. Accordingly, a student
selects a thesis topic in her first year, gathers research
about it during her second year, and prepares and submits
the completed work in her third year.
The Mejiro Kenshin Senior High School
curriculum aims to prepare students for admission to college
or university. Mejiro Gakuen Senior High School was designated
as one of 18 Super English Language High Schools (SELHi)
by the Ministry of Education in April 2002 to March 2005.
As English figures prominently in university entrance examinations
in Japan, it occupies an important place in the programs
of study that have been designed for Mejiro Kenshin Senior
High School students. Students may choose from the Humanities
and Science classes and the Accelerated Course.
The Accelerated Course was introduced at the beginning of the academic year in April, 2006. It is designed for high achieving students who wish to gain entrance into top universities in the nation. Second year students in the Selective Course can choose from Liberal Arts, Science, or an English major stream. All of these choices provide fundamental study across the three areas of study, allowing students to specialize in one according to their interests and future goals.
The Humanities and Science classes feature
intensive English grammar instruction and oral communication
classes with native English-speaking teachers. Classes are
specially attuned to the proficiency levels and needs of
students. A student may start choosing electives at the
end of her first year in order to begin determining an area
of specialization. By the second year, a student elects
to concentrate either in the liberal arts or in the sciences,
a decision that allows her to focus more effectively on
preparations for admission to the college or university
of her choice. Students receive considerable attention in
classes that are intentionally kept small, especially in
English, mathematics and science.
The Advanced Course in English (ACE), offered to senior 3 students,
in April 1998. In addition to intensive English language
instruction with native English-speaking teachers and oral
communication classes, students benefit from small class
sizes that ensure greater personal attention to their needs.
It also offers TOEFL classes for students who wish to attend
a college or university abroad. The ACE program is well
known for its emphasis on interpersonal and intercultural
communication and its learning enrichment opportunities,
including overseas study tours and student exchange programs.
In addition to its strong English Language
component, the Mejiro Kenshin Senior High School curriculum
includes classes in Japanese Literature, Mathematics, Geography
and History, Social Studies and Civics, Science, Physical
Education and Health, Art, Music and Home Economics. Faculty
members guide students to master skills, to acquire knowledge
and to think creatively and independently.