シアトルで日米協会と日本文化コミュニティーセンターで教育の活動をされているMegumi Kobayashiさんにお会いしました。１月１６日、珍しく雪が積もり交通麻痺で多くの学校が休校となり訪問できませんでしたが、ここに簡単に紹介したい学校は、immersion programでとても有名な “John Stanford International School ”
http://www.jsisweb.com/jsis/index.asp です。幼稚園から５年生までの公立のインタナショナルスクールです。 英語＋日本語 or 英語＋スペイン語のイマージョンプログラムです。近く、英語＋中国語が開始されます。子供達がバイリンガルになるため人気がとても高く（公立のため）入学は抽選によって決められます。 日本からも教育機関が調査に来ているようですが、どのように反映されているか報告がないとのこと。日本の公立学校でも校長がやる気ならできることがたくさんあるだけに、腰を据えて研究してほしい学校です。 シアトルに住まれるご家族は検討されると良いでしょう。
John Stanford International School is an award-winning Seattle public elementary school (K-5) in the Wallingford neighborhood. We are the only Seattle public school to offer a dual-language immersion program to all students. We offer:
・Spanish, since the 2000-2001 school year. The first Spanish immersion class entered the JSIS program as first graders and graduated in 2005.
・Japanese, since the 2001-2002 school year. The first Japanese immersion class will graduate in 2007.
以下はMegumiさんが活動されている団体です。 日本が弱くなっています。 日本を強くするために、日本の文化力でアメリカの人々との積極的に交流し日本のよさをひろめておられます。とても有意義な活動なので、シアトル近郊に留学している方やお仕事で駐在されているご家族は是非、ボランティアや寄付などを通してこれらの活動をサポートして欲しいと感じています。 あさい
Japan-America Society of the State of Washingtonhttp://www.us-japan.org/jassw/programs/jis.htm
Japan in the Schools represents one of the Japan-America Society's major efforts in offering educational outreach programs to the Puget Sound region. The Japan In A Suitcase presentations, aimed at elementary school audiences, and the Japanese Language and Culture Visits, for high school age students, have been extremely well received since their inception in the 1994-1995 school year. Within these pages, you can find out more about Japan In The Schools, volunteer for the program, and view the Kentaro curriculum.
The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington
http://www.jcccw.org/ is active and gaining momentum in Seattle. In our new location, on the site of the Japanese Language School, in operation for close to 100 years, the JCCCW hosts heritage events and cultural gatherings. Perhaps most exciting are the organizing meetings about the new building and facilities that will be developed here in the future: regulation sized dojo, performance hall, exhibition kitchen and more. Please join us in our efforts to create one place in Seattle to share, teach, learn, experience and be part of Japanese and Japanese American culture, history and community!
Mission
To share and promote Japanese and Japanese American culture and heritage.
Japan in the Schools represents one of the Japan-America Society's major efforts in offering educational outreach programs to the Puget Sound region. The Japan In A Suitcase presentations, aimed at elementary school audiences, and the Japanese Language and Culture Visits, for high school age students, have been extremely well received since their inception in the 1994-1995 school year. Within these pages, you can find out more about Japan In The Schools, volunteer for the program, and view the Kentaro curriculum.
