GKA

Official Name: Gunma Kokusai Academy

• https://gka.ed.jp

• It is a school that students attend from elementary to high school (blu3mo).

• In order to produce exceptional students in the countryside, it seems like a great move to “make them able to speak English.”

  • In Gunma, it is difficult to access various resources (like cultural capital) compared to Tokyo.
  • If students can read and write in English, they can compensate for this (especially when combined with the internet).
    • I personally think that I have benefited a lot from being able to speak English in various information-related studies.

• I recently realized how great it is to create this environment in the countryside.

  • At least without GKA, I wouldn’t have been able to consider applying to universities in the United States.

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• Write about my own thoughts and observations (201912)

  • I think it’s useful to understand the characteristics of the education I am receiving.

• (Please refer to the official website for an overview, the following is purely my personal thoughts)

• Consistent education from elementary to high school (12 years)#elementary school#middle school#high school

• English immersion

  • More than half of the teachers are foreigners.

• IB (International Baccalaureate)

  • It is rare to have a filter on whether to proceed with the IB course.
  • In the countryside of Gunma, it seems difficult to maintain the quality of teachers.
    • In this aspect, I think GKA is making quite an effort.

• Starting from 5th grade, students can choose a musical instrument to learn in class (trumpet).

• Freedom

  • Able to take leave of absence.
  • Various extracurricular activities, especially focused on Rails.
    • Tobitate/Career Koshien/WSC/FLL
  • Teachers are quite flexible.
    • A teacher who teaches about the Holocaust for two years in World History class (quite intense).
    • A teacher who assigns academic essays in Contemporary Society class.
    • Big History curriculum (failed).
    • Reading Plus
  • (Based on recent experiences, I might say “it used to be free”)

• Elementary section specific:

  • JumpRightIn curriculum
  • Science Journal
  • Phoenix

• Old GKA