午夜剧场

At 午夜剧场 Yokohama Elementary School, there is a subject called "Language." The goal is to acquire "Critical Thinking" and "Language Arts." As the person in charge of this subject, I am involved in curriculum development and lesson research. On the other hand, I also encourage students to practice something else in their daily lives. That is the method of stating important information first and then providing details when conveying something to others. Whether making an assertion or a report, it is vital to speak in this order. Doing so significantly improves clarity.

When making an assertion, state the conclusion first and provide the reasoning afterward. By speaking in this order, students become able to express their opinions effectively. Our society is a high-context culture. If a child says a single word, "Cold," most adults will likely turn on the heater. In a society where the speaker's dependence is tolerated, the ability to assert oneself does not develop naturally. Clearly communicating one's thoughts and providing reasons to support their validity is an essential skill for students living in a high-context culture.

When reporting, first state the core facts concisely, followed by a detailed description. By speaking in this format, students become better at informing others of their experiences. Japanese is a language characterized by pre-modification. A child using that language might find an insect and report it as follows: "I went to the schoolyard during recess just now, and there, I found a long, rainbow-colored, mysterious insect." The lack of clarity in this report lies in the fact that the core fact, "found an insect," is not revealed to the listener until the very end of the sentence. Without being conscious of the redundancy of the Japanese language, the ability to report will not improve on its own. Stating the core fact in one short sentence and then providing a concrete description is a habit that all students using Japanese should acquire.

Ten years have passed since the school opened, and the number of students capable of making persuasive assertions and clear reports is increasing. However, compared to people living in low-context cultures and languages with post-modification, the gap between us remains large. Inspired by the students who grow every day, I too wish to practice what I preach and be someone who can speak clearly. "Learning while teaching, teaching while learning" will continue to be my guidepost.