KEC Saturday Class [Regular / Advanced

This is an “immersion” class where students improve their English skills through various activities in an English-only environment for 4.5 hours every Saturday. Each class is taught by a foreign teacher who has studied foreign language teaching methods and a Japanese teacher who has a high level of English language skills. All Japanese teachers are returnees or have lived abroad.

Class Type

There are two types of Saturday classes. One is the “Regular Class” and the other is the “Advanced Class” for returnees and international school graduates. The Advanced Class is for children who have completed the Kinder level in an English-speaking country and have a daily conversational level of English.

What is Saturday Class?

The pillar of the Saturday class is “theme activities. Based on the “Whole Language Approach” advocated by Ken Goodman, children collaborate on theme-based activities based on a theme set for each month or semester. From research to presentation, children learn listening and speaking skills, as well as reading and writing in a balanced manner in the elementary classes.　The primary goal is to broaden the children’s global perspectives and motivate them to learn English through these theme-based activities.

Use of IT materials

In today’s world where technology is used in the classroom, it is important to be informed and interested in world events. In our Saturday classes at the elementary school level, we actively incorporate active learning activities such as using iPads to research news and current topics, and watching and discussing videos. In regular classes 2 and 3, we also use National Geographic textbooks, which provide students with a rich visual learning experience.

Meticulous returnee support

We accept returnees from all over the world in our “Advanced Class”. We take into account the differences in language levels between these countries and devise a unique approach for each child. We also focus on reading and writing, which are essential for language maintenance. For “writing,” we work on “creative writing,” which is also practiced in American elementary schools, and learn the process of completing a composition. “Descriptive writing” (writing to explain things) to “Persuasive writing” (writing to persuade people). We are challenging ourselves with journal writing. For “reading,” we have a large number of foreign books in our library, and we are actively introducing a wide variety of reading activities. By continuing to “read for pleasure in English,” students will develop their reading ability. For speaking, which tends to decline after returning to Japan, we provide many opportunities for group discussions, and teachers in all seven Saturday classes speak to the children in English not only in class but also throughout the day, including outside playtime.