At AMICUS, we recently hosted an Open Class event for educators from Okinawa and beyond!

Around 90 educators joined us on the day, representing public and private schools both within and outside the prefecture.

The event began with a panel discussion, followed by open classes at our Elementary and Junior High Schools, and wrapped up with subject-based discussion sessions!

For the panel discussion, we welcomed three guest speakers Mr. Tamotsu Fujita, Director of the Center for Language Education and Research at Sophia University; Mr. Hiromichi Nozawa, Principal of the Elementary school at Gunma Kokusai Academy; and Ms. Akiko Uehara, Vice Principal of the Junior High School Attached to the Faculty of Education, University of the Ryukyus; Mr. Ken Oshiro, Head of AMICUS, joined them as the facilitator.

Drawing from their respective experiences and initiatives, the panelists shared insightful perspectives on the future of education, children’s learning, and effective teaching approaches.

After the panel discussion, it was time for the open classes!

Classes across all grade levels at both the Elementary and Junior High Schools were open for observation.

At AMICUS Elementary School, students are supported by our dual-homeroom teacher system, with an International Teacher and a Japanese Teacher working together in each classroom. Through our immersion education program, Japanese and Social Studies are taught in Japanese, while other subjects are taught in English. 

During the open classes, visitors enjoyed seeing students actively engaged in their learning—sharing their thoughts and responding enthusiastically to their teachers’ questions!

In addition, visitors also observed our JSL (Japanese as a Second Language) classes, which are designed to help elementary students whose native language is not Japanese improve their language skills!

At AMICUS Junior High School, where subjects are taught by specialized teachers, learning is centered around output-driven activities such as group discussions and presentations.

Visitors had the chance to see students actively sharing ideas with their peers, encountering different perspectives, and deepening their own thinking.

In Science and Social Studies, learning went well beyond the textbook. Students deepened their understanding through hands-on experiments and observations, and conducted research from multiple angles using both English and Japanese.

A wide range of subjects were open for observation, including Japanese, Math, Science, Social Studies, English, Music, and Moral Education.

The day concluded with subject-based discussion sessions, where visiting educators and AMICUS teachers came together to exchange ideas and insights.

It was a valuable time for educators across different schools, grade levels, and regions to connect and explore better ways to support children’s learning. 

We hope the event provided participants with valuable takeaways and new insights!

Thank you very much for taking the time to join us!