Cover Photo: Craft "Everyone is energetic even on chilly winter days!"

Expanding future possibilities

The season becomes winter and every day continues to be chilly.
But the snowmen are not bothered by the cold!
Everyone is having fun playing in the snow.

31

The colorful hats and bows they are wearing stand out in the snow and look beautiful.
Let's play with your friends even on cold days!

We look forward to
your ideas!
“Hiraku” provides useful informationand the latest news related toEnglish and childhood education.

・Your recent interests
・Topics you want us to cover
・New content etc etc…
If you have ideas to contribute,please share these with us!
“Hiraku” Editorial Department
TEL：06-6135-0150
Mail： hiraku@kinderkids.ed.jp★Setagaya School, the ﬁrst Academy School in Kanto, has opened!
★Global Transfer Testimonials

Published in
January 2024 Vol.31
Next issue isplanned to comeat the end of January

Kinder Kids Inc.
TEL：06-6135-0150
Pulala Tenma 2F, 3-1 Ikeda-cho,
Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka. 530-0033★Nursery Teachersʼ Training in Canada★Grad Club English Speech Contest 2023
★Grad Chat Eiken Intensive Course has started!!

www.kinderkids.com

日本の心と、英語の力。Kinder Kids inc.

Equipped with Latest ICT Educational Devices and Facilities.

Setagaya
SchoolOPEN!

Setagaya School is equipped with a variety of the latest ICT educational equipment to provide a quality education and to create an environment where students can actively pursue their own learning journey.
Setagaya Schoolʼs most prominent feature is the theater room withthree screens. In this room, students can immerse themselves in avariety of worlds such as the deep sea, Antarctica, volcanoes,
pyramids, space, and the age of dinosaurs. The images and videos will
stimulate childrenʼs visual and auditory senses and make theme-basedlearning more realistic and fun. The screen can also be used for KinderConnect for discussing, playing games, and communicating with other
KinderKids students in Japan and abroad.

Sakura-Shinmachi, the First Holiday Villa Area
in Kanto, known as "Karuizawa in Tokyo."
Sakura-Shinmachi, where our Setagaya school is located, is the town
where the manga artist, Hasegawa Machiko, once lived. Hasegawa
Machiko Memorial Museum, Hasegawa Machiko Art Museum, andbronze statues and illustrations of “Sazae-san” can be found throughout the town.Setagaya School is located on a shopping street named"Sazae-san Street," which retains a nostalgic atmosphere.
On the other hand, Sakura-Shinmachi has a history of being the ﬁrst
suburban residential area in Kanto, and houses were sold under thepromotion of "Karuizawa in Tokyo" in the early Taisho period. Thattime, it was a highly advanced residential area, with electric lights,
telephones, sewage systems, and later, the establishment of a Police
Box. Sakura Shinmachi, with its spacious, well-planned, and afﬂuent
neighborhood, combined with the homely atmosphere depicted in
Sazae-san, continues to be a highly popular residential area even today.

Setagaya School, the ﬁrst Academy Schoolin the Kanto area, has opened!
In the Kanto area, we already have four schools: Yokohama School,

Projection mappingin the theater room

Sazae-san statues at the west exitof Sakura-Shinmachi Station

Tokyo School, Shinagawa School, and Tama Plaza School, and many ofour 550 students take the 5-day childcare course with extended

A Message from the Branch Manager

hours.To cater to the needs of many parents, we opened the “Acade-We are pleased to announce the successful opening of our Setagaya School, themy School” in Sakurashinmachi, Setagaya-ku, where all the students

gratitude to all the parents and everyone else involved for the support.

additional courses in Japanese, Chinese(Mandarin), and gymnastics.

We are committed to creating an environment where children can spend theirSince its launch in 2020, The Academy School program has expanded to three schools in Osaka and one in Nagoya. Our Academy
school program features a multi-lingual education (English,
Japanese, Chinese), a gymnastics program tailored to thedays happily, creating an atmosphere that makes them look forward to coming toGoodmorning
everyone!

school every day. Being a newly established school, we aspire to make numerous
Junna Ojima,
Branch Manager of
Setagaya school

fun memories together with the children. I have previous
experience in contributing to the opening of anothernew school, so I will collaborate with the staff and makechildrenʼs developmental stages, meals and snacks prepared by

the most of this experience. Building a trusting relationship with the children is

the dedicated chefs in our kitchen on the premises, and school

something I prioritize. We will support the growth and development of each child.

buses operating on three routes for convenient commuting over awide area. Setagaya School offers all of these features.Kinder
Kids will continue to enhance its services for the growth anddevelopment of children and to support the parents.
1

ﬁrst academy school in Kanto, on January 9. We would like to express our sincere

take the 5-day course with extended hours. We also offer the

SetagayaHP
School HP

Let's have fun with new friends and teachers at the newly opened Setagaya
School! Throughout the year, we are planning various events and will provide
opportunities for parents to come and see. We will support our students toensure that they will remember their wonderful experiences at Setagaya School
when they graduate.

2-1-31 Sumaura-dori,
Suma-ku, Kobe City,
Hyogo
2

E , his Mother , and Stephanie Good,
Oakville School Director.

G［Transfer Period／
Enrolled School］
2023/7/29〜8/12
Tennoji Yuhigaoka
School K3↓
Oakville School JK

l Transfe
a
b
lo

Te

2023/11/6〜11/17
Clarkson School JK↓
Dojima School K2

M , his Parents(the two people on the right)
and Dojima school staﬀ

Could you tell us about the pre-departure procedures? Was itdiﬃcult to prepare the necessary documents?
medical form from our pediatrician, requiring M to be re-examined inJapan.

▲▲▲

During the stay, if there were any challenges or helpful experiences, please write about them.
The biggest challenge was M's adjustment to walking 20 minutes toschool every day, a stark contrast to our car-dependent lifestyle. We'dchoose a closer residence to the school in the future, though the school
itself was supportive.

▲

Did you have a smooth entry into Canada? If there are any
precautions about immigration documents or ﬂight transfers,
please share them with us.
Following the Hague Convention, Kinder Kids informed me in advance to prepare a travel consent letterfrom a parent who is not accompanying on the trip. When I was requested to present the letter at Toronto
Airport, I really appreciated the school for letting me know. Also, even just for transit, when entering theUnited States you need to have authorization via ESTA. My friend who accompanied me forgot to apply andhad to purchase a new return ticket.

What is M s most memorable experience in Japan this time?
M's fondness for trains, especially the Shinkansen, was a highlight of our trip. He was especially excited to
be lucky enough to see the Doctor Yellow train, which is very special to him.

▲

Please tell us about the circumstances that led to the decision for a global transfer.
We thought the global transfer program would be a great opportunity for M to experience a different
country and different culture while he is young.

▲▲

Could you share any growth or changes in M due to theglobal transfer?
M's speech improved noticeably, likely due to interacting with otherkids and learning about different cultures. He seemed to grasp some
cultural differences between Japan and North America.

▲

Could you share any growth or changes in E due to the global transfer?
He started sharing various experiences by saying, "In Canada, it was like this," and when he experienced
new things in Japan, "How is it in Canada?" I think it was very beneﬁcial for
him to experience two different cultures, Japan and Canada, whichbroadened his world. He also started to have an interest in the world and is
now concerned about the war in Israel. He looked for Israel on the map andthinking about how everyone can be happy.

Did M overall enjoy the global transfer experience?
Yes! M loved going to school every morning and would actually ask us to drop him off earlier every
morning.

▲▲

What is E s most memorable experience in Canada this time?
As the grade levels in Canada differ from those in Japan, my son attended a Jr. Kindergarten class, one
grade below his Japanese equivalent class. Cassandra, his class teacher, praised him every day, saying
things like "Having E in this class is inspiring everyone else," and my son seemed to be gaining conﬁdence
day by day. He also made a close friend, and when I went to pick him up, they were always playing together.

▲

How did you spend your time while E.K. was at school?
A friend of mine from my school days accompanied me, so together, wewent sightseeing in Oakville Town, walking in the park along Lake Ontario,
and horseback riding. I also had the opportunity to visit Clarkson School,
learning about the differences compared to Oakville School.

▲

Would you recommend this program to other parents?
Please share your reasons.
Yes, I think itʼs a great program for children, particularly to experience the culture of Japan and learn to be respectful to others. If
possible, we would have liked for Matthew to stay at least a couple
weeks longer.

▲

Feel free to write your thoughts about the global transfer
experience.
We had a great time in Japan and is very thankful to both the teamat Dojima and the staff at Kinder Kids headquarters for helping
make our time memorable.

▲

3［Transfer Period／
Enrolled School］

s ti m o n i a l s

Please tell us about the circumstances that led to the decision
for a global transfer.
I wanted to give my son the opportunity to experience a cultural exchange
in Canada, and at the same time, I had the desire to visit the country
myself. So, I thought that it would be fantastic to have the opportunity to
go sightseeing while my son is at school.

Please tell us your thoughts about the global transfer experience.
Oakville School had a wonderful atmosphere created by Director StephanieGood and the other teachers who are very kind. My son felt at ease andenjoyed his time there. The curriculum proceeds at a slower pace comparedto that in Japan, and this creates a relaxed atmosphere where children canspend time realaxing. Every morning, my son eagerly asked, "What are
todayʼs activities?" and looked forward to going to school. He made friends
in Canada and is hoping to visit again soon.

Interview
with
M.L.'sfatherr

Interview
with
E.K.'smatherWatching a game of Shohei Ohtani
at Rogers Centre, the homestadium of Toronto Blue Jays.

On his last day at Dojima School,
he was presented with a mini album
with messages from his friends
and photos of his memories!

4

Kinder Kids Staff Overseas Training Program

Participating in the training in Canada, I noticed all the teachers were very
cheerful. At the costume party, the teachers enthusiastically commented

Nursery Teacher sTraining in Canada

to each child, saying, "Wow! You look beautiful!," and I thought I should do
the same.
Initially, I was worried about whether my English would be understood, but
I was relieved to ﬁnd that everyone understood me.
I engaged in activities such as drawing pictures, folding origami, andplaying tag with the children every day.

Ai Matsui
Higashi Osaka School

I was happy to hear a K3 child say, "You are a great teacher because you《Training Period》
June 12 - 28, 2023

but being able to also observe the concert rehearsals and participate in the

At Kinder Kids, as part of our program of globalizing ourworkforce, we conducted language training in Canada. In 2023,
three childcare staff members experienced a three-weektraining program at Clarkson School or Oakville School.
While Kinder Kids schools in Japan and Canada both follow thesame curriculum, the school environment and the backgroundsof the children are quite different. In Canada, where French is

Moe Miyazaki
Tokyo School

also an ofﬁcial language, French is included in the curriculum,《Training Period》

Taekwon-Do lessons are an extracurricular activity, and due toJune 28-July 20, 2023

national regulations, outdoor activity is mandatory twice a day.

always play with us.”
I visited the school the Summer Concert, during a busy time of the year,
photo shoot for the graduation album became wonderful memories for me.

In Canada, Kinder Kids school is located in an excellent environment
surrounded by nature, so after learning a lot at school, children canenjoy playing in the parks and nearby lakeside with their families.
Kinder Kids schools in Japan are also excellent. For example, potty
training starts earlier and is completed earlier, and most of thestudents can button their shirts by the time they reach K1. Also, in
Canada, except for private schools, it's rare for preschoolers to learn
reading and writing. A teacher in Canada told me that Kinder Kids is
an extraordinary school!
There are many good aspects of the schools in Canada, but I learned
that the level of early childhood education in Japan is highly regarded
outside Japan, and also made me realize how wonderful Kinder Kids
and Japanese children are.

The Japanese childcare staff who joined the local classes
noted that in Canada, there are more situations where children
engage in discussions to make decisions. Also, there is a lot oftime for children to inquire about their interests bythemselves, and they seemed to be relaxed while enjoying
themselves.
In multicultural Canada, children with various background arelearning together. In a post-training report, there was acomment that said, "When we asked children about theirparents' home countries, it varied from Peru, the UK, China,
the USA, Jamaica, Kenya, and more. There were fewer children
with Canadian-born parents." Crayons and markers were
provided for coloring, and the children coloring skin and hairwith different colors made a deep impression on the Japanesenursery staff.
5

Mirai Adaniya
Tama Plaza School《Training Period》
Sep 17 - Oct 7, 2023

During the three weeks of training, many experiences changed my wayof thinking. I also saw many differences in childcare methods due tocultural differences. I was surprised that the same curriculum wasused differently in a different country.
During the school event, Orange Shirt Day, which expresses respect
for Indigenous people and honors the Indigenous children who weresent away to residential schools in Canada, I learned about this sadhistory for the ﬁrst time.
I think reﬂecting on such negative history has contributed to the
Canadian society today that respects diversity.
This training made me think about things I hadn't questioned before
and stirred emotions that wouldn't have surfaced if I hadn't come to
Canada. I found this training to be very meaningful.

Kinder Kids will continue to provide overseas training programs
to enhance the skills of our childcare staﬀ!

6

Oct.29
Kanto

Nov.12
KansaiPresents

Kanto
Champion

The Speech Contest 2023 was the ﬁrst event after changes in the government's COVID-19
measures. It was held at two venues, in Kanto and Kansai. It provided students with an opportunity to showcase their talents.Some captivated the audience with their conﬁdent attitudes,
some created a tense atmosphere, and others mesmerized the audience with passionate
plays. Each student exhibited their own unique charm.This contest, aimed at improving
English skills, is a special event where children can show their growth to their parents on
a big stage.We plan to develop the Grad Club Speech Contest further, welcoming

KansaiWinnerstudents nationwide, and providing children with new objectives for learning English.

The winners at each venue【Champion】R.G.
（Kyoto G4）【【Winner】M.I.
（Kyoto G1） H.O.
（Myrica G1） G.C.
（Dojima G1）

I.M.
（Saito G1）

A.Y.
（Saito G1） K.O.
（Kyoto G3）

R.U.
（Kyoto G3）

Wayne
Special Prize

Kanto】 【Champion】H.H.（Tokyo G2）【Winner】R.T.
（Tama Plaza G2）

R.G.
（Kyoto G2）

A.Y.
（Saito G4）

KansaiChampion

Overcoming the pressure of winningevery year, I received an award
together with R.G., my sister.
R.G.
（Kyoto School graduate,G4）［Class］
Eiken Study

He and his

dsister receive
gether!

an award toI achieved an award in G1, became the Champion in G2, secured anotheraward and also received the Grand Prize at the KBS Kyoto Speech Contest in G3.
This year, I was under a great deal of pressure, but I could become the Champion and mysister, who practiced hard with me, could also win an award. That made us both happy.As I entered the upper
grade in an elementary school, I decided to give a speech about current global issues. I looked up difﬁcultwords in the dictionary because I wanted to use them. Some words were not familiar to me, and I didn't evenknow how to pronounce them. However, I was able to pronounce those words by practicing repeatedly withmy parents.Speaking in front of people is not easy, but I believe experiencing speaking many times in front ofpeople at Show & Tell has helped me gain conﬁdence.
The words Principal Wayne shared with us at the end of the contest, "When you come back every year and givea speech you feel more comfortable. This makes you more conﬁdent and helps you to become a better leader!"has been my motivation to put effort into my speeches!

7

H.H.
（Tokyo School Graduate. G2）［Class］
Saturday, Conversation,
Grad Chat, After School

I chose "My Okinawa Memory" as the topic for my speech because my two trips
to Okinawa left a lasting impression on me and I wanted to share that experience
with everyone. I talked about the beautiful sea and enjoyable things of Okinawa in myown words to capture the interest of the audience.
In the Grad Chat lessons, I learned where to emphasize and how to use gestures effectively, so when I was practicing my speech, I kept that in mind. Until I could say my speech without making mistakes, I played a recitation
game with my mom and listened to the audio of my successful speech over and over again. I tried to think of myspeech as the same as Show & Tell at Kinder Kids or speaking in front of everyone in elementary school. The
experience of sharing stories in front of people at Show & Tell helped me a lot at the speech contest.

SpeechContest2023

KansaiI decided to give my best
without fearing mistakes!

I want to delivera speech to people
with hearing
impairments.

Kanto
WinnerOvercoming
nervousness,
I won my ﬁrst trophy
on my second attempt.

A.Y.
（Ibaraki Saito School
Graduate, G4）[Class] Saturday,
Conversation,
After School

R.T.
（External School
Graduate, G2）[Class] Saturday

During my ﬁrst year of elementary school, there wasa special event commemorating the school's 10th
anniversary. As a part of the event, I performed sign
language while a chorus group was singing the school
song. This experience inspired me to make a speech
about how to communicate with foreign people withhearing impairments. During my speech, I used sign
language to deliver my speech to people with hearing
impairments.
The rehearsal for the Christmas concert at Kinder
Kids, particularly the teacher's narration, the way toenter the stage, posture, and performancetechniques were all useful to my speech. In addition,
it was beneﬁcial to regularly hear various expressions and pronunciations from teachers who camefrom different countries.
In the Glad Club's Conversation Class, I practiced
how to quickly convey my thoughts, and in the After
School Class, the interesting topics helped me toexpand my vocabulary.

Since I was 5 years old, I loved giant squids and I
wanted many people to know that the deep sea
where giant squids live is now full of garbage. Last
year, when I participated in the contest for the ﬁrst
time I found out that the winners received trophies.
I decided to participate again with the hope to win
one myself. It was my ﬁrst trophy ever, and I wasreally happy to receive it!
At home and on my way to school, I tried topractice even for a little time every day. In myspeech, I conciously added intonation andgestures.
My voice tends to get softer when I get nervous, so
overcoming my nervousness was a challenge forme. To prepare for the possibility of my voice
getting softer when I become nervous during myspeech, I made sure to speak louder during
practice. The opportunity to speak in front of otherstudents during Grad Club lessons was very helpful
for me.
8

Eiken Intensive Course
by Japanese Teachers
has started!!

Successful
Examinee

Grad Chat Eiken Lesson
2023 Eiken ( the second)
Testimonials of Successful Examinees
Results of September Eiken
Intensive Course Students[Grade 3] 6 students ／ 2 passed[Grade Pre-2] 12 students ／ 4 passed

Grad Chat provides lessons to prepare for the Eiken speaking tests by English-speaking teachers.
However, in response to feedback, such as "I can't ﬁnd time to take the Eiken course" or "I am good atspeaking, but I struggle with the writing test," we have started "Grad Chat Eiken Lesson" taught byJapanese teachers. In addition, to strengthening Reading and Writing skills just before the exam, we
have also started an "Eiken Intensive Course".

What is theE x a m in e e
Graduate ofT.Y.
TakatsukiGradeat examEiken Intensive Course ?

Eiken Intensive Course offers short-term intensive lessons available from one month before
the exam until the day before the exam (Reservation is required through an online form).
●Reading：40-minute group lesson ×3●Writing：20-minute private lesson ×1
This course covers all the necessary preparation for the Reading and Writing sections
in a short period.

G2
Grade
Pre - 2

①Highly Experienced Instructors

I enrolled in the “Eiken Intensive Course” as recommended by mymother, and the lessons were excellent. The explanations wereclear and easy to understand. I took the “Eiken Vocabulary
Building” course when I had time. I am truly happy to have passed.
From
his motherHe has soccer practice after school, and due to his busy
schedule, the flexibility of choosing a convenient time for online
lessons at home was very appealing. The correction of the writing
and the feedback to parents were also beneﬁcial. It seems that having
a friend from the same preschool in the same lessons stimulated his
motivation and made taking the lessons more enjoyable. As children
grow and their interests broaden, I believe Grad Chat's Eiken lessons
are excellent for preparing for the Eiken test.

Japanese instructors with over 10 years of experience in Eiken instruction willteach in private lessons and group lessons consisting of up to three students.
②Thorough Learning in Writing section of the test through Private Lessons
The instructors will provide private lessons for English writing, which can be
difﬁcult to study on your own.

E x a m in e e
Graduate of③Distribution of Feedback Sheets after Lessons

M.S.
TakatsukiGradeat exam

After each lesson, a feedback sheet written by the instructor will be distributed. This
sheet points out where to review. By utilizing this sheet, students can continue topractice by themselves or with their parents until the examination day.

G2

Other than the Eiken Intensive Course, we also offer reading and writing lessons in theregular Grad Chat schedule. Students can choose any combination of private or group
lessons, all instructed by Japanese Eiken teachers.

Grade
Pre - 2

I found the Writing Test challenging, so I took Eiken lessons tolearn some tips. Having the teacher correct my writing and teachme how to write long passages were very helpful. I was thrilled
when I knew that I passed.
From
his mother

When he decided to take the Eiken test, there wasn't
much time until the test day. However, with guidance on study
methods for his weak areas from the teachers at Grad Chat, he
was able to pass the test. Also, the tips and advice he received in
the intensive course helped him gain conﬁdence in his writing.Forme, exchanging information about English with other mothers
whose children attend Kinder Kids was a great source ofemotional support.

Please check the Grad Chat website for details, lesson videos, and Q&A!
For inquiries or applications, please contact us at:TEL：06-6573-0166 E-mail：support@gc.kinderkids.ed.jp● Message from an Eiken Teacher ● ● ●E x a m in e e

Our ability to concentrate, which inﬂuences our motivation and abilities, is related
to our state of mind. In the lessons, we cultivate children's conﬁdence and a senseof achievement and nurture the spirit of actively taking on challenges.
In the Eiken test, questions often involve topics like world history, geography,
environment, and technology that elementary school students haven't learned yet.
Even if you understand the questions, you may not be able to answer them because
you don't understand the meaning of the stories.
Hitomi
When you come across words written in katakana or hear words on TV that you don't know, don't hesitate to
ask your parents or teachers and add those words to your vocabulary.
With your strong English skills and a rich vocabulary, you will become an English Super Kid! I'm sure reading
long stories in the Eiken test will become enjoyable for you.

Graduate of

● ●

N.S.
Ibaraki Saito
Grade
at exam
G3
合格級
Le ve l 3

I took the Eiken lessons because there wasn’t much time until the exam, and I felt
studying on my own would be diﬃcult. I was under pressure because I started
studying for Eiken later than other students, but I'm glad I could pass the test. I want
to study English harder to be able to enroll in an American university in the future.
From
his mother

She received clear guidance on how to tackle theReading Section of the test, a section she struggled with. It was goodthat my daughter was given speciﬁc advice such as using “is” too muchin her writing, so she was able to be conscious of this and made thenecessary corrections. I appreciated being able to listen to the advice
together with my daughter in Japanese, as it allowed me to advise her
when she was reviewing the lessons. Thanks to the thoughtful support
to our family, she was able to take the exam with conﬁdence.

10