Afterschool JHS + SHS
Why choose KOBILS at High School?
KOBILS offers a range of classes for high level Eikaiwa students – fluent and native speakers.
Level appropriate classes and assessment
Students are placed in classes based on overall level for speaking, reading, writing and listening. Students with high academic skills maybe placed in more challenging classes. Independent Learning Plans (ILPs) are issued which focus on student weaknesses and areas for development. Students are assessed on the Common European Framework for English learning (CEFR).
Classes tailored to student needs
Courses are designed based on needs analyses that identify a student’s weaknesses and future aspirations. While a textbook may be chosen to reflect the general needs of a class, sections of the class will be spent on academic skills, exam preparation, and individual interests too.
English Immersion environment with awareness of JHS / HS curriculum and goals
While the classes are taught exclusively in English, teachers are aware of JHS and HS English curriculum goals and will make comparisons and draw on students’ experiences in their regular school classes too. Occasional translation is encouraged to draw comparisons and solidify concepts when appropriate.
Experienced, full-time native teachers
All classes are taught by our full-time native English teachers, who are trained and licensed teachers, and/or skilled and experienced with working with children of this age group, and often bilingual too. All our teachers are motivated and excited about working with our children and strive to maintain a fun and stimulating learning environment.
A huge library and online content too!
The biggest English library of books outside of full-time international schools in Kansai, students can borrow up to three books at a time and we are constantly adding to our library at student request and to reflect students’ interests. So our students read a lot. We also intermittently join online classrooms like RAZ-kids which help with improving reading speed, increasing vocabulary and developing test skills.
Communication with Parents
We talk to parents after class or by email when appropriate. We let you know about your child’s successes and also their challenges. We have extensive annual reports and parent-teacher meetings. We also post to our blog and take videos of the children. We have a parent’s Facebook group where we post regular photos, homework assignments and news. So you can always keep in touch with and support your child’s learning.
Successful international placements
We have successfully placed children in US boarding schools and international schools in the UAE, the U.S. and Japan. All children have enjoyed a seamless transition and their academic abilities have been remarked on as impressive!
Test success without explicit test preparation
We do not spend entire courses preparing students for exams but we may spend 10 or 15 minutes of a class developing specific test skills. We encourage children to take PET and KET for schools, and First Certificate which provide communicative and literacy testing specifically designed for children. Students are also encouraged and supported in taking EIKEN tests, although we usually find students do well. In High School we may spend some time on TOEFL preparation or whichever other tests students are interested in taking. Please note, however, that we do not provide any test preparation courses. We strongly believe that test success will follow good English skills and courses dedicated to test-taking divert a student’s attention from really improving their active use of English.
Critical Thinking and Discussion
An important part of our classes are critical thinking and discussion skills. Students are encouraged to work out answers for themselves, find information themselves, deal with texts above their level, and discuss their findings with classmates.
Junior High School and High School Success
Our students do well in the English portion of juken and in JHS and HS tests. They recognise the difference between English studied for high school and English taught at KOBILS and are able to apply what they know and maintain perfect or almost perfect test scores, despite the differences in focus. To date, students have joined Suma Gakuen, Nagata, Fukiai specialist English program and Konan Boy’s School among other schools. We have had one JHS graduate who has won the Kobe High School Speech contest, and another has represented Kobe in Australia after beating out other children from junior high schools across Kobe. Most children have passed EIKEN 2 kyu by first grade JHS and pre-1 kyu after that.
How Can My Child Join?
Applications open in September the previous year for the grade one program starting in April the following year. We encourage early enrolment to ensure you get the best class choice. We also have rolling enrolment where places are available. Make an appointment or just drop by the school on a Saturday morning to get an idea of the flavor of the course and the academic content and atmosphere. We’re always happy to meet people as excited and interested about learning as us.