Momoyo Ise - AICJ Oshu Education Foundation
UN Association of Japan Board Member

It is considered that the 21st century, more than any other century, will be difficult to predict what is to come. Reasons for this could be the rapid growth of the concept of a borderless world and changes in the environment, both of which were born from the rapid globalization of the world economy and a society enabled by sophisticated technology. In these challenging times, AICJ Junior and Senior High School aims for high educational objectives, nurturing the young generation and enabling them to develop abilities to address the global society and live in this unpredictable future we all face. Thinking of the future global society, most universities and corporations attach great importance to people who are equipped with the ability to play an active role in the international community in the 21st century. Those who are capable of communicating with the world are highly valued in Japan and overseas but there are not yet enough skilled communicators in Japan. Students, through their studies at AICJ, will acquire a strong level of competency needed to be able to actively contribute on the global stage. Education at AICJ is based on a six-year program and our faculty and staff are dedicated to fostering the individual abilities and qualities required for a world leader. This program aims for students to be equipped with the fundamental basics of knowledge required to meet these goals from the first year of junior high school and help students grow so that they understand the importance of social contribution. At AICJ, there are many foreign teachers from different English speaking countries that take an active role in teaching at AICJ, and they teach subjects such as English, Math and Science. Students are provided with a learning environment that enables them to learn natural English through the many opportunities to communicate with individual teachers. Recent global comparisons of educational systems including a study from OECD (Organization of Economic Cooperation Development) report that Japan has fallen in the world education rankings. The major cause of this is a lack of education in fostering individual ability to think independently and analyze logically. Such competency should be cultivated from an early age, such as from junior high school. In AICJ, each grade level sets goals for the students to achieve a certain level of skill to “think and analyze independently” and this is built on throughout the school years. We believe that qualifications students will acquire here will help them to increase their chances for successfully gaining admission to excellent universities. AICJ has deep ties with AICNZ, a sister school in New Zealand. This relationship enables our students take advantage of opportunities to experience using “practical English” in the New Zealand camps. Students’ experiences at AICNZ will be of great benefit to the students in the future.

Carolyn Solomon

AIC Group Executive Principal

Discovering new horizons and exciting possibilities for the future is the trademark of an AICJ education. The AICJ student has only to reach up to catch the star that shines the brightest. In the junior high school lessons are taught in both Japanese and English. Foreign teachers develop English speaking, reading and writing skills. These teachers also introduce students to their cultures and to the wider world. Traditional Japanese values are emphasised. Moral education develops independence and contribution to the school as well as to society. Such activities as Zen and tea ceremony ensure that Japanese traditions are preserved and observed. When they graduate from junior high school, students therefore have a strong sense of who they are as young Japanese and as global citizens. Because of the high caliber of teaching, junior high school students discover their academic talents, so that they well prepared for their senior high school pathway. AICJ senior high school pathway leads to top universities in Japan, because AICJ teachers are experienced in teaching what is needed to get there. In addition to strong academics, senior high school students develop independence with contribution through setting a leadership example to the junior high school students. Those wishing to further develop their bilingualism in a total immersion English speaking environment can apply for the IB Diploma pathway with foreign teachers at AICJ’s affiliate school in New Zealand, Auckland International College, whose graduates receive offers not only from Tokyo University but also from Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia and top universities in other countries. An AICJ student has only to reach for the stars.