10/28/10

WoW! It's been over a month since my last update? Time flies when you're having fun. Oops, did I just mention fun on my "boring blog"?

Anyways, here goes the update.

I have made my 100 hours in the classroom mark. Yes, I have observed this one class for over 100 hours. WoW. I wrote up my report and have yet to hear back from my advisor, but the teachers and headmaster at the school have read my report. They had some concerns so I was pulled into the office once again. Basically, the headmaster was a bit concerned about the things I was observing because it "shouldn't" be how I explained it. *shrugs* I mean, I wrote what I saw...what can I say? Hopefully things will work itself out soon.

Oh, and why have I been busy? Hm...events after events after events, perhaps. So I had my University of Tokyo Graduate School of Education's Foreign Student Overnight School Trip. Then I participated in Nikkei Youth Exchange (NYN) Summit Japan 2010, which was also an overnight event. Then I participated in a Foreign Student Cultural Experience Trip that my scholarship sponsored. *whew*

As for University of Tokyo, it's been awesome. I got accepted into the Japanese language program. So along side all my data collection, reading, and writing, I can work on improving my Japanese as well. This is a total bonus since I really wasn't planning on taking a class.

All-n-all, I'm loving my time here. Too bad I didn't think ahead and ask for the 2 year scholarship rather than just 1 year. I guess after I graduate, I can always come back to Japan. ^__^

8/7/10

Here's an update. I rewrote my research questions:

Dual Language Education:
Main: What are the mission, purposes, structure, and program characteristics of dual language education in international schools in Japan?
Sub: What are the characteristics of the school setting, features of the program, personnel and participants involved? How is the curriculum and instruction organized?

Within Students' General Education:
Main: What are the essential educational experiences that underlie students' learning within these types of dual language education programs in international schools?
Sub: How do students understand these experiences? What parent processes (i.e., values, goals, behavior) underlie the roles parents play in supporting student learning? How do teachers structure and influence student learning activities in the classroom? What other features of schools appear to support the learning process in these types of schools?

Ethnography:
Main: Are there any discrepancies between the schools' mission and values and what students actually experience?
Sub: What meanings do participants (e.g., students, teachers, and parents) attach to those discrepancies?

So, a little birdy named, Fred, told me I don't need my Visa. muahahaha. So, I booked my flight and getting ready to leave for Japan. (Fred is a made up character in my world.) I've been saying my goodbyes and slowly packing, while attempting to rewrite my first chapter.

I also got my first scholarship check in the mail today! $10,000 to my name! I'm excited.