PARENTS' VOICE
They have become confident in communicating in English, even when traveling abroad.
The reason our family chose EIS is because, during the trial enrollment, we felt it was an environment where our children could freely express themselves. Both of us parents were raised under the Japanese education system, and the mother was a teacher at a Japanese public school. However, we often felt a sense of rigidity and uniformity in the public education system in Japan. As society becomes increasingly globalized, we wanted our children to broaden their perspectives by learning alongside teachers and friends from various countries and to grow their ability to express themselves within a diversity of values.
As a result, all three of our children began attending EIS from the Foundation Class, and each of them has experienced remarkable growth. What stands out the most is how the teachers and school staff support and encourage each child’s development while respecting their individuality.
There are many things we are happy about after enrolling our children in EIS. Most of all, we are overjoyed to see how much they enjoy going to school every day. The school’s curriculum incorporates play into learning, and through collaborative activities with friends, they naturally learn the importance of social skills and teamwork.
At home, the children speak Japanese with us, but since English is mainly used at school, they sometimes speak English with each other as siblings. They have also become confident in communicating in English, even when traveling abroad.
Another reason we chose EIS was because it follows the IB (International Baccalaureate) curriculum, which allows for a smooth transition in education should we decide to move overseas in the future. We also truly appreciate the spacious schoolyard and building. From daily outdoor play to school events, everything takes place in a large open field with artificial turf, offering a wonderful environment where the children can fully enjoy themselves.
We feel EIS provides a joyful and fulfilling learning experience for our children. We are truly grateful to have the opportunity to send them to this school.
The most significant growth we’ve observed is our child’s ability to express their thoughts clearly.
Reasons for Choosing EIS
One of the main reasons was our desire for an international educational environment. We were looking for a setting where our children could be exposed to diversity and develop the perspectives and values needed to succeed in the global arena. EIS stood out for its educational philosophy, track record, and environment, where students of various nationalities and a wide range of ages, from Foundation to high school, gather. Additionally, we were deeply impressed during our visit by the enthusiasm of the teachers and the atmosphere of the entire school, particularly how teachers remembered the names of students they were not directly responsible for. This school truly respects each student and is committed to bringing out their abilities, which strongly resonated with us. Beyond education, their focus on character development was another significant factor in choosing EIS. We enrolled our children from the infant program (now the foundation class), confident that the school would treat our two very different children as unique individuals.
Benefits of Enrolling in EIS
Above all, seeing our children thrive and enjoy their school life is the most rewarding. They have developed a willingness to challenge themselves in areas they previously showed no interest in, and they have gained confidence through interactions with new friends and teachers. The quality of education is exceptionally high, particularly in English-centered learning, which has naturally facilitated adaptation to a multilingual environment. Moreover, participating actively in international events and extracurricular activities has fostered cultural understanding and communication skills. The school provides photos and videos of daily activities and detailed reports at the end of the school year, giving us an unparalleled sense of security and satisfaction as parents.
Memorable Experiences at EIS
The International Festival hosted by the school left a profound impression on us. Our child had the opportunity to present their own culture while learning about and embracing those of other countries. In addition, during group projects in class, our child demonstrated leadership and worked collaboratively with peers to achieve their goals, which was incredibly reassuring to see. What struck us most was the way children approach learning with both enjoyment and seriousness. The overall school experience has been invaluable not just as a place for academic growth but also as a stage for personal development.
Our Child’s Development and Growth
The most significant growth we’ve observed is our child’s ability to express their thoughts clearly. Through school discussions and presentations, they have enhanced their communication skills, showing respect for their own opinions while listening to others. We were also amazed by their newfound spirit of challenge and willingness to take on new things. Beyond academics, their sense of responsibility and independence has noticeably improved, leaving us deeply impressed as parents. Reflecting on our own childhood at their age, we are astonished by the equal footing they achieve in communicating with us as parents. Moreover, while we initially considered English proficiency a secondary benefit, their pronunciation has evolved to near-native levels, distinct from the katakana English typical in Japanese schooling. This strong foundation in language skills will undoubtedly benefit their lifelong learning. We are now confident that the experiences they have gained at school will significantly contribute to their future.
Hopes for Our Children and EIS
We hope that the school continues to provide a flexible and creative curriculum that maximizes the potential of each child. We also look forward to further deepening the skills and values required in an international society. For our child, we hope they continue to embrace new challenges fearlessly and enjoy their journey of personal growth. Moreover, we anticipate that EIS will further develop its unique educational philosophy and environment, evolving as a platform that fosters the leaders of the next generation.
We’ve been very pleased with how the school encourages a balanced development in academics, sports, and social life.
Language and Curriculum Continuity
Since our stay in Japan as part of an international assignment, it was important for our children to continue their education in English with a globally recognized curriculum. This ensures a smoother academic transition whether we return to our home country or move to another location in the future. Enishi International School met all these requirements.
Since the local Japanese curriculum and language could have posed a major adjustment, Enishi international school offered a more stable and familiar learning environment, allowing our children to focus on their studies without additional pressure.
What have been the positive aspects of your children experience at EIS?
Our experience with Enishi International School has been very positive, especially for our son Arehone. One of the highlights has been his active involvement in sports—he’s really enjoyed participating in both soccer and athletics. The school offers great opportunities for physical activity, which has helped them stay engaged and motivated outside the classroom.
Another wonderful aspect has been the diverse and inclusive environment. They formed friendships not only with Japanese students but also with children from other countries, which has broadened their social circle and helped them develop a strong sense of cultural awareness and openness.
Overall, the supportive community at Enishi has helped them thrive both academically and personally. We’ve been very pleased with how the school encourages a balanced development in academics, sports, and social life.
Are there any memorable moments or experiences at EIS that stand out to you?
Yes, there have been a few memorable moments that stand out to us from Arehone time at EIS.
One was during the 2 school’s sports days, 1st it was soccer, and the recent one was athletics. Seeing him compete with such energy and confidence and cheering alongside other parents from different countries was a special moment for us. It really highlighted the school’s strong sense of community and the positive, encouraging environment they’ve built for the students.
Another memorable experience is when the children come home and tell us how they and their classmates worked together on different projects. They came home excited to share what they’d learned about different countries and proud of the part the played in introducing others to their own cultural background. It is a great example of how EIS promotes global awareness in a fun and engaging way. Those kinds of experiences have really helped them grow, not just academically, but also socially and emotionally.
What changes or growth have you noticed in your children
Since our children started at EIS, We’ve noticed several positive changes and areas of growth.
They have become much more confident and independent. Being in a diverse, multicultural environment has really encouraged them to express themselves more openly, both in and outside of the classroom. They are more comfortable interacting with people from different backgrounds and cultures, which I think is a valuable life skill.
It’s been great to see how the school nurtures both academic and extracurricular development, which has helped our children tremendously.
Socially, they become more outgoing, especially Mukundi. Making friends from different countries, including Japanese classmates, has helped them become more open-minded and adaptable. They have gained a broader perspective and seems genuinely curious about the world around them.
Overall, we feel they have grown into a well-rounded, confident young people and we credit a big part of that to the supportive and inclusive environment at EIS.
What are your expectations for your child or for EIS moving forward
Looking ahead, our expectations for our children at EIS are centred around their continued personal, academic, and social growth.
We hope the school will continue to provide a well-balanced education that nurtures both academic excellence and character development. Each of our children has different strengths and personalities, so we appreciate that EIS offers an environment where they can thrive as individuals, whether it’s through sports, creative activities, or academic pursuits.
We would like to see them develop not only strong academic foundations but also qualities like resilience, empathy, and curiosity. It’s important to us that they continue to build their confidence and global awareness skills that will serve them well no matter where life takes them.
For EIS, I hope the school keeps evolving with the times maintaining its inclusive, supportive atmosphere while continuing to expand opportunities in areas like STEM, languages, the arts, and extracurriculars. We also hope they continue strengthening connections between parents, teachers, and students, as that strong community support is one of the things we value most about the school.
We want our children to look back at their time at EIS as a meaningful and joyful part of their childhood where they not only learned, but also felt seen, supported, and inspired.
Little by little growing by sensing a new and exciting experience
It is not easy to adapt to a new life in a completely different country and the support of a good school is essential in this process. My daughters found themselves very comfortable since day one in this school and little by little are growing by sensing a new and exciting experience – not to mention facing the challenge of communicating in a second language and learning a third one. We would like to thank the kind support of teachers and staff and know the school is open to hear our feedback as parents and to exchange ideas in order to improve even more the learning process with foreign kids.
They not only improved their English skills but also gained the confidence to express their opinions openly.
It feels nostalgic to think back to four years ago when we enrolled our daughter—who barely spoke any Japanese at the time—into Infant (current Foundation) class. There were days when she cried on her way to school, but now she is in Kindergarten. Not only has her English improved significantly, but thanks to activities like Show and Tell, which are not common in Japan, she has also developed the confidence to express her thoughts clearly and proudly.
This year, our son also started in the Infant class. When I look back at the communication notebooks from our daughter’s time in Infant and Toddler classes, I’m reminded of all the unique experiences she had—experiences she wouldn’t have had at home. She was always glowing with energy and having so much fun. From Infant to Kindergarten, every teacher has been kind, fun, and full of personality. Each teacher has acknowledged and praised our children’s growth without comparing them to others. They truly understood our daughter’s individuality and helped guide her in a positive direction, which was also a valuable learning experience for me as a parent.
As for learning English, I’ve come to realize that it’s much more important to pick up language and expressions naturally in daily life than to just study grammar. Our daughter also studies English at Kumon, but we’ve noticed that through conversations at school, she naturally absorbs grammar without even formally learning it yet. It’s amazing to see her speaking with beautiful pronunciation—better than I can manage—and teaching me patiently. I’m truly grateful to the principal and all the teachers for constantly improving the curriculum each year.
Aside from the teachers and the curriculum, another thing we truly appreciated was the diverse class environment. With more than half of the students being from international backgrounds, our children had the chance to experience different cultures naturally. They enjoy looking at world maps and flags, learning words from their friends’ native languages, and exploring different cultures through their friendships.
We feel incredibly fortunate that our children have had such a wonderful time, made so many friends, and that we’ve had the chance to connect with families who we hope to stay in touch with for many years to come.
The time spent here will surely become a valuable asset in their lives
Japan is finally making rapid progress toward globalization. With just a click, we can now connect with the world through our computers—bringing in both good and bad information from across the globe. As parents raising children in such a connected society, we naturally began to consider international school as a unique and valuable option, hoping that our children would grow up to thrive in a globalized world.
At the international school where our son and daughter currently attend, they are immersed in English and different cultures on a daily basis. By constantly hearing English, they have become accustomed to the language—not through rote memorization or textbook learning, but through natural exposure. English is becoming second nature to them.
But it’s not just about English. The school also provides a space where children become familiar with interacting across cultures. Our children have grown more confident in communicating and engaging with people from various backgrounds. At the same time, the school offers a solid Japanese curriculum, and we feel that it instills a strong awareness of Japanese culture and traditions as well.
One of the things we admire most is the approach of the teachers. They never scold. Instead, they guide students to think independently and find their own solutions. Thanks to this nurturing guidance, our children are gradually learning to express themselves clearly and to take responsibility for their actions.
The teachers also make a point of acknowledging each child’s progress and unique strengths in detail. This encouragement fosters a safe and supportive learning environment where students aren’t afraid to make mistakes. We truly feel that our children are growing and learning with confidence every day.
Thanks to the school’s warm support and excellent educational program, our children have discovered a new world of possibilities. I firmly believe that the time they’ve spent here will become a precious asset when they grow up.
