AT THE FRENCH-JAPANESE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL & MIDDLE SCHOOL OF TOKYO

Middle school of excellence where all students have equal chances of success, for a successful entrance in high school

The French-Japanese International School of Tokyo offers a repetition service by qualified teachers of the middle school programs (and inquiry based), in accordance with the national academic calendar established by the French Ministry of Education. This is a key position that places the middle school as close as possible to the curriculum and diplomas of reference.

Middle school education is organized into four levels and structured in pedagogical cycles. These cycles make it possible to assess, over a longer period of time, the skills and knowledge acquired by students and to set up more effective pedagogical support. All students in the middle school receive 26 hours of instruction, to which may be added optional instruction.

Timetables in Grades 6 to 9 (cycle 3 & 4)

Cycle 3 (and the Cycle 4), the consolidation cycle, unites the 4th Grade, the 5th Grade, and the 6th Grade. It thus makes it possible to improve the continuity and coherence of learning, based on a teaching program written for all three years.

The purpose of the sixth grade is to consolidate the fundamental knowledge acquired in elementary school and to introduce students to the disciplines and methods specific to secondary education.

A school report, containing the periodic assessments of cycle 3 and the end of cycle 2, is sent by the schools to the middle school teams in order to facilitate the implementation of pedagogical support in the context of the teaching provided in sixième (common and complementary teaching).

The number of hours of compulsory courses applicable to students in Grades 6 to 9 (26 hours):

Courses: Physical Education (4 hours), artistic education (visual arts plus musical education, 2 hours), French (or another language, 4,5 hours), history-geography and moral and civic education (3 hours), modern language (4 hours), mathematics (4,5 hours), science, technology, physics-chemistry (4 hours).

EIFJ's mission is also to promote international understanding through bilingual education, the mixing of cultures and constant educational innovation.

We strive daily to develop and consolidate social skills: respecting others, communicating with fellow human beings in a multilingual and multicultural community, learning to live together are essential assets for a balanced and fulfilling adult life,

The program is taught by a team of dedicated and passionate French, Japanese & English speaking teachers.

Schedule: 26 hours of daily class over 36 weeks (13 hours in French, 13 hours in Japanese or English)

• 8:30 : first round of classes
• noon: lunch (meal provided by the family or EIFJ cafeteria)
• 13:00 : second round of classes
• 16:00 : beginning of the after-school activities and homework sessions

2023-2024 CLASSES

• Bilingual French-English, French-Japanese or English-Japanese 6th & 7th Grade (11~12 & 12~13 year olds)
• French only, English or Japanese only classes

Examples of pedagogical projects undertaken in the Fall term 2023-2024:

• European Sustainable Development Week in Cycles 2 and 3 (Grades 1 to 5)
• Sep 28 World Maritime Day in Cycle 4 (Middle School)
• Oct 14 National Air Quality Day in Cycle 4 (Middle School)
• Oct 16 World Food Day in all cycles (Preschool Elementary & Middle School)
• Oct 17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty in Cycle 4 (Middle School)
• Oct 2 to Oct 18 Climate Week in Cycles 3 and 4 (Grades 4 to 7)
• Nov 11 to Nov 26 European Week for Waste Reduction in Cycle 4 (Middle School)
• Nov 29 International Children's Rights Day in all cycles (Preschool Elementary & Middle School)
• Dec 20 International Human Solidarity Day in Cycles 2, 3 and 4 (Grades 1 to 7)

2024-2025 CLASSES

• Bilingual French-English, French-Japanese or English-Japanese 6th & 7th Grade (11~12 & 12~13 year olds)
• Bilingual French-English, French-Japanese or English-Japanese 8th & 9th Grade (13~14 & 14~15 year olds)
• French only, English or Japanese only classes

Depending on the increase in the students' headcount, single-grade classes will be created, and additional teachers recruited.

DIFFERENTIATION & SPLITTING MECHANISM

Language development and fluency in French (Japanese and English as well) are one of the priorities of EIFJ program. How to learn in a multilingual, multicultural and multi-level classroom? EIFJ Tokyo rethinks differentiation by setting up a splitting mechanism allowing everyone to progress according to each student’s level and needs. EIFJ “French as a Foreign Language” (FLE) teachers intervene during the French and language study sessions: they take responsibility of the group of students who are new to the French language, as needed, daily and within the framework of a dedicated language learning and consolidating workshop, hence benefiting from the experience of our teachers and teaching methods specific to FLE. This unique mechanism allows these students to acquire sufficient language skills, to return to the main course daily led by the certified teacher, and to follow the official program with students whose mastery of French is advanced or in accordance with the expectations of their age. In addition to this remarkable system, intensive courses in FLE (French), ESL (English), JSL (Japanese) as well as other languages ​​are offered every day as part of extracurricular activities.

CALENDAR

Classes are held five days per week, Monday to Friday. Although we highly encourage, for obvious pedagogical reasons, students to attend all weekly classes (termly or annual tuition fees), it is possible to attend classes on a short-term childcare basis (hourly fees). The calendar is based on the French academic calendar, which is similar to other Western academic calendars. The school opens at 7:30 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. EIFJ is closed during Japanese public holidays (short-term childcare is possible all-year-round, though, upon demand). Lessons are not provided during the term breaks, but very popular holiday schools are organized.

You can find out about tuition fees and information about scholarships by clicking here.

SPECIFIC INFORMATION RELATING TO THE EDUCATION PATH OF JAPANESE AND BINATIONAL STUDENTS

Students’ transfers from EIFJ Tokyo to elementary, middle and high school in Japan are possible for those who wish:

• The double enrollment of Japanese or binational elementary students in a Japanese school and EIFJ Tokyo is recommended to comply with the education law, and equivalency is allowed through a close and permanent contact between the Japanese school and EIFJ Tokyo.
• Lessons in the French-Japanese bilingual elementary program are provided for a half in Japanese language, by certified teachers and / or holders of MEXT (Japanese ministry of national education). Subjects like history, culture, customs are taught just as they are in Japanese schools.
• The prospects for EIFJ Tokyo are, in the near future, to be recognized as 一条校 (general term for schools, defined in Article 1 of the Education Law, which are recognized by Japanese government and provide education based on the academic programs prescribed by MEXT). In addition, the future international accreditations (project and inquiry-based learning) will allow Japanese students who have studied at EIFJ Tokyo to be admitted to the Japanese or international university of their choice. Admission to a French university is also possible following an assessment of the student's scores.