Nintendo: A Tool for Japan's Schools

Japan is truly taking interactive learning to a whole new level. English teachers in Tokyo Joshi Gakuen school in Japan are starting to use DS consoles as the latest tool andtechnology in their English curriculum. This has been a growing trend in Japan as more and more instructors use video games as a teaching tool.

Fun and games are often used in classroom settings to let students enjoy their learning processes. Games such as scrabble and cranium are played amongst elementary school and ESL students, but schools in Japan are now turning to technology for assistance. It makes sense. Students growing up in this generation are more familiar with Super Smash Brothers and Brain Age than Scrabble. Who knows, it might even create less stress during the learning process!

Motoko Okubo, a junior high school teacher, has used the handheld DS and its complimentary textbook software since May in weekly sessions. These English tools help students focus on vocabulary, penmanship and audio comprehension.  

Students have always struggled to learn English in Japan, and it has always been an ongoing issue that schools want to address. Nintendo DS consoles might just be the solution.

People have been aware of the educational uses for the Nintendo DS, but actually including the console in the school's curriculum was rarely thought of. Japan is a true leader in this type of interactive education system. However, even though Joshi Gakuen wasn't the only school that uses the DS console as a learning tool, Nintendo remains a rare find at most Japanese schools. At selected schools from Tokyo to Kyoto, the console and stylus are emplolyed in math, Japanese and English classes. Teaching tools decisions are still up to the individual schools as suggested by Japan's education ministry, but if I am the student, I would rather choose the DS than grind away at worksheets.