1. Words used in daily school life

Hogosha

Guardian. Generally refers to parents. But in case of not having parents, refers to the substitute for parents.

HR（Home Room）

Time for class or class activities. Long HR→Once a week. Long time. Short HR→Every morning, and before leaving. For roll-call and general communication.

Houkago

After school time.

Koubai

School store. Selling stationery and so on.

Kinshin

A kind of educational punishment. When a student breaks an important school rule, the student has to stay home and think about what he/she did. If a student under 20 smokes or drinks (In Japan this is against the law) or goes to school by motor bike, the student will be punished and his parents are called to school and warned.

PTA

Parent Teacher Association. Organization of parents and teachers. When a student enters school, their parents or guardians will become a member of the PTA.

Gakushoku

Canteen or Cafeteria. Place for having meals. Not all schools have one.

Shugakuryoko

School trip. At daytime high schools, all second-year students travel for 4 or 5 days.

2. Words used when explaining about grades

Gakki

Term. 1-GAKKI (1st Term)…From April to August. 2-GAKKI (2nd Term)…From September to December. 3-GAKKI (3rd Term)…From January to March
There are schools that run by semester. 1st semester is from April to September, 2nd semester is from October to March.

Tsuchihyo (Tsushinbo)

Report card or school report. Students receive one each term. They have to show it to their parents and get their parents’ signature.

Tan-i

Credit. Almost all subjects will be studied for 1 year. The study time of one subject per week is called 1 Tan-i.
Ex) If the student studies math for 4 hours a week, they will get 4 Tan-I In order to graduate from high school, the student must earn at least 74 credits as set by the school.

Rishu

Applying for and taking subjects/courses. You must have a certain rate of attendance in order to get credit.

Shinro

Student’s educational future. At school, teachers will help you think about your future and find your way in life. It is called Shinro-shido.

Hyoutei

Grade/ result/ record. Marked 1 to 5. 5 is the highest grade. １is marked in red, and is a failure.

Ryunen(Genkyu-ryuuchi)

Repeating the same grade. If a student fails in school or if the student is absent from school for more than a certain amount of days, he/she will not pass on to the next grade.

3. Words used when explaining about entrance examinations

Gansho

Application form for admission. Students must present it before taking the entrance examination.

Shiboukou

School that student wants to apply to.

Shutsugan

Presenting the application for admission to the high school.

Tangan

Applying to only one high school. In case of private school, possibility of passing the examination increases. If you apply to a high school by Tangan and pass the entrance exam, you must enter that school.

Heigan

Applying to more than one high school, not only to one’s first choice, but also to other schools.

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