Shadowing Practice: What a Day in a Japanese Daycare is like - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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This is a typical work day at a Japanese nursery school.
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This is a typical work day at a Japanese nursery school.
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[Music] Today I'm going inside of a 'hoikuen' - Japanese nursery school - similar in Western countries to a daycare, called St. Marian, which is privately run and located in Tokyo's Ebisu area.
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With an attached learning center, the nursery is known for their exam preparation course for students, to feed into prestigious elementary schools.
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And my curiosity got the better of me, as I had to find out what really happens in a day here and what they're actually learning at such a young age.
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Good morning.
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Good morning!
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This is Aika.
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A teacher at this nursery school responsible for their kindergarten class called, here, kinder for short.
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Which is between 4 and 5 years old.
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So, how long have you been working here?
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It's only been about a year.
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I was working at different nurseries just before this.
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She actually has 8 years of experience working as a nursery school teacher.
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Originally from Aichi Prefecture, she moved to this school about 1 year ago.
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The first thing she does is review notes from parents.
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At Japanese nurseries, it's common to use a reporting system where parents record detailed information.
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From what their kids ate for dinner and breakfast to how they slept, their health, and even their bathroom habits, helping teachers understand each child's condition on that day, ensuring that they can provide the best care and attention possible.
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So, when are the kids coming?
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Drop off is from 8am... in 7 minutes.
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Nice. She's precise!
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Cool! Another worker's here.
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Hi. Are you a teacher, too?
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Yes I am. Oh, do you teach the same class?
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I support the teachers here.
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Awesome. [Doorbell rings] [Music] They're here.
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Oh, the kids are here!
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Good morning.
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Aika handles the handoff and greetings while the other staff helped to put things away.
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Oh, he's wearing 'uwabaki.' Typical Japanese in-room school shoes.
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In Japan, all the way up to high school, kids usually change shoes at the entrance to keep the interior of the school as clean as possible.
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These indoor shoes are also non-slip, making it safe for kids to play in.
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What's that?
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It's a bug!
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What kind of bug?
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A Kuwagata Beetle.
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Oh, that's cool.
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I can't touch it though.
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I hope you can touch it someday!
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Good morning!
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Good morning.
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It's very nice to meet you.
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Wow, so proper!
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How old are they?
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5, 3 and...
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Elementary kids... who have a lot of energy.
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Oh, you have elementary kids in the class, too?
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They're in summer break right now.
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We accept older kids until the end of August.
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At this nursery, they also accept temporary daycare for foreign travelers.
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Quite useful for families with extended stays in Japan!
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Hello, Mr. Cameraman.
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Hello! While waiting for the other kids to arrive, the teachers play with the ones that are here.
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Have fun at work!
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[Music] Hey, what's he doing?
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We have nap time later so he's setting up his own bed as part of his morning routine.
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In Japan, nursery kids learn how to manage their belongings and get ready on their own in the morning.
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Like unpacking their bags when they arrive, getting dressed, and putting away their supplies, which is believed to grow their independence and responsibility.
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Who wants to draw eyes?
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Me! Oh, the kids are doing 'origami'!
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'Ori' means to fold and 'gami' means paper.
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It's a traditional Japanese pastime that continues to this day.
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Still loved by children as part of their everyday play.
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It's also known to improve hand-eye coordination and concentration, making it both a fun and educational activity.
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Looks like they're going to be just playing around here for a little bit.
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So, while they're doing that, let's go explore a little bit!
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[Music] Let's go up these stairs.
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They're quite steep.
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It looks like we have the 0 to 1 year olds here!
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Let's go see what's in this door.
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I guess this is their kitchen.
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Hi. It's hot in here!
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It is. Yeah. What are you doing now?
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I just finished making Bulgogi.
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Looks good!
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We also make baby food - early stage and late stage.
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Apparently, she's responsible for making different dishes depending on the age of the kids.
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Do you plan the menu yourself?
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The menu is planned by Oisix so we cook it accordingly.
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Japanese kindergartens and nurseries generally have their own nutritionist to make food for them.
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It's common for Japanese students to eat balanced meals at school.
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Not just for health, but also as a part of their food education, teaching them what they should be normally eating, preparing them for their adult life.
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Everyone in Kinder class, please sit down.
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If you don't have a vest on, please put it on.
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Now that all the kids are here, each kid goes to their own class.
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We are going to start the morning meeting now.
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Next, it's time for their 'asa no kai,' meaning "morning meeting." Good morning, teacher!
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It's a short session to greet each other.
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The assigned helpers of the day announce today's lunch menu and schedule.
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The style varies from school to school, but it's a meaningful way in Japan for kids to practice speaking in front of others while also taking on responsibilities.
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Let's have a great day.
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Please sit down.
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The older kinder class students will stay here and play.
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Where are you going now?
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We're going to the Sakura classroom downstairs to study a little bit.
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- Oh, why are some of the kids dressed up? - Good question.
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Kids going to the class wear formal attire instead of everyday clothing in order to shift to a study mood.
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Are you ready?
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Yes, I am. Your mouth is?
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Zipped! [Music] Red down!
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Red up! So, this nursery has an exam prep class where kids study different subjects to prepare for entrance exams for prestigious elementary schools in the country.
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In Japan, the entrance exam system for latter schools is called 'ojuken,' and it's extremely competitive.
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With the top schools having an acceptance rate as low as 12%.
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These exams include everything from academic to physical exercises, behavior training, art activities, and even interview practice.
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So, parents who want their kids on the school track are forced to place their kids into cram schools.
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This particular nursery school, though, helps alleviate some of that burden as it prepares its students for the exams as part of their standard everyday curriculum.
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Nice! The kitchen is doing the final plating!
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Lunch is almost ready!
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Kinder class!
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Yes! Are you Mr. Posture right now?
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It's August, and today we're going to do an earthquake evacuation drill.
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Now the kids are doing their monthly emergency evacuation drill called 'hinan kunren.' And today's focus is on earthquakes.
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It's critical that students are well prepared for such disasters in Japan.
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As it's an earthquake-prone country.
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Recording more than 3600 quakes of magnitude 1 or higher in 2024 alone!
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These drills have become a standard part of Japan's educational system, regularly practiced all the way through to high school.
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Next, what's HA?
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Hashiranai! (Don't run.) Now, the students memorize the basic rules of every evacuation using the acronym 'o ha shi,' meaning "don't push, don't run, don't talk." With an emphasis on keeping safe, especially when they're in groups, so they don't panic.
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Oh, that's a 'bousai zukin,' a traditional protective hood used in Japan.
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Its origins date back to World War II when it was designed to protect people from falling debris and fires during air raids.
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Even today, it remains one of the most common safety items used during school evacuations.
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Children regularly practice putting them on quickly and correctly to ensure they're always prepared.
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You helped me, right?
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Who wants to do red?
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Me! Next, the students go outside to play with water, called 'mizu asobi.' It seems like they're learning color mixing through painting experiments.
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Hey, who came up with these activities?
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I came up with this one.
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When we were coloring, the kids weren't sure what colors made what.
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So I thought it would be fun to discover this together.
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As a Japanese nursery school teacher, Aika must also use her creativity to plan fun and interesting activities for the students.
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Thank you for helping. Please hold it with both hands.
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It's almost lunch time now and kids, who are assigned as helpers, plate food for everyone, including drinks and utensils.
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This is common for elementary schools in Japan, but maybe not as common for nurseries.
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I guess here the kids are learning valuable lessons on responsibility early.
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So lunchtime in Japanese nursery isn't just a time to eat for Japanese kids.
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It's also a time to learn manners, try seasonal foods, and understand what a balanced meal looks like.
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An important point is that the teachers adapt their guidance to each child's stage of development.
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What are you teaching at lunch in this class?
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One is posture, another is to make sure their left hand is holding their plate.
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For the Kinder class, we're teaching them to not talk with their mouth full and to close the mouth when they eat.
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Oh man, I'd probably fail this class!
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Hey, what if kids don't like eating something?
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We teach kids to try things at least once but we don't force them to eat anything.
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We help the kids eat little by little.
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Cool, I like that approach!
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[Music] [Sung] It's starting, it's starting!
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"I want to give the baby a present..." After lunch, the students are readied for a nap.
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Aika reads the kids a book to help them calm down while the other teacher helps prepare the beds.
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- The end. - Baby! Baby!
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Good night.
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So nap time is about 2 hours long, and Aika helps to lay the kids to sleep.
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After most of them have nodded off, she passes the class over to 1 of the other teachers so she can take her lunch break.
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[Music] So, what do you do when you're not teaching?
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On my day off, I go out with my friends, or I just rest.
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Nice. What kind of things do you do when you're out?
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I go shopping, eat with friends, and go to the sauna.
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I also like reading.
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What'd you get?
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I got Yuzu Shio ramen salad, coffee and...
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I'm into matcha so I got this matcha Galbo.
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This one is so good.
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It looks good!
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Depending on the day for lunch, she either makes food from home or goes out.
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But today, she's having a conbini lunch with her co-workers.
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[Music] So, who's worked here the longest?
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Among the 4 of us, it's her.
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Oh nice! How long?
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20 years. Wow!
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She's actually a graduate from here.
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Apparently, her little sister was actually in the teacher's 0 year old class many years ago.
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So, what do you like most about this place?
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I love the people here.
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I also enjoy my work.
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And what about you?
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Like she was saying, I also like how everyone gets along here.
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I appreciate that I can easily discuss any concerns I may have with the team.
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Also, I think its great that the kids here can experience many things.
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[Music] After lunch, she spends the rest of her time doing office work.
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Since she's with the kids all day, this is 1 of the times she can attend to her administrative responsibilities.
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So, what are you working on?
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I'm putting together the daily activity report for the parents.
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At this nursery, teachers take photos throughout the day to share with parents via their online reporting system.
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Each report includes pictures and short comments describing the activities so parents can see what their children were doing that day.
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Definitely something I'd appreciate as a parent myself!
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Good morning.
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Time to wake up.
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Did you sleep well?
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[Paolo laughs] The kids seem sleepy!
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The ones with sticks are for the Kinder class.
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Right after nap time, the kids are provided a snack.
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Again, assigned kids help serve the food and drinks prepared by the nutritionist.
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You can't eat yet?
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We have to sing a song first.
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So, you wait?
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We didn't say "Itadakimasu" yet...
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They're such good kids!
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Oh, they're singing again.
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I guess this is pretty common in Japanese nurseries.
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[Music] Thank you for the food.
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In Japan, it's customary to formally say thank you as a group before meals.
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I guess they're having 'gouhei mochi' and milk today!
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There you go.
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Thank you. Next is 'shuji,' a Japanese calligraphy class.
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A common curriculum students start to learn in elementary school, but it's not very common at nurseries.
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The purpose of the class is not to simply write beautiful characters, but to also help develop the students' focus through precise hand movements.
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In fact, every week at this nursery, kids get to experience different kinds of lessons and activities.
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Like karate, gymnastics, dance, and even instruments!
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Again, not typical in public nurseries.
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Thank you so much.
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How are you?
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Oh, the school's English class just started!
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It's an optional class, so some kids don't attend.
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In Japan, the official English curriculum starts from third grade.
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But since many parents wish for their children to master the language, it's become 1 of the most popular after-school programs in the country that is privately taught.
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After 4pm, parents are returning to pick up their kids.
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And during the handoff, teachers share highlights from the day's activities and mention any unexpected incidents.
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All right, so we're going to end it here.
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It looks like the parents are coming now.
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If you guys like this video, like always, help me out with that like button.
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And if you guys want to see more videos like this or anything related to Japan, Hit that subscribe button and the bell button and I'll catch you guys in the next one!
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Context & Background
In the video "What a Day in a Japanese Daycare is like," the host takes the viewer on a journey inside a Japanese nursery school, known as a ‘hoikuen.’ The setting is St. Marian, located in Tokyo’s Ebisu area, where the curriculum not only meets childcare needs but also prepares young children for entrance into prestigious elementary schools. With the involvement of experienced teachers like Aika, viewers gain insight into the structured yet nurturing environment of the daycare, emphasizing the importance of daily routines and parental communication.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- Good morning! – A common greeting that establishes a friendly atmosphere.
- How are you? – An essential question for engaging in small talk and showing care.
- Let's put things away. – A directive commonly used in educational settings to prompt organization.
- What kind of bug is that? – A curious inquiry that encourages discussions about nature.
- It’s very nice to meet you. – A polite phrase used when greeting someone for the first time.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively learn English from this video, consider employing the shadowspeak technique, where you mimic native phrases and expressions. Here's a step-by-step guide to tackle the video’s content and improve your speaking skills:
- Listen and Observe: Start by watching the video with a focus on the speaker’s tone and pronunciation. Pay attention to how they engage with children and other teachers.
- Choose Phrases: Select phrases that resonate with you, such as "Good morning!" or "What kind of bug is that?" These are practical for daily communication.
- Use a Shadowing App: Open a shadowing app to play the selected clips repeatedly. Try to repeat what you hear, mimicking the speaker's intonation and pace.
- Practice with a Partner: If possible, practice these phrases with a language partner to gain confidence and receive immediate feedback.
- Reflect and Adjust: Record yourself using the phrases and compare your pronunciation with the original. Make adjustments as necessary and keep practicing until you feel comfortable.
By utilizing the shadowing technique and leveraging resources such as videos, you can enhance your English speaking skills effectively. Remember, consistency is key in your journey to learn English with YouTube!
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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