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- March ①Neighborhood Association × Disaster Preparedness ➁Enriching English Communication ③A Little Helping Hand
從這裡開始是正文
March ①Neighborhood Association × Disaster Preparedness ➁Enriching English Communication ③A Little Helping Hand
This is an abridged version of “Koho Yokohama Naka-ku Ban,” Naka Ward Office’s public relations magazine. （Click here for the multilingual website of “Koho Yokohama City Edition”） Please note that all information is correct as of the time of publication and may be subject to change.
Last updated date：2024/10/3
▶▶ Events
Neighborhood Association × Disaster Preparedness: Building Relationships that Enable Members of the Community to Help Each Other through Daily Communication
[Inquiries] Chiiki Katsudō Tantō(Community Activities Subdivision),
Naka Ward Office Tel: 045-224-8132 Fax: 045-224-8215
Neighborhood associations routinely engage in a broad range of community-wide activities, such as holding festivals, sports days and other events, child-rearing gatherings, and group meal events for the elderly living alone.
This month, under the theme of disaster prevention, a topic which is of particular concern to us, we talk to the chairpersons of neighborhood associations, who kindly agreed to tell us about some of the activities taking place in the community.
In the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995, about 80% of people trapped under collapsed houses were rescued by family members or neighbors. Immediately after a disaster, it is not always possible for rescue workers to arrive promptly. It is therefore important to build relationships of mutual aid on a regular basis so that we can cooperate and help each other out in times of need.
Mr. Kanda
Chairperson, Dai 1 Hokubu
What kind of disaster preparedness activities are neighborhood associations involved in?
In cooperation with the fire department and other organizations, neighborhood associations conduct lifesaving training and initial firefighting drills based on the assumption of a fire.
Some neighborhood associations maintain their own disaster stockpiles where they store food, drinking water, generators, and other items that would be necessary in the event of an emergency.
Lifesaving training
A neighborhood association’s disaster stockpile
Who manages evacuation sites in the event of a disaster?
Evacuation sites are operated by local residents helping each other. The cooperation of all evacuees is important for the smooth operation of evacuation sites.
[A disaster drill taking place in the community]
Setting up tents for shelters
Drill for accepting evacuees during the COVID-19 pandemic
Exchanging greetings and maintaining casual social interaction with neighbors on a daily basis will help ensure smooth confirmation of everyone’s safety and a sense of security in the event of an evacuation.
Mr. Niwa
Chairperson, Honmoku / Negishi
Ms. Kojima
Chairperson, Dai 4 Nanbu
Inquiries concerning disaster preparedness: Shomu-gakari (General Affairs Section), Naka Ward Office
Tel: 045-224-8112 Fax: 045-224-8109
How can I make connections with the community?
For example, participating in community events and disaster drills conducted by neighborhood associations on a regular basis will help you get to know each other and connect with the community.
[By building face-to-face relationships...]
It is easier for people to notice small changes, not only in times of disaster, but also when watching over children or with crime prevention.
Mr. Yoda
Chairperson, Ishikawa Uchikoshi
It is easier to receive a variety of information, including announcements from the community.
Mr. Hanai
Chairperson, Dai 1 Chubu
Neighborhood associations are engaged in the following kinds of activities:
Disaster preparedness
Providing a place for people to become acquainted with each other
Childcare support
Watching over the elderly
Beautification of the community
Crime prevention and traffic safety
⇒ 鄰居組合support a居住環境for任何人in the Community!(外部網站)(Japan)
➁ Enriching English Communication ～Five Public Junior High Schools in Naka Ward Out into Practice the Yokohama Round System of English Language Learning and Instruction!～
[Inquiries] Gakkō Renkei/Kodomo Tantō (School Cooperation and Children Support Subdivision),
Naka Ward Office Tel: 045-224-8139 Fax: 045-224-8159
Have you heard of the “Yokohama Round System” for teaching English? In Naka Ward, Yokohama Yoshida Junior High School introduced this instructional method in 2016, followed by Honmoku Junior High School, and from 2022, all five public junior high schools in Naka Ward are rolling it out, with each school devising its own English learning method.
In this issue, we will introduce English learning at public junior high schools in Naka Ward, where there are many non-Japanese residents and people with ties to foreign countries.
The Yokohama Round System is a method of learning and teaching which adopts the 5 Round System with additional features.
What is the “5 Round System”?
In one year of English classes, students study one textbook five times, repeating it in different sections. Through repetition, they aim to improve their overall English proficiency.
Round 1 Listening
Students listen to the audio to understand the outline of the story.
Round 2 Matching sounds and letters
Students identify the letters in the textbook while listening to the audio.
Round 3 Reading aloud
Students practice reading aloud over and over again.
Round 4 Reading aloud with blanks in the text
Students read aloud using a worksheet with blanks for verbs and other words in the text.
Round 5 Retelling
Students explain the content of the textbook using their own words.
What are the additional features?
Based on the 5 Round System, teachers set the number of rounds and tweak and improve lesson designs according to the actual conditions of each school.
Examples of specific measures
- Measures to encourage students to communicate with each other in English
- Measures to stimulate communication between teachers and students, and among students (pair and group work, etc.)
- Measures to encourage students to think and learn on their own
- Measures to make use of ICT equipment, such as by providing one terminal for each student, etc.
Additional features adopted at Yokohama Yoshida Junior High School
Focus on clarity. Conversation activities in pairs every hour.
The first half of the class is divided into two halves: in the first half, students engage in small talks about familiar topics in English, and in the second half, they work on the 5 Round System.
In the small talks, students are encouraged to use English to express what they want to say, and we focus on topics that interest them, such as topics from the textbooks and familiar topics such as school events. We use stories about New Year’s in China, the Philippines, and other countries to encourage students to not only output English, but also to become interested in the culture behind their friends’ lives.
Emi Himaki
Teacher, Yokohama Yoshida Junior High School
We asked members of Yokohama Yoshida Junior High School what they think about the system
Making English the common language of the school
About half of the students at Yokohama Yoshida Junior High School are of non-Japanese nationality or have connections to foreign countries, and about half of these students require Japanese language instruction. Therefore, building friendly relationships among students has been a challenge for the school. Accordingly, we decided to make English classes a place for communication, and began teaching using this instructional method. We have seen steady results through changes in the language spoken by the students, their responses in class, and the rate at which they have passed the EIKEN test.
Tsukasa Yonemori
Principal, Yokohama Yoshida Junior High School
I want to be able to communicate in English and get involved in solving environmental problems (SDGs)!
I think I have acquired great communication skills because we read textbooks in pairs and engage in a lot of conversation. Conversations I had using gestures, etc. with friends who are non-Japanese nationals or have connections to foreign countries turned into conversations in English, and I gradually became able to convey what I wanted to say.
Rimi Komatsu
Yokohama Yoshida Junior High School
Talking with friends during break time
English class in progress
③ Multicultural Coexistence Column: A Little Helping Hand
[Inquiries]Kikaku Chōsei-gakari (Planning and Adjustment Section),
Naka Ward Office Tel: 045-224-8127 Fax: 045-224-8214
Disaster preparedness for pets
In addition to pet owners being prepared for disasters, it is also necessary for people in the community to understand what to do when evacuating with their pets.
Mr. Yoshida (Japanese)
I heard that in Sweden, you can ride buses and trains without putting your pet dog in a cage.
Anna (Swedish)
Yes. Many owners attend dog training classes and learn how to train their dogs.
The dogs know how to behave and understand their surroundings, so it is safe to ride with them.
Ms. Yamashita, a neighbor (who likes to take care of people)
Training will be very useful even in times of disaster.
How can pet owners prepare for disasters in Japan?
In principle, pets must be kept in cages at evacuation sites in Yokohama City. Guidelines for pet countermeasures in times of disaster and leaflets in foreign languages for pet owners are available for reference.
It would be great if everyone, pet owners and non-pet owners alike, can evacuate with peace of mind.
⇒ Measures for pets in times of disaster(Japanese) (Animal Protection Center)
⇒ Measures for pets in times of disaster at evacuation shelters (Kankyō Eisei-gakari (Japanese)(Environmental Sanitation Section), Naka Ward Office)
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