DSK International - International School in Kobe

One Student - Three Languages

Language is vital to our identity and thereby shapes the way we act and interact. It is used as a tool to communicate feelings, ideas and experiences with other people. People use language to develop an understanding of the world and to construct meaning. It is key to development at social, emotional and cognitive levels and therefore all pupils regardless of their origin are language learners and all teachers, regardless of their specialty, are language teachers.

Within our curriculum and school life language is a medium of inquiry and is central to children’s intellectual and emotional development. Children develop language as they develop thought, and they develop thought as they develop language. The three languages used at DSKI are English, German and Japanese.

"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart."

Nelson Mandela

Where does my child fit in?

The two main branches are German and International (English language). Though learners spend most of their day together in an integrated classroom with both English and German-speaking homeroom teachers, math and language instruction occurs in either German or English.

Your child will be placed into either the German branch or the International branch. The German branch is usually for native German speakers or for parents who would like their child to have core subjects in German (maths and German language classes).

The International (English) branch is for parents who would like all of their child's lessons to be in English. Please note all students also take compulsory Japanese lessons taught either as JFL (Japanese as a foreign language) or as KOKUGO (Japanese as a native language). All students in the International branch also have two German lessons a week.

Please see below for more information about the branches and how Japanese fits into the curriculum.

Language Branches

German

Native German Classes:

Maths and German language
Everyday 1 x 50 minute math lesson and 1 x 50 minute German lesson

English Classes:

All other classes are in English with homeroom teacher (except Japanese)
German branch students can have English lessons (ESL) if required

Japanese Classes:

All students undertake 3 x 50 minute Japanese lessons as JFL (Japanese as a Foreign Language)
or as KOKUGO (Japanese as a native language)

International (English)

Native English Classes:

All classes (except Japanese and German lessons)
Core subjects (maths and English) taught in English along with all other classes

German Classes:

All students have 2 x 50 minute German lessons a week

Japanese Classes:

All students undertake 3 x 50 minute Japanese lessons as JFL (Japanese as a Foreign Language)
or as KOKUGO (Japanese as a native language)

French

Native French Classes:

Maths and French language
Everyday 1 x 50 minute math lesson and 1 x 50 minute French lesson

English Classes:

All other classes are in English with homeroom teacher (except Japanese)
French branch students can have English lessons (ESL) if required

Japanese Classes:

All students undertake 3 x 50 minute Japanese lessons as JFL (Japanese as a Foreign Language)
or as KOKUGO (Japanese as a native language)

Where does Japanese fit into the programme?

All students enrolled at DSKI will have 3 x 50 minute Japanese lessons a week. Either as JFL (Japanese as a foreign language) or KOKUGO (native Japanese). A student’s level of Japanese will determine which class they are placed in.

Japanese as a Foreign Language
JFL

For non-native speakers of Japanese

Mandatory lessons

3 x 50 minute lessons per week

Japanese as a Native Language
Kokugo

For native speakers of Japanese

Mandatory lessons

3 x 50 minute lessons per week

FAQ

Q: Because of the German history I thought it was for Germans or people with German family?

A: No, DSKI is for everyone, not only for German students or students with German family. We have a German school history but now we are full International School with most of the day being spent in English. If you are looking for an International School we would love to hear from you!