Lesson 1First-meeting Greetings - Classroom -
Let's see
High School Student Morning
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Explanation through photos
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Room of a high school student
This is the room of a high school student. Recently, the number of tatami rooms in Japanese houses has been decreasing and people usually sleep on a bed instead of a futon.
Bookshelf 1
The room is decorated with Japanese things. Ukiyoe is a type of painting created during the Edo era. This lucky charm is from Yushima Tenjin,a shrine to a god of learning.
Bookshelf 2
This stuffed koala is a souvenir from Australia. Disney character goods are popular among Japanese young people.
Schedule
The week's schedule is written on a dry-erase board. There is usually no school on Saturdays and Sundays at high schools in Japan.
Waking up
She uses an alarm clock to wake up. She gets up at seven o'clock on days she goes to school.
Aya Kousaka
Aya Kousaka is a third-year high school student at Saitama Prefectural Kasukabe Girls High School. She is 17 years old.
Washing face
The washroom is usually close to a lavatory or a bathroom. Some people shampoo their hair in the washroom in the morning.
Brushing teeth
She brushes her teeth in the morning and at night. She brushes with toothpaste.
Combing hair
She gets ready to go to school. After changing into the school uniform, she styles her hair.
Checking e-mails
She checks e-mails that she got from friends while she was sleeping. Most high school students have a cell phone. E-mails using cell phones are very important for communicating with friends.
Cell phone e-mails
Pictograms are used in an e-mail as well as characters. Pictograms include a heart shape, and there are symbols expressing sweat or tears. There are also symbols for a smiling, angry, or surprised face.
Living room
Before leaving for school, she eats breakfast at home.
Breakfast
Bread, salad, and fruit juice are common for breakfast. Fewer people now eat a traditional breakfast of rice and miso soup.
Eating breakfast
Aya eats breakfast alone. Few families eat breakfast together. More than 60 percent of high school students eat breakfast alone.
Box lunch
High schools usually don't serve lunch. Students bring a box lunch or buy something at a school stall. Rice and side dishes are in the lunch box.
Making a box lunch
Aya's mother makes a box lunch for her. When cooking, she uses long, plain cooking chopsticks.
Receiving a box lunch
Her mother hands the lunch box to Aya. She wraps it in a cloth and carries it to school.
Leaving home
She leaves her home at eight. She puts on her shoes at the entry. When you leave home, you say Ittekimasu.When you see someone going out, you say Itterasshai.
Going to school
Aya goes to school by bicycle. High school students usually go to school by bicycle or on foot in Japan. If the school is far, they use a train or bus. Nobody drives to school. (Persons 18 and older can obtain a driver's license in Japan.)
