Rokkousan Elementary School

One of the smallest elementary schools in Kobe, with a total student population of 52. There are about 10 staff members including the secretary, principal and vice principal. Class sizes vary in range from 5-12 students per class.

Because the school is so small, need for the ALT varies: on average you will go to the school 4-6 times a semester. Lesson planning is generally in your hands, but homeroom teachers are very hands on and helpful if asked. Lesson planning for Rokkosan can be a challenge at first; because of the small class sizes, many games and activities commonly used for ES can't be used or must be adjusted to suit a small handful of students. The students are very excited about English though, and will likely enjoy almost any game or activity you throw at them.

In general the students level is quite high school-wide, but there are a few students who struggle. Luckily with small class sizes it is fairly easy to assist those students who have a difficult time with activities. The school also currently has a few families of children that have near-native or native level English.

The commute is fairly long, depending on where you are living (roughly 1h 30min from Hanayama Station) which can be a challenge. Depending on the schedule for the year, the ALT could potentially arrange to arrive later than the usual start time or leave early. 

Overall, the school is a small and tight knit community, but very welcoming to ALTs and the other teachers who visit on a regular basis.