Supports for Foreign Children Living in Japan at Kindergartens and Schools

Insight from a Questionnaire Survey to the Board of Education

Abstract

In order to find out the learning and behavioral difficulties of foreign preschoolers and, primary and junior high school children who lives in Japan, and the difficulties of supports for foreign children, we conducted a questionnaire survey to the members of Board of Education in Japan. A huge number of foreign children needed support for the learning and behavioral difficulties regardless of the number of foreign children in kindergartens or schools. In addition, this study revealed that it is hard to determine whether the learning and behavioral problems shown by foreign children are resulted from the difference in language and culture, or developmental disorders. Our findings will provide basal materials for future research about supports for foreign children with troubles during their school years in Japan.