Improved concentration through English conversation and piano

The key to improvement in both English and piano is to try things without being afraid of making mistakes. However, in Japanese education, emphasis is placed on “avoiding mistakes,” and there are cases where children are afraid of failure and are unable to study actively. In this article, we will introduce the importance of cultivating an attitude that is not afraid of making mistakes and the specific efforts being made at our school.

1. The psychology of fear of making mistakes and its harmful effects

Many of the reasons why children fear making mistakes are psychological, such as “it’s embarrassing,” “they might scold me,” or “I think it’s no good if I make a mistake.” However, when it comes to learning a language or music, mistakes are actually a learning opportunity. Making mistakes makes it clear what needs to be corrected, and children can learn the correct way to do things.

2. The habit of “not being afraid to make mistakes” in English conversation

If you worry too much about mistakes when speaking English, you will not be able to speak. For this reason, our school has adopted the following measures
Yes, and” rule: We do not deny what children say. and then we guide them to better ways of expressing themselves.
Positive attitude toward mistakes: We praise mistakes with “Great mistake!
Practice-oriented lessons: In order to get used to speaking English, we encourage students to continue conversations without worrying about making grammatical mistakes.

3. The habit of “not being afraid of making mistakes” when learning piano

When playing the piano, if you stop playing because you made a mistake on one note, the flow of the song will be lost. That’s why our school provides the following instruction.
“Play without stopping” practice: We encourage students to keep playing even if they make mistakes, and help them develop the habit of valuing flow over perfection.
Creating an environment where it’s OK to make mistakes: Teachers deliberately let students make mistakes, fostering a sense of security that makes them think, “It’s okay to make mistakes.”
Feedback that allows you to feel your growth: We compare your performance with your past performances and provide instruction that allows you to feel your growth and say, “Wow, you’ve improved so much!”

4. Our School Initiatives

In both English conversation and piano, we place emphasis on a culture that does not fear making mistakes.
We create an atmosphere where children can take on challenges proactively.
We increase self-esteem by allowing children to gain successful experiences.

Summary

By taking on challenges without fear of making mistakes, your child will improve dramatically in both English and piano. At our school, we provide an environment where children can learn with confidence and foster a positive attitude that says, “It’s okay to make mistakes!”