Sundai Michigan International Academy (駿台ミシガン国際学院 ''Sundai Mishigan Kokusai Gakuin''), affiliated with the Sundai Center for International Education (駿台国際教育センター ''Sundai Kokusai Kyōiku Sentā'', see
駿台予備学校), is located in
Novi, Michigan
Novi ( ) is a city in Oakland County, Michigan, Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A northwestern Metro Detroit, suburb of Detroit, Novi is located roughly northwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census ...
, in
Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit is a major metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Michigan, consisting of the city of Detroit and over 200 municipalities in the Southeast Michigan, surrounding area. There are varied definitions of the area, including the officia ...
. The school's purpose is to prepare Japanese children who have lived in the United States for a long time for a return to Japan, and to assist newly arrived Japanese children who have no
fluency of English. As of 2008 it was the only Japanese-style year-round school within the State of Michigan; in addition to a day school program, the school has after-school and weekend classes.
[Lewis, Shawn D.]
Preserving Culture: Japanese-style Private School Thrives with U.S. Transplants
" ''The Detroit News
''The Detroit News'' is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan
Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United S ...
''. Thursday July 17, 2008. Metro Section p. 1B. Available from NewsBank, record number det23050960
See article preview
Archive
.
History
Previously known as the Koby International Academy (コービィ国際学院 ''Kōbii Kokusai Gakuin''), the school was founded in September 1993, by Yoshihisa Kobayashi, who, as of 2008, is the president of the school. Kobayashi moved to the U.S. in 1987 after working as an English teacher in his native Japan. Prior to opening Koby, Kobayashi attended
Master of Business Administration
A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a professional degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration; elective courses may allow further study in a particular ...
(MBA) courses at the
University of Detroit Mercy
The University of Detroit Mercy is a private Catholic university in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is sponsored by both the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the Sisters of Mercy. The university was founded in 1877 and is the largest Cath ...
and worked in the automobile sector.
[
The school began with after school enrichment and Saturday supplemental divisions. In 1999 the day school opened, and the school was registered with the Michigan Department of Education in 2000. In 2008 it had a yearly tuition of $10,000 and a 60 student waiting list. As of 2008 it is not accredited. The school does not take public funds, so it is not required to offer standardized tests such as the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP).][
]
Campus
The school formerly had its main campus in the Peach Tree Plaza shopping center in Novi and the West Maple Center (West Maple校 -''Kō'') in West Bloomfield Township. As of 2008 the school had plans to occupy empty storefronts and expand within the Peach Tree shopping center.[
]
Curriculum
The school offers calligraphy, English, handicrafts, mathematics, and science courses. As of 2008 the school's teachers give more individualized attention due to the class sizes, as there were 12 students per class.[
]
Student body
As of 2008 most of the school's students are those who will shortly return to Japan; about 95% of the students were scheduled to leave the United States and return to Japan within a three-year period. The students live in various parts of Southeast Michigan, including Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is a city in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the List of municipalities in Michigan, fifth-most populous cit ...
and Canton. As of 2008, 60 students were on the school's waiting list.[ Velvet S. McNeil of '']The Detroit News
''The Detroit News'' is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan
Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United S ...
'' wrote "Students who don't speak fluent English often find the school comforting."[McNeil, Velvet S.]
Japanese-style private school preserves culture
(Image gallery photo #6)
. ''The Detroit News
''The Detroit News'' is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan
Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United S ...
''. Retrieved on June 25, 2015.
Notable employees
* Katate Masatsuka
See also
* Japanese language education in the United States
Sundai educational system
* Sundai Preparatory School
* Sundai Ireland International School
Japanese community of Detroit
* History of the Japanese in Metro Detroit
* Japanese School of Detroit
* Hinoki International School
* Niji-Iro Japanese Immersion Elementary School
* Consulate-General of Japan, Detroit
The is a diplomatic mission of Japan. It is located in Suite 1600 Tower 400 of the GM Renaissance Center in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. Its jurisdiction includes the states of Michigan and Ohio.
The Japanese government proposed opening the con ...
American schools in Japan
* American School in Japan, American international school in Tokyo
References
Notes
* Content originated from History of the Japanese in Metro Detroit
External links
Sundai Michigan International Academy
Koby International Academy
(Archive)
{{coord, 42, 28, 04.5, N, 83, 28, 30.7, W, region:US-MI_type:edu, display=title
Schools in Novi, Michigan
Japanese international schools in the United States
Supplementary Japanese schools in the United States
1993 establishments in Michigan
Educational institutions established in 1993