San Marcos CISD student essays published in Japanese textbooks

Japanese teenagers are learning about UIL, the TAKS tests, Converse tennis shoes and Diamondback rattlesnakes, among other things. That’s because Doris Miller Middle School students in San Marcos CISD have published essays on American teen culture in Kiso Eigo II magazine, which is widely read by Japanese teens who are learning or improving their English.

Kiso Eigo II (translated as Basic English II) is distributed by NHK Publishing Company, a division of the Japanese national public broadcasting corporation, Nippon Hoso Kyokai. NHK produces educational programming on television and radio; each program has a magazine-style textbook that is published monthly.

Kay Hetherly, who lives in San Marcos and works for NHK as a writer and guest teacher on one of its radio programs, approached Elizabeth Deming of San Marcos CISD about recruiting student authors. Deming, who is the gifted and talented education facilitator at Miller Middle School, jumped at the chance to participate.

“The Miller essays are being published in the textbook that accompanies a basic English course geared toward Japanese junior high school students,” Hetherly says. “Just about every person in Japan has studied English at some point in time using NHK programs. Some teachers use the lessons in their classrooms. It is a very respected and established company.”

According to Deming, NHK asked her school to submit 11 essays with accompanying photos. In response to the curiosity that Japanese youth have about American culture, suggested essay topics included things like lunch break; UIL competitions; clubs and organizations; test taking; riding the school bus; favorite subjects and why; and least favorite subjects and why.

By the end of this summer, six Miller Middle School students will be published authors.

“I’m very excited about this project and am grateful to Elizabeth Deming, the Miller teachers and staff and the Miller students who are partnering with us,” Hetherly says. “I think everyone at Miller is proud when they see the magazine and themselves within the covers.”

Plans are to expand the project in September to include Japanese junior high students writing to Miller Middle School students about topics they want to share with American teens. Those essays are slated for the magazine’s December issue.