School Vocabulary List

Places

Listing of the names of some special places/rooms you'll find around your school
Note: Many of these listings end with 室 (shitsu), which seems to be a standard at high schools, however at some schools a different suffix such as 所 (sho), 場 (jō), 館 (kan), etc may be found instead for some of these rooms.

Main Office

じ　む　しつ 事務室

jimu shitsu

Where school administrative duties are performed. Generally located at the front door of the school and has a few staff workers. The principal's office is usually next to the main office. For high school JETs, the office staff at your main school will also handle a number of important things in your life, such as apartment and finance-related matters.

Teacher's Office

しょく　いん　しつ 職員室

shokuin shitsu

Where teacher's work when not teaching classes. Each teacher has their own desk which effectively forms their own personal office within the school. Many schools have more than one, with certain teachers that are in charge of certain departments perhaps being in a smaller room. The main teacher's office is where the vice principal works.

Meeting Room

かい　ぎ　しつ 会議室

kaigi shitsu

Location of meetings, primarily the all-staff meetings that take place once a week at many schools. ALTs are generally not required to go to these meetings, so if all of the teachers at your school suddenly disappear, they are probably either in the meeting room or maybe the gym/auditorium.

Gymnasium

たい　いく　かん 体育館

taiiku kan

Use for sports and gym classes, however also used as an auditorium. This will probably the be the location of all major events and/or presentations, such as the graduation ceremony.

Library

と　しょ　しつ 図書室

tosho shitsu

Has lots of books and a few computers connected to the internet. Maybe have a few English books, depending on the school. Some kids will go here after school to read.

Discipline Room

せい　と　し　どう　しつ 生徒指導室

seito shidō shitsu

Where the teachers in charge of school discipline work. They are also in charge of student council. Kids who cause big problems in class should be sent here.

Guidance Office

しん　ろ　し　どう　しつ 進路指導室

shinro shidō shitsu

Where the school guidance councilors work. They assist students with college and/or job applications and give general advice on their future prospects. They also meet with representatives from companies and universities who wish to distribute information within the school.

Nurse's Office

ほ　けん　しつ 保健室

hoken shitsu

Where the school nurses work and treat sick students. Depending on the school, it may also be a popular place for kids who don't want to be in class.

Principal's Office

こう　ちょう　しつ 校長室

kōchō shitsu

Where the principal works and meets the many visitors that come to the school, such as representatives from other schools or the board of education.

Schedule

A listing of terms for some various items / events found on school schedule

Midterm Exams

ちゅう　かん　こう　さ 中間考査

chūkan kōsa

Tests held in the middle of each school term. Often not a full week. May be a good opportunity for taking a trip somewhere.
Note: In normal conversation these are referred to as shiken (試験) or tests (テスト), however on the schedule the more official term kōsa (考査) is used.

Final Exams

き　まつ　こう　さ 期末考査

kimatsu kōsa

Tests held at the end of each school term. Often a full week. May be a good opportunity for taking a trip somewhere.
Note: In normal conversation these are referred to as shiken (試験) or tests (テスト), however on the schedule the more official term kōsa (考査) is used.