6-15 Journal – Summer is here!
　It has become very hot outside recently which can only mean one thing: it’s summer! When you hear the word “summer” what do you think of? I think of playing soccer or football outside or playing games with my friends at home.
　In the US, summer vacation starts at the end of May and ends at the beginning of August. That means students in America are already on summer break! It also means that summer vacation is about three months long! The school year in America ends in May and starts in August, so it is very different from Japan.
　There is summer homework in the US, but it is usually reading three or four books and writing reports about them. There is not much math or science homework. But when school starts in August students have to take tests to check if they read the books and to check if they forgot how to do math, science and other subjects!
　One more thing, on Sunday (June 18th) it is Father’s Day! So try to do something nice for your father if you can. I will call my father because I can’t meet him in Japan. I also will call my mother on Friday (June 16th) because it is her birthday. Have a great weekend!

Questions:
1. Which sounds better to you, summer vacation in Japan or summer vacation in America?
2. Would you like to know more about life in American schools?