In order to foster a comprehensive understanding of concepts in Japanese and other related disciplines, students will complete a variety of learning activities throughout the year. Below is a selection of these activities that engage students in a variety of ways, including reading, multimedia, interactive/collaborative work, independent work, writing assignments, and inviting a guest speaker.
Classroom activities intentionally emphasize students' social-emotional development in addition to academic skills. Students will be engaged in various types of activities that will contribute to the development of their social awareness, engagement, social responsibility, and perspective-based thinking. Effective approach to learning of a foreign language is that students need to take on global perspectives. Exposure to the Japanese language generates a unique sense of self-questioning and self-reflection that is essential in developing a mature world view. In addition to facilitating student’s development of more profound insights and richer self-identification, classroom activities will also direct to cultivate of their interpersonal skills. Students will often work in pairs and groups to accomplish a shared goal; for instance, students will be asked to create their own original dialogues/stories, simulations, presentation of projects, and written responses together. All topics that students confront with great depth and complexity will render possibilities to develop values, social-emotional awareness, and understandings; this course both creates and capitalizes on these teachable moments.
Readings:
Students will identify and understand logic of Japanese sentence structure and grammatical rules through dialogues and short story.
Students will learn Culture difference between Japan and the U.S.
Interactive/Collaborative Work
Students will work collaboratively with peers to simulate authentic settings to understand in everyday life in Japan.
Multimedia:
Students will watch an educational video that demonstrates how expressions and phrases are used in authentic situations.
Independent Work:
Students will work independently on given classroom assignments and project and self-study on websites to enhance acquisition of Japanese language.
Writing:
Students will learn how to express/describe their idea by utilizing Japanese writing system (Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji).
Speakers, trips, other:
Student will listen to authentic life style and custom from a gust speaker who lives in Japan.
Students will visit a local restaurant and/or shop to examine and experience its uniqueness in Japanese culture and custom.