In this unit students develop an understanding of the language(s) and culture(s) of Japanese-speaking communities through the study of topics related to the individual, the Japanese-speaking communities, and the world around us. Students access and share useful information on the topics of Travel/Tourism; Family and Traditions; and Festivals/Public Holidays in Japanese and consolidate and extend vocabulary, kanji and grammar knowledge and language skills. They focus on analysing cultural products or practices including visual, spoken or written texts. Cultural products or practices are drawn from a diverse range of texts, activities and creations. Students apply acquired knowledge of Japanese culture and language to new contexts. Students reflect on the interplay between language and culture, and its impact on the individual’s language use in specific contexts and for specific audiences.

AREA OF STUDY 1 - Interpersonal communication

In this area of study students develop their skills and knowledge to establish and maintain an informal, personal, spoken interaction in Japanese on a selected subtopic. 

OUTCOME 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to exchange meaning in a spoken interaction in Japanese. 

AREA OF STUDY 2 - Interpretive communication

In this area of study students locate and use information from two texts in Japanese, chosen from a written, spoken or audiovisual format. They develop skills and knowledge to read, listen to or view texts in Japanese effectively, to summarise content and to combine information from the texts in written responses in Japanese and English. 

OUTCOME 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to interpret information from two texts on the same subtopic presented in Japanese, and respond in writing in Japanese and English. 

AREA OF STUDY 3 - Presentational communication

Students present content related to the selected subtopic in Japanese in written form, which may include supporting visual elements. Students develop a presentation that recounts, narrates, entertains, retells or interprets information, concepts and ideas for a specific audience. The presentation will feature cultural products or practices from Japanese-speaking communities which can be drawn from a diverse range of texts, activities and creations.

OUTCOME 3

On completion of this unit the student should be able to present information, concepts and ideas in writing in Japanese on the selected subtopic and for a specific audience and purpose. 

ASSESSMENT TASKS 

Outcome 1 

• Participate in a conversation about travel

Outcome 2 

• Read, listen to and interpret information about families

Outcome 3 

• Create a written presentation including pictures about a Japanese festival/public holiday

In this unit students develop an understanding of aspects of language and culture through the study of personal identity and lifestyle, contemporary events in Japan, and global and contemporary society. Students analyse visual, spoken and written texts. They access and share useful information on the topics and subtopics through Japanese and consolidate and extend vocabulary, kanji, grammar knowledge and language skills. Cultural products or practices can be used to demonstrate how culture and perspectives may vary between communities. Students reflect on the interplay between language and culture, and its impact on meaning, understanding and the individual’s language use in specific contexts and for specific audiences. 

AREA OF STUDY 1 - Interpersonal communication

In this area of study students participate in a written exchange in Japanese. They develop skills and knowledge that enable them to read, listen to and view texts in Japanese and to develop a suitable response in Japanese. Text types may include a letter, telephone message, video call or email, and may be accompanied by visual information, such as maps, advertisements, menus, photographs, film clips or diagrams.

OUTCOME 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to respond in writing in Japanese to spoken, written or visual texts presented in Japanese. 

AREA OF STUDY 2 - Interpretive Communication

In this area of study students extract information from texts provided in Japanese and respond to the texts in writing using elements of this information. They develop skills and knowledge to read, listen to or view texts in Japanese and to use information in a new context. The topic selected for the texts will be drawn from the prescribed themes, with students developing their understanding of the culture(s) of Japanese-speaking communities. 

OUTCOME 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse and use information from written, spoken or visual texts to produce an extended written response in Japanese. 

AREA OF STUDY 3 - Presentational Communication

In this area of study students research cultural products or practices that demonstrate an aspect of the culture studied. They develop an oral presentation in Japanese on an aspect of the selected subtopic of interest to them. Students consider relevant content, language and cultural information that can be used in the development of their oral presentation. They focus on skills and knowledge that enable them to read, listen to and view texts in Japanese and to speak about cultural connections and comparisons.

OUTCOME 3

On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain information, ideas and concepts orally in Japanese to a specific audience about an aspect of culture within communities where Japanese is spoken. 

ASSESSMENT TASKS 

Outcome 1 

• Write a formal response to an announcement on technology at school

Outcome 2 

• Write a journal entry incorporating information from texts on the topic of school/life balance

Outcome 3 

• Oral Presentation + Slideshow on an aspect of modern Japanese culture

In this unit students investigate the way Japanese speakers interpret and express ideas, and negotiate and persuade in Japanese through the study of three or more subtopics from the prescribed themes and topics. Students interpret information, inform others, and reflect upon and develop persuasive arguments. They access and share useful information on the subtopics through Japanese, and consolidate and extend vocabulary, kanji and grammar knowledge and language skills. 

Students consider the influence of language and culture in shaping meaning and reflect on the practices, products and perspectives of the cultures of Japanese-speaking communities. They reflect on how knowledge of Japanese and Japanese-speaking communities can be applied in a range of contexts and endeavours, such as further study, travel, business or community involvement. 

AREA OF STUDY 1 - INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

In this area of study students develop skills and knowledge to resolve a personal issue by negotiating a mutually agreeable outcome in a spoken exchange in Japanese on a selected subtopic. Students research relevant content, language and cultural information, in particular that associated with acknowledging other speakers’ points of view, and negotiating and persuading in culturally appropriate ways. They consider the interplay between cultural perspectives and mutual understanding, and focus on language important for effective participation in spoken interactions in Japanese. Students develop their understanding that language choices influence outcomes and impressions created in the exchange. 

OUTCOME 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to participate in a spoken exchange in Japanese to resolve a personal issue. 

AREA OF STUDY 2 - INTERPRETIVE COMMUNICATION

In this area of study students extract information from three or more texts relating to the selected subtopic, and create written responses to specific questions or instructions in Japanese. Students synthesise information from written, spoken and visual texts. Students consider relevant content, language and cultural information from three or more texts to identify and interpret key ideas and detail on the selected subtopic. Students connect and compare ideas and identify different points of view or perspectives in each of the texts. Students respond to the texts in writing in Japanese. They consider the influence of language, culture, social norms and ways of thinking in shaping meaning and the sequencing of ideas in the response. 

OUTCOME 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to interpret information from texts and write responses in Japanese. 

AREA OF STUDY 3 - PRESENTATIONAL COMMUNICATION

In this area of study students create an extended original piece of personal, informative or imaginative writing in Japanese to express ideas, thoughts or responses on an aspect of the selected subtopic. 

Students analyse and reflect on content related to the selected subtopic to assist in identifying aspects suited to reflection, informing or storytelling. They may use cultural products or practices as stimulus material for their writing. Cultural products or practices can be drawn from a diverse range of texts, activities and creations. Students consider the language and features of the types of text they encounter to ensure that their writing includes culturally appropriate content. 

OUTCOME 3

On completion of this unit the student should be able to express ideas in a personal, informative or imaginative piece of writing in Japanese. 

ASSESSMENT TASKS 

Outcome 1 

• Conversation about future aspirations

Outcome 2 

• Interpret texts on the topic of gender equality

Outcome 3 

• Blog post about living in Japan

In this unit students investigate aspects of culture through the study of two or more subtopics from the prescribed themes and topics. Students build on their knowledge of Japanese-speaking communities, considering cultural perspectives and language and explaining personal observations. Students consolidate and extend vocabulary, grammar knowledge and language skills to investigate the topics through Japanese. Students identify and reflect on cultural products or practices that provide insights into Japanese-speaking communities. Cultural products or practices can be drawn from a diverse range of texts, activities and creations. Students reflect on the ways culture, place and time influence values, attitudes and behaviours. They consider how knowledge of more than one culture can influence the ways individuals relate to each other and function in the world. 

AREA OF STUDY 1 - Interpersonal communication

In this area of study students research and present information on a cultural product or practice from a Japanese-speaking community. Students develop knowledge and skills to share observations and consider how the product or practice may reflect a specific cultural perspective or behaviour. 

Through the investigation of a cultural product or practice, students research specialised content, language and cultural information related to the selected subtopic. The subtopic for Area of Study 1 may be the same as the subtopic for Area of Study 2. Students use knowledge of the subtopic to explain differences and similarities between cultural contexts, such as the present and the past or between Japanese-speaking communities in different locations around the world. They develop language important for effective participation in spoken interaction in Japanese, including deep knowledge of the subtopic, to present information, ideas and opinions about the cultural product or practice and to participate in an extended discussion. 

OUTCOME 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to share information, ideas and opinions in a spoken exchange in Japanese. 

AREA OF STUDY 2 - Interpretive communication

In this area of study students analyse and present in writing information extracted from written, spoken and viewed texts in Japanese on a selected subtopic. Viewed texts may include photographs, drawings, maps, films or posters. Students respond to the texts in an extended piece of writing in Japanese that requires a different text type to the stimulus material. Students identify and analyse key ideas and make comparisons between the details, ideas and points of view expressed in each of the texts.

OUTCOME 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse information from written, spoken and viewed texts for use in a written response in Japanese. 

AREA OF STUDY 3 - Presentational communication

In this area of study students present information, concepts and ideas in an extended written response to persuade an audience of a point of view or evaluate existing ideas and opinions about an aspect of the selected subtopic. Students investigate relevant content, language and cultural information to assist in persuading others of a particular position or evaluating existing positions and opinions on an issue related to the subtopic. They develop knowledge and understanding of the issue, such as the benefits of learning Japanese, the ongoing effects of an historical event, environmental concerns, youth issues in contemporary society or an aspect of the literary or artistic heritage of the Japanese-speaking communities. Students create an original written text in Japanese on an aspect of the subtopic for a specified audience and text type. The written text is for a persuasive or evaluative purpose. Students consider acceptable ways of persuading others or evaluating arguments, and carefully select and sequence language for the audience and purpose of the writing. 

OUTCOME 3

On completion of this unit the student should be able to present information, concepts and ideas in evaluative or persuasive writing on an issue in Japanese.

ASSESSMENT TASKS 

Outcome 1 

• Conversation about the Japanese arts/Studio Ghibli

Outcome 2 

• Written response about the Japanese arts/Studio Ghibli

Outcome 3 

• Persuasive speech script about protecting the environment

For more information about Japanese Second Language see Madeleine Sofia