JAPANESE
Japanese at Belgrave South Primary School is taught using an approach called ‘Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling’ (TPRS), a well-researched approach to teaching language that establishes meaning and enables basic comprehension. Language is then retained through actions, repetition, focusing in core language, and reading. Students are exposed to a wide variety of Japanese in the earlier years (books, videos, scripts, songs, etc) and then encouraged to use their language to read, speak and write.
TERM ONE 2023
Grade 2
This term we will be focusing on talking about ourselves. This will include:
- Knowing how to greet people in Japanese
- Counting to 10
- Recognising the number characters from 1-10
- Stating how old we are
- Introducing ourselves
- Recognising our names and copying it
- Using common Japanese classroom phrases (douzo / here you are, arigatou / thanks, kudasai / please).
- Learning some colour nouns and actions to accompany them
Grades 3 and 4
This term we will be focusing on Japanese words for classroom objects, and language to be used within the classroom (Aka enpitsu kudasai / Can I please have the red pencil?). We will then apply our language by creating a memorable song.
We will also:
- Identify six Kanji characters (one of the three Japanese writing systems), including learning about the meaning and pronunciation.
- Participate in group conversations in Japanese.
- Respond to classroom instruction when given in Japanese.
Grades 5 and 6
This term we will be focusing on spoken Japanese through drama: acting out a play.
We will:
- Read a famous folkstory called ‘The Big Turnip’ (‘Ookina Kabu’ in Japanese)
- Use common language concepts that can be applied to many verbs: -mashita, -te form, -te mashoo
- Learn about animal onomatopoeia – Mouse: ‘chuu chuu’, Cat: ‘nyaa nyaa’, Dog: ‘wan wan’
- Practice our fluency using repetitive sentences