Japanese Years 9 & 10

 

Course Description

The study of Japanese provides access to the language and culture of one of the global communitys most technologically advanced societies and economies. It also introduces students to an important part of the rich cultural tradition of East Asia. Through experience of the Japanese language system and cultural history, students gain valuable perspectives on art, music, customs, beliefs and the ways of thinking of Japanese people.

 The Years 9 and 10 Japanese course is a continuation of the Year 8 course and builds on the skills and knowledge students have already acquired.  It leads into the senior courses in languages and must be studied in years 9 and 10 to enter the senior Continuers and Extension courses. For that reason intending students are reminded that if they want to have the option of continuing their language studies in senior school they must select Japanese as a 200 hour course. In general students should elect to continue the language they have already chosen in Year 8. It may be possible for students to take up a second language or change languages. Students should discuss this with their Language teachers.

Students will develop a wide range of key competencies, which reflect the core processes in learning Japanese. These include: analysing and organising information / communicating ideas and information / planning and organising activities / working with others / solving problems.

As well as language skills, students learn about the different viewpoints, customs and traditions in Japanese-speaking communities. The study of Japanese fosters the ideal of respect for others and students will learn to appreciate and interact with people of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. They can experience the cultural diversity though activities both inside and outside the classroom, including opportunities for overseas exchange with our Japanese sister school.

 

Main Topics Covered

Year 9
•Katakana writing system.
•Past and future events - saying when you did/will do something and with whom, saying what someone/something was like.
•Leisure - suggesting activities and responding, invitations, talking about when/where you do an activity and what transport you use.
•Telephone conversations and writing letters.
•Telling the time.
•Places and directions - asking and saying where someone or something is.
•Home  talking about where someone lives and how long they have been living there.
•Expressing opinions and preferences and giving reasons.
•Seasons - talking about activities appropriate to seasons, asking and saying which season you like
•Culture - discussing the Japanese school year, traditions connected with seasons, seasonal festivals, Haiku poetry.

 

Year 10

•Kanji as prescribed in the syllabus.
•Weather - talking about the weather and temperature, predicting what the weather will be like, natural phenomena in Japan, proverbs and onomatopoeia relating to weather.
•Future plans - talking about what you'd like to do.
•Shopping - asking what something costs, saying how many you want, using appropriate counters for different types of objects, asking for a specific quantity of an item, Japanese currency, understanding shop assistants and responding appropriately.
•Food - ordering in a restaurant, Japanese food, recipes and eating customs.
•Asking permission/saying what you can do.
•Colours - saying what colours you like/dislike, describing an item using colours, importance of colour in cultural imagery Manga.

•The history of Kanji.

 

If you require more information please contact:

Mrs. F. Roberts
Japanese Teacher