Theme 1: Rights and Responsibilities

Voting and Civic Responsibilities

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Express opinions and preferences about voting and civic responsibilities.
• Participate in sustained exchanges relating to voting and civic responsibilities.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend written and oral information relating to voting and civic responsibilities.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Communicate main ideas and supporting details about voting and political issues.
• Produce and present situations, both spontaneous and rehearsed, which highlight community responsibilities.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss voting practices in Japan.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Identify contributions of political figures from Japan to the world.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare policies and practices regarding voting and civic responsibilities in Japan with those in the U.S.

Communication Across Communities

• Investigate voting practices in Japan in print media, or on the Internet.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Conditional
• Commands
• Terminology for expressing obligation
• Vocabulary related to voting (Senkyo, Toohyoosha, Toohyoo, etc.)

 

Chores

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and give a detailed description of household chores and responsibilities.
• Participate in sustained conversation about household chores and responsibilities.
• Exchange information about chores in various time frames (past, present, future).

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend instructions related to household chores and responsibilities such as labels, advertisements, and instructions on products.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce detailed spoken and/or written presentations about household chores and responsibilities of various family members.
• Produce and present situations that highlight one's personal responsibilities.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore traditional attitudes towards household responsibilities in Japan.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Make connections with responsibilities in other classroom situations, such as cleaning up in art or cooking class and putting away equipment in science and physical education.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast household responsibilities of U.S. teenagers with teenagers' responsibilities in Japan.
• Compare students' responsibilities toward classroom cleaning and lunch duties in Japan and in the United States.

Communication Across Communities

• Access information about household responsibilities via the Internet or print media.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to expressing feelings and opinions
• Sentence structures expressing obligations

Theme 2: Future Plans and Choices

Education Plans

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Discuss educational plans, giving details such as course of study and long-range goals.
• Participate in sustained exchanges on educational plans in relation to future career goals.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Understand information published by universities or study-abroad programs in Japan, such as brochures, letters, catalogues, and web sites.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Write or speak about educational opportunities after high school, giving details about courses of study and long-range goals.
• Produce and present situations which highlight future educational plans and long-range goals.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss the educational systems in Japan.
• Discuss job training and apprenticeship programs for the traditional arts in Japan (Kabuki play, puppet Bunraku and carpentry).

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Identify connections between the study of Japanese and career opportunities in other disciplines.
• Explain how the continued study of Japanese improves verbal skills, abilities, and academic performance as well as the understanding of Japanese culture.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast post-secondary education systems in the U.S. and in Japan, including the importance and value of a college degree, testing programs leading to college, admission to schools and career paths to follow based on programs studied.

Communication Across Communities

• Access information about opportunities for study abroad programs, using such resources as the school's career center, public library, and the Internet.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary for expressing intentions (verb volitional form)
• Progressive tenses
• Sentence structure for intentions (tsumori, yooni, to omoimasu)

 

Careers and Jobs

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions on preferences and plans concerning job or career choices.
• Ask for and give information regarding job or career choices.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend information related to finding a job, such as classified ads, applications, and interview questions.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Give details and/or inquire about job opportunities and career paths.
• Present material related to careers and jobs, such as culturally-authentic stories, poems and skits.
• Present job descriptions and qualifications.
• Fill out the Japanese resume form (Rirekisho).

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss attitudes towards work and workplace policies and practices in Japan (company morning meeting, Choorei, and varied greeting manners in different work places, such as gas stations, department stores, etc.).

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize connections between the study of Japanese and job or career choices in the fields of math, science, medicine, technology, business, marketing, etc.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare attitudes towards work and workplace policies and practices in Japan with those in the U.S.
• Compare formulaic expressions used in English and in Japanese in formal business letters.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and share information on the use of Japanese in various professions, workplaces or businesses.
• Locate and discuss information found on the Internet or in print media about job opportunities in Japanese-speaking countries (JET program).

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary for writing a formal letter
• Vocabulary relating to professions, personal background and the workplace.
• Vocabulary for expressing indecision
• Vocabulary for requesting information
• Vocabulary for relating intentions
• Vocabulary for giving advice
• Future (no hooga ii)
• Future (verb ta-form plus atode, verb te-form plus kara) and conditional (tara doodesuka, eba doodesuka)

Theme 3: Teen Culture

Fashion and Clothes

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Exchange ideas about clothing preferences and personal style, giving details such as patterns, fabrics, and fit.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend spoken and written information on clothing and personal style presented in advertisements, articles, or Internet sites.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Describe clothing, and fashion styles, both present day and from another time period.
• Produce spoken and written presentations on the influence of fashion on teen culture.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss modern and traditional dress in Japan.
• Discuss attitudes towards fashion and traditional dress from various cultures in Japan.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Make connections between types of clothing worn in geographic locations in the U.S. and Japan.
• Recognize differences between sizes of clothing in the U.S. and Japan.
• Relate knowledge of fashion and clothing issues to information learned in classes such as history, economics and marketing.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast typical clothing in the U.S. and in Japan.
• Identify Japanese clothing and fashion terms used in English and vice-versa.
• Compare and contrast attitudes toward fashion in the U.S. and in Japan.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate an authentic source of information on fashion and/or traditional dress, such as an individual, Internet site or article.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to wearing, removing and purchasing clothing
• Vocabulary for expressing interest, disinterest and indifference
• Vocabulary for detailed descriptions of clothing, including specific color, pattern and style
• Comparatives and superlatives
• Vocabulary to ask for and tell about what something is made of
• Counting units for shoes, dresses, and accessories

 

Leisure Time

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Express preferences and elicit those of others about leisure time activities.
• Exchange points of view and support opinions about leisure time activities.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Demonstrate an understanding of culturally-authentic selections on teen interests from the media of Japan, such as key pal letters, leisure time advertisements, videos, print or Internet articles, and news features.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce well-organized spoken and written presentations with supporting details appropriate to the type of audience and the purpose of the presentation in relation to teenage leisure activities.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss patterns of teen behavior and recreational pastimes in Japan.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Discuss information learned in courses such as biology about the connection between active pastimes and good health.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast patterns of teen behavior and recreational pastimes in Japan with those of teens in the United States.
• Identify words related to leisure time activities that are derived from English (rejaa, deji, kame, etc.).

Communication Across Communities

• Expand Japanese language skills and cultural knowledge by viewing programs and videos in Japanese related to leisure time activities in Japan.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to pastimes, sports and leisure (cell phones, keitai, etc.)
• Expressions of excitement, disappointment and opinions

Theme 4: The Environment

Nature and Wildlife

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Participate in a sustained exchange about plant and animal life and natural resources in Japan.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Understand information on nature and natural resources from a variety of sources such as TV, news, atlases, encyclopedias, dictionaries, magazines, newspapers and the Internet.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Create written and/or spoken presentations describing nature and natural resources in Japan.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Examine the importance of nature and natural resources to a particular region in Japan.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Share information about nature and natural resources (e.g. flora and fauna, national parks and endangered species) learned in the sciences.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast nature and natural resources in Japan with those in the U.S.
• Identify cognates related to natural resources.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and share information from Japanese-language sources on nature and natural resources such as flora and fauna, natural parks, endangered species, Japanese gardens and houses, Haiku, Zen culture, tea ceremony, and flower arrangements).

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary for natural resources

 

Ecology

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Participate in a sustained conversation about environmental and ecological issues such as pollution, recycling, acid rain, and the destruction of rain forests.
• Ask and give information about environmental and ecological concerns.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend spoken and written information on environmental and ecological issues as presented in the media.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Communicate problems about and solutions to environmental and ecological issues.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explain practices related to environmental and ecological issues in Japan.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Relate knowledge of environmental and ecological issues gained in science, social studies and health classes to information learned in Japanese class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare environmental practices among various world cultures.
• Identify cognates related to ecological issues.

Communication Across Communities

• Access information on the Internet and environmental and ecological issues in Japan.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Ecological vocabulary
• Vocabulary related to cities and development (traffic, etc.)
• Expressions related to giving opinions (to omoimasu)

Theme 5: Humanities

Current Events

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions concerning current events.
• Express and exchange reactions to current events.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify pertinent information when listening to media newscasts or reading selections from written news sources.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Communicate main ideas and supporting details orally and in writing when presenting a current event.
• Produce and explain opinions and reactions to current news events.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss how the Japanese viewpoints on current events are reflected in their news broadcasts and publications in Japan.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Relate knowledge of current events gained in social sciences, history, government, and science classes to information learned in Japanese class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes towards world events of people in the U.S. and in Japan.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources in Japanese television news programs, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet to broaden understanding of current events.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to the specific current events

 

History, Celebrations and Traditions

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions about historical events, holidays, and traditions.
• Sustained a detailed conversation about historical events, holidays, and traditions.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend culturally-authentic spoken and written information related to history, holidays and traditions (e.g. articles, information from the Internet, songs, poems and narratives from well-known authors).

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce a detailed spoken and/or written presentation about a historical event, a traditional celebration, or a holiday.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss customs related to celebrations in Japan.
• Explore the role of traditional elements of celebrations, such as music, poetry, and dance in Japan (Bon dance and local Matsuri festivals).

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Compare and contrast the origins of celebrations in the United States and Japan.
• Compare and contrast U.S. celebrations such as July 4, Halloween, New Year's, etc., with similar celebrations in Japan (Shogatsu, Children's Day, etc.).

Communication Across Communities

• Explore opportunities to participate in an authentic Japanese celebration in the local community (Cherry Blossom Festival in DC and Bon dance in August in Springfield, VA).

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Conditional (when tokini, if ba)
• Adjectives to indicate moods
• Vocabulary related to Japanese history
• Sentence structure such as naru and tsumori