Search

During this five-day unit, students will enter the world of a Japanese classroom. They will talk about school uniforms, "fill" their backpacks with school items, and learn how to do a simple self-introduction in front of their peers. Students will participate in the cultural customs of a Japanese classroom and view pictures, videos, and commercials that illustrate Japanese school life. For an interpretive assessment, students will listen to a description of the items in a particular backpack and choose the matching backpack from a variety of choices. For an interpersonal assessment, students will participate in an oral question and answer game in which they have to make sure they have everything in their respective backpacks or go get it from the "teacher" (another student). Finally, students will introduce themselves using a standard Japanese presentation format, saying a greeting, their names, grade level, and "nice to meet you." This will function as a presentational assessment in this short unit. Through the context of meaningful and engaging activities, carefully scaffolded lessons, and lots of comprehensible input, students will have many opportunities for success with the language in this short period of time. [Funding for this paper was provided by the National Security Agency.]

This issue of "Cross Currents" includes the following articles: "The Japanese Concept of Hanashi-Kata and Its Potential Influence on Foreign Language Acquisition" by James R. Bowers; "Linguistic Relativity and Foreign Language Learning" by Ronald Taubitz; "On Being a Sansei English Teacher in Japan" by Ruth Sasaki; "Cross-Cultural Barriers to Reading Comprehension" by Robert N. St. Clair; "Culture Learning Mechanisms in the Context of Community Language Learning" by Paul G. La Forge; "Operations and Their Use in the ESL Classroom" by Thomas A. Winters; "Practical Suggestions for Teaching the English Modals" by James W. Ney; "English and Politics in Japan: Observations on Language Education Reform" by Roger M. Pehlke. The following book reviews by John Fanselow are included: "The Common Sense of Teaching Foreign Languages" by Caleb Gattegno; and "Memory, Meaning and Method" by Earl W. Stevick. Japanese summaries of articles are included. (SW)

The articles in this cross-cultural journal deal with practical issues in second language instruction, English education, the needs of the language learners, principles governing the creation of word pairs, and the process of building in-service language programs. The following articles are included: (1) "The Role of Redundancy, Function, and Paraphrase in Listening Comprehension," by M. Rost; (2) "Case Study: An Exercise in Effective Communication," by J. B. Brown; (3) "Communication and Values in the Classroom," by L. Davis and D. Keitges; (4) "Japanese English Education: A Rationale for C-L/CLL Research," by K. Komiya; (5) "Teaching: What We Assume and What We Do," by D. Freeman; (6) "Ten Things I Have Learned About Learning a Foreign Language," by R. Showstack; (7) "Why'Bread and Butter'?" by I. Horiguchi; and (8) "Basic Requirements for In-Service Programs in Japanese Industry," by K. Takubo. There is a short summary of each article in Japanese. Book reviews of "Modern English Letter Writing: A Guide for Japanese Businessmen," by T. Margolis, and "Beyond Experience: The Experiential Approach to Cross-Cultural Education," edited by D. Batchelder and E. G. Warner, complete the volume. (AMH)

One of the units developed as part of the "Around the World" exploratory language program in South Carolina, this unit on Japan aims to develop in students an awareness of Japanese culture through experiential language and cultural activities. The guide has the following components: (1) a list of general and special interest books, and films; (2) suggestions on room decor, which include brief discussions of and instructions on setting up displays of Japanese signs and symbols; (3) the language section, which includes guidelines for the teacher on Japanese pronunciation and structure, and the script of the dialogue and structure videotape; (4) historical and cultural information on Japan in the form of an introductory essay and suggested activities; (5) a detailed activity sheet on writing Japanese; (6) traditional and popular games in Japan; (7) Japanese crafts with activities on flower arranging, tray landscapes, and origami or the art of paper-folding; (8) an introduction to Japanese cooking; (9) discussion of Japanese music and the Japanese national anthem; and (10) five cultural component activities on the "Kamishibaya Man," the tea ceremony, Haiku, gestures and emotion, and money and hard work. (AMH)