Length: Semester

Recommended background: Students are beginning their study of Japanese and typically have had little prior exposure to the language and culture; students who have some background knowledge will be provided with extension opportunities

Content:

Students study the Year 7 Japanese course in line with the Australian Curriculum. In Year 8 Japanese, the aim is to develop:

• Student’s knowledge, understanding and skills in order to develop communication skills in Japanese
• An intercultural capability in communication
• An understanding of themselves as communicators

This course involves the study of Hiragana and basic Kanji characters. Students will learn vocabulary, structural concepts and grammatical forms of the language. Cultural aspects of life in Japan will also be an integral part of this course.

Possible topics studied could include:

• Greetings
• Classroom language
• Identity / Self introduction
• Numbers / Ages
• Where we live / Nationalities
• Introduction to Japanese culture

Assessment:

Students’ performance will be determined according to the subject’s Achievement Standards as outlined in the framework of the Australian Curriculum. Grades A to E will be used for reporting purposes.

Assessment is skills-based, involving tests of speaking, listening, reading and writing with an emphasis on interpersonal skills and cultural understanding.