Learning Japanese Learning Japanese Through Everyday Through Everyday

ActivitiesActivities

Television & FilmTelevision & FilmVideo gamesVideo gamesGroup gamesGroup gamesComicsComicsInternetInternetReadingReadingPodcastsPodcastsMusicMusic

Television & FilmTelevision & Film

Psuedo-native Japanese language exposurePsuedo-native Japanese language exposure

Allows for discussion of cultural differencesAllows for discussion of cultural differences

DVDs of English language TV shows allowDVDs of English language TV shows allow– English dialogue with Japanese subtitlesEnglish dialogue with Japanese subtitles– Japanese dubbing with English subtitlesJapanese dubbing with English subtitles

Video gamesVideo games Most video games have both a Japanese and Most video games have both a Japanese and

English language versionEnglish language version Most video games contain subtitlesMost video games contain subtitles There are video games that let player’s There are video games that let player’s

practice writingpractice writing Effective for learning KanjiEffective for learning Kanji

Group gamesGroup games Card games allow number practice and Card games allow number practice and

repetition of set phrases. (Ex: Go Fish, repetition of set phrases. (Ex: Go Fish, Slapjack, Karuta, Dai Fugo)Slapjack, Karuta, Dai Fugo)

Many popular games can be adapted to Many popular games can be adapted to Japanese for the classroom. (Ex: Jeopardy, Japanese for the classroom. (Ex: Jeopardy, Family Feud, Taboo)Family Feud, Taboo)

Phrases that are useful are likely to be Phrases that are useful are likely to be picked up quickly through contextual use.picked up quickly through contextual use.

ComicsComics Japanese children’s comics have furigana to help Japanese children’s comics have furigana to help

readers sound out the wordsreaders sound out the words

Pictures help readers decipher the textPictures help readers decipher the text

Wide variety of topics compared to Western Wide variety of topics compared to Western

comics.comics.

InternetInternet

Use text-glossing to help internet readingUse text-glossing to help internet reading

Social language support sites allow students to Social language support sites allow students to freely receive corrections from native speakersfreely receive corrections from native speakers

Youtube and NicoNico Douga provide Youtube and NicoNico Douga provide opportunities to share in pop culture opportunities to share in pop culture

Student’s can “follow” the comments of popular Student’s can “follow” the comments of popular Japanese figures on Facebook and TwitterJapanese figures on Facebook and Twitter

ReadingReading Read about what you already knowRead about what you already know

(This gives you a context)(This gives you a context) Read two books at once (English Read two books at once (English

version side-by-side with Japanese version side-by-side with Japanese version)version)

Use text-glossing to help internet Use text-glossing to help internet readingreading

PodcastsPodcasts

Students can find Japanese podcasts that Students can find Japanese podcasts that mirror their own interestsmirror their own interests

There are some very well-made podcasts There are some very well-made podcasts for Japanese language learnersfor Japanese language learners

Provide a casual but intimate learning Provide a casual but intimate learning experienceexperience

MusicMusic Music and rhythm make words more memorableMusic and rhythm make words more memorable

Lyric discussion can provide insight into Japanese Lyric discussion can provide insight into Japanese psychepsyche

Connects language learners to same cultural Connects language learners to same cultural experiences of native speakersexperiences of native speakers

Remember:Remember:

Keep it fun and enjoyableKeep it fun and enjoyable

Maintain varietyMaintain variety

Work it into your established Work it into your established interestsinterests

You don’t need to be studying to be You don’t need to be studying to be learninglearning