ANU College of Asia and the Pacific Faculty of Asian Studies Japan Centre

Publisher: Hitsuji Shobo ISBN: 978-4-89476-449-1

[Purpose] [Special features] [Organisation of the book] [Estimated learning time] [Structure of a lesson] [Scripts] Contents   Sample lessons

Purposes

This textbook is aimed at developing communication skills for beginning learners of the Japanese language. Its primary focus is on developing the learners' abilities in speaking and listening comprehension. However, as it incorporates hiragana, katakana and kanji as the basis for instruction, it can also be used as a comprehensive teaching and learning resource for the development of writing and reading skills as well.

For beginners; Covers most grammatical points in Japanese Language Proficiency Test, Level 3 and 4.

Special features

Special features of this textbook include:
1. Systematic learning of the characteristics of spoken Japanese (e.g. frequent use of sentence final particles such as ne and yo, particle omission, inversion, echo questions, etc.).
2. Comprehensive Japanese language learning aimed at acquiring a sound balance of knowledge and skills between (i) the systematic understanding of grammar and (ii) a practical-pragmatic use of situational and functional expressions.
3. Developing a practical conversational ability through a large number of systematically arranged exercises rich in variety.
4. Aiming at 'easy to learn, easy to teach and easy to use'.
5. Well-selected situations in the practical use of the Japanese language, with a continuing storyline between a Japanese student and a foreign student.

This textbook has been developed on the belief that the grammatical/structural method of language teaching and the situational/functional method do not conflict with each other; rather, they supplement each other, and both should be employed from the very early stages of language learning, especially when the learners are adults. In this sense, this textbook adopts a holistic approach to Japanese language teaching, which enables learners to master functional/situational expressions as well as grammatical knowledge, systematically. Successful users of this textbook will be able to acquire both grammatical competence and applicable, ready-to-use expressions for various situations, which is of great importance for learners in developing their practical skills and autonomous language-learning abilities.

This textbook organises the exercises in the order of 'sentence level --> short dialogue level --> discourse level'. This helps the learner to acquire smoothly the expressions and conversation strategies which are necessary for certain situations in a step-by-step manner. Further, the exercises are presented immediately after the explanation of each grammatical or expressional item, so that learners are able to work on what they have just learnt. This encourages the learners' active engagement in the learning process and creates lively interaction between the learners and the instructor.

Good balance between grammar and practical use; Special features of spoken Japanese; Easy to use.

This textbook consists of three parts, twenty lessons in total. The first part (Lessons 1, 2 and 3) focuses on the basic knowledge of Japanese that learners need to know to begin with (e.g. greetings, basic sentence structures and expressions, etc.). It begins with expressions and situations/functions involving nouns that are conceptually relatively easy to understand. This is followed by the second part (Lessons 4 to 10) and the third part (Lessons 11 to 20), which involve a variety of situational dialogues between Masato, a Japanese student, and Elena, an English speaking student. The overall setting of the second part is Masato meeting Elena while visiting an English-speaking country. Then in the third part Elena is now visiting Japan, and goes to a variety of places with Masato.

Through these practical situations, it is expected that learners will be able to obtain the essential knowledge of the language in a systematic manner so as to gain the skills necessary to speak the language naturally (cf. Contents).

Estimated learning time

Each lesson is designed to be learnt in approximately 5 to 6 hours and all lessons in approximately 120 hours. With an additional 80 hours for the study of reading and writing, this textbook is organised in such a way that it can be used as core material for an elementary-level Japanese course of 200 hours in total. It may be extended to 7 or 8 hours by taking a detailed approach and/or by adding some extra work if that is felt necessary, or it may be shortened to 3 or 4 hours, by skipping some parts in class, depending on the schedule for the course (Cf. Standard answers are provided in order to assist the learners' self-study.).

Structure of a lesson

Each lesson basically has the following structure:
1. Title
2. Dialogue: Introducing the situation and function dealt with in the lesson. An English translation is provided.
3. Grammar: Explaining each grammatical item introduced in the lesson concisely yet sufficiently. Drills and exercises are provided.
4. Natural Conversation Notes: Explaining one or two characteristics or conversation strategies particular to spoken Japanese. Exercises are provided.
5. Expression Notes: Explaining the expressions introduced in the dialogue of the lesson. Exercises for making sentences are provided.
6. Communicative Exchanges: Providing work-in-pair or work-in-group type exercises, such as role-play and information gap etc. It is recommended that the tasks listed in Pre-task be reviewed prior to the main exercise, using appropriate materials and methods such as the overhead projector or powerpoint.
7. Comprehensive Exercises: Providing a dialogue-making exercise where learners can create their own dialogue with their classmates. Students may develop their interactive skills by exploring what they have learnt in the lesson, at the discourse level.
8. Did you know?: Explaining Japanese culture and the state of affair in Japan related to the theme of the lesson. Not only does this provide some knowledge of these issues, but is also arranged to enable the student to apply them to the process of learning the Japanese language.
9. Summary of Vocabulary and Expressions: Listing and summarising new vocabulary and expressions introduced in the lesson. Vocabulary and expressions that are essential at the beginner's level are marked with '*'.

Scripts

A variety of ways of writing the texts is employed on a step-by-step basis, so that learners can develop their reading-writing skills without experiencing much difficulty.
1. Lessons 1-3: Written in kana with readings in Roman script. Students are expected to become familiar with hiragana before Lesson 3 is finished.
2. Lessons 4 -10: Written in kana and kanji. Kanji are given their readings in hiragana. Katakana are also given readings in hiragana.
3. Lessons 11-20: Written in kana and kanji, with hiragana readings for kanji. Katakana is not given readings.

See sample lessons below.

• Contents of the book (PDF):   Contents

• Sample lessons (PDF):   [ Lesson 1(a) ] [ Lesson 1(b) ]   [ Lesson 8 ]   [ Lesson 15 ]

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