Japanese
Konnichi wa!
こんにちは
Preps
This term, Prep students have been continuing to learn one of the reading and writing systems in Japan; Hiragana. Students have been learning how to read and write one-stroke Hiragana characters. There are 11 characters (or symbols) that can be written with one stroke of a pen or pencil (or ink in Japan!).
く(ku)、し(shi)、そ(so)、つ(tsu)、て(te)、の(no)、ひ(hi)、へ(he)、る(ru)、ろ(ro) and ん(n)
Students have also been learning about a number of popular children’s songs, ‘The Tulip Song’, where they have been learning about some colours in Japanese, and ‘Kobuta, Tanuki, Kitsune, Neko’, where they have been learning about 4 animals in Japanese. Through these songs students will explore the Hiragana characters and sounds associated with the words.
Grade One
This term, students have been introduced to the Japanese version of the story ‘The Enormous Turnip’. Throughout this unit, students will learn some names of objects and nouns, as well as begin to retell the story in Japanese.
大きい (o.ki.i - big)
かぶ (ka.bu - turnip)
おじいさん (o.ji.i.sa.n - grandfather)
おばあさん (o.ba.a.sa.n - grandmother)
まごちゃん (ma.go chya.n - Mago)
犬 (i.nu - dog)
ねこ (ne.ko - cat)
ねずみ (ne.zu.mi - mouse)
Grade Two
Grade Two students are currently in the middle of learning about the names for items found in a school bag. They will use these words to make sentences to state what it is and what is not inside their bag. They have also been learning how to ask for and receive objects in Japanese.
かばん (ka.ba.n - bag)
はさみ (ha.sa.mi - scissors)
えんぴつ (e.n.pi.tsu - pencil)
ふでばこ (fu.de.ba.ko - pencil case)
ものさし (mo.no.sa.shi - ruler)
本 (ho.n - book)
のり (no.ri - glue)
けしゴム. (ke.shi.go.mu - eraser)
Grade Three
Grade Three students have recently been introduced to the words for family members in Japanese. They will use these to ask and answer questions about their own family in Japanese, including how many people and who is in their family.
おばあさん (o.ba.a.sa.n - grandmother)
おじいさん (o.ji.i.sa.n - grandfather)
お母さん (o.ka.sa.n - mother)
お父さん (o.to.sa.n - father)
おねえさん (o.ne.e.sa.n - older sister)
おにいさん (o.ni.i.sa.n - older brother)
いもうと (i.mo.o.to - younger sister)
おとうと (o.to.o.to - younger brother)
Grade Four
Grade Four students are currently exploring a unit of work based on the story book of The Very Hungry Caterpillar (‘harapeko aomushi’ はらぺこ あおむし). At the end of this unit, students will be required to write their own sentences in Japanese based on the vocabulary and sentence structure we have learnt in class. They will also need to present their sentences to the class.
Some of the fruit words we have learnt so far include:
りんご (ri.n.go - apple)
すもも (su.mo.mo - plum)
なし (na.shi - pear)
いちご (i.chi.go - strawberry)
おれんじ / オレンジ (o.re.n.ji - orange)
Grade Five
Last term, Grade Five students completed their unit on the weather. This term, students have begun a new unit on the topic of the zoo. Throughout this unit, students will learn the names of 12 zoo animals in Japanese, as well as be able to make statements about going to the zoo, seeing animals at the zoo, and using words in Japanese to order their visit (such as next, then and after).
Some of the zoo animals learnt so far include:
しまうま (shi.ma.u.ma - zebra)
ぱんだ / パンダ (pa.n.da - panda)
さる (sa.ru - monkey)
ぞう (zo.u - elephant)
らいおん / ライオン (ra.i.o.n - lion)
かんがる カンガルー (ka.n.ga.ru - kangaroo)
とら (to.ra - tiger)
ぺんぎん / ペンギン (pe.n.gi.n - penguin)
しろくま (shi.ro.ku.ma - polar bear)
へび (he.bi - snake)
きりん (ki.ri.n - giraffe)
わに (wa.ni - crocodile)
Grade Six
Grade Six students have been continuing their unit on ‘The Hamburger Shop’. This term students have been learning about the Japanese currency, Yen. Students have been exploring the different notes and coins and how these compare to the Australian dollar. Students have also been learning to read and write large numbers in Japanese up to 10,000 to assist them with learning the currency.
円 (pronounced えん - en)
The 10 students selected to attend the Japan Trip in October have been busy preparing for their trip, learning about some of the culture of Japan, and some other important information to prepare for their trip. They are very excited and I am sure they will be delighted to share some of their amazing experiences on their return!
Brown Sensei
Until next time,
Sa.you.na.ra
さようなら