Language - Japanese

LANGUAGE - JAPANESE (日本語)

Konnichi wa! 2024 e youkoso! (Hello and welcome to 2024, Year of the Dragon).

The language classrooms at FGHS are positive and overflowing with students keen to learn Japanese. This year FGHS has a Year 12 Japanese Beginners class and six Year 7 classes completing their 100 hours of mandatory language study in Japanese. In addition, our Japanese Assistant, Eri MacAskill, develops the language skills of students in Support and RISE once per fortnight. The Japanese Syllabus provides opportunities for students to engage with the linguistic and cultural diversity of the Japanese-speaking community. Through learning Japanese, students develop communicative skills in the language, an understanding of how languages work as a system and intercultural understanding capability. (NESA Japanese Syllabus). 

All Year 7 classes are settling well into their language learning journey. Students are confidently using their newly acquired language skills in both the classroom and around the school. Students greet me in the playground each day with a, “konnichi wa Waller sensei (Hello Mrs Waller)”. All students have demonstrated a willingness to participate in speaking and listening activities and to “have a go” at interacting in Japanese. The language learning skills students develop this year in Japanese lessons will be useful if they wish to learn another language in the future.  

This year we once again welcome our Japanese Assistant, Mrs Eri MacAskill. All students will have the opportunity each fortnight to participate in small group learning activities with Eri sensei, a native Japanese speaker. 

2024 is the Year of the Dragon. Students made origami dragon chatterboxes to practise their Japanese counting numbers and to quiz each other on Japanese language learned so far.

Students engaged in a variety of activities to practise the counting and kanji numbers from 1 to 10. 

Year 7 students enjoyed learning about the festival of Setsubun. Can you guess the Year 7 students behind the oni (demon) masks? 

Technology GO!! 

Congratulations to the students who are consistently arriving to lessons with charged devices, ready for learning. It is important that devices are charged each evening so students have access to their Google Classroom and other language learning sites. If students are absent from a lesson, they are able to access the work on their Google Classroom.

All students learning Japanese at FGHS have access to Japanese content on Education Perfect. This learning tool is used in the classroom but is also a great tool that students can access anytime if they want to reinforce and/or extend language learned in class. 

Year 12 Conversation Practice Sessions

When:   Week B Tuesday, first break

Where: D6 

Students are encouraged to attend this session for informal conversation practise with Eri sensei. This is an opportunity for students to develop speaking/listening skills and confidence to interact in Japanese.

On March 7, Year 12 students will participate in an online session with Japanese teaching staff from the Tanken Centre in Sydney to practise their speaking skills. The session will simulate the HSC Speaking Examination in which students participate in a 5 minute conversation about their personal world (family, leisure, future aspirations etc). Preparation is the key to high achievement. We wish our amazing students well with their Year 12 studies.

二月 February Samurai　　 

omedetou gozaimasu! (Congratulations!) to the following students for selection as the February Samurai in your respective classes. 

This title recognises students for:

• positive engagement in Japanese lessons.
• consistent demonstration of the FGHS values of Respect, Responsibility, Cooperation and Commitment to achieve their potential.

Mrs S. Waller  

Language