Hi everyone, 皆さん、こんにちは。

My Japanese classes/lessons included the practices to develop speaking, reading, listening, writing, interacting, constructing and creating dialogues as well as culturalskills and knowledge upon Japan. As usual, we used textbooks (our major one is Genki Book 1), pictures, ads, children’s books, magazines, CDs, videos, DVDs, songs etc.

A few high school students of the previous Beginners 2 and now in Pre-Intermediate 1, said they wish to learn the vocab related to colours and seasons. So, I used the book of FudekoReekie and taught such vocab and use of that as application exercises while also using colorful posters and pictures.

As for traditional culture and arts, I got many beautiful and comprehensive pamphlets etc from a Japanese travel agent located near to Kinokuniya, CBD. Showing them, I talked about Noh (Japanese ancient stage play), kyogen (funny talk/performance played during the intervals at Noh in Japan during the Ancient Time, Kabuki, exquisite sight of Mt Fuji and its surroundings, Japanese map with all the route of the bullet trains, Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studio in Osaka, many gorgeous historical heritage of Kyoto and geisha/maiko of Gion (Kyoto), big and traditional festivals, Japan Rail Pass (e.g. for an adult, travelling anywhere in Japan by Japan Rail group that includes all bullet trains, its buses and ferry in Miyajima are all covered, e.g. 28,300-en for 7 days and for Ordinary Pass), very popular monkies’ hot spring in Nagano, etc.

Similarly, I informed my classes about an article in Jenta (8.3.13, p. 24). It is written by TeruGamoo who is an author of many books. He reports the recent report of “TorippuAdobaizaa” in Internet, i.e. which places/things are mostly popular for overseas tourists in Japan. The most popular one is Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum; No. 2 is Mori Art Museum in Hakone (Kanagawa prefecture). The rest and up to No. 10 include Miyajima in Hiroshima prefecture, Monkey Natural Park (them in hot spring in Nagano), skiing resort in Hokkaido, “Kinkakuji” (temple built in the early samurai period) in Kyoto, “Toodaiji” (temple) in Nara (the Ancient capital city of Japan). Also, the above author informs about “Gion-maruume” in Kyoto. They offer any clients of small groupslovely time of 45 minutes with their highly trained “maiko”. Those “maiko” entertain clients with beautiful traditional dance, performance of musical instruments and gorgeous/traditional tea. Thosepleasant and distinctive services popular with esp. female clients, the article says. The price of that service is reasonably approachable and 4800-en per person.

Japanese Teacher, Toshiko Jackson

5.4.13