Japanese Book Project: Learning and Creating a Book for Japanese Children

Course Description

Summary

This fourth-term Japanese course is designed to help students create a digital book that teaches Japanese children to embrace cultural differences.  First, students will read short stories for Japanese children and watch Japanese animations to examine how Japanese children are expected to behave and communicate with others.  Students will also analyze social and cultural values in Japan, how those values are taught, and how gender differences are depicted in children’s short stories and animations.  As they analyze the short stories and animations, students will continue to develop their skills by interacting in Japanese, stating and supporting their opinions during discussions focused on narrative texts.  For the final project, students will draw on their understanding of Japan’s social and cultural values to write a digital storybook that teaches children to embrace cultural differences. They will then read their stories to local Japanese children.  Approximately 60 new Kanji characters will also be introduced.  The course is conducted in Japanese.