japanese cultural committee - Great Falls Elementary School PTA

JAPANESE CULTURAL COMMITTEE
GREAT FALLS ELEMENTARY
November 2014
Yokoso!—Welcome!
The Japanese Cultural Committee (JCC) welcomes
you to Great Falls Elementary School’s Japanese
Immersion Program (JIP). We have prepared this
booklet to answer many of your questions about JIP.1
Additional information can be found on the Great
Fall Elementary PTA website in the JIP/JCC section.
http://www.gfespta.com/jipjcc.html
Content
Math, science, and health are taught in Japanese. The
curriculum requirements and standards are the same
as the FCPS Program of Studies that are taught in the
English classes. The Japanese teachers use the same
teaching concepts and textbooks as the rest of FCPS,
but teach the concepts and curriculum in the
Japanese language. More information about the
curriculum content can be found on the FCPS
website.
More Info on Japanese Characters…
Many websites offer audio recordings of each
hiragana/katakana character’s pronunciation. Vowel
pronunciation in Japanese does not change as it does in
English. So, once you know the way to pronounce each
vowel, you can easily read in Japanese.
Nowadays, there are many free applications available to
help you memorize these characters. Spending the
necessary time at the beginning to learn the assigned
letters will go a long way towards giving your child the
confidence to succeed in the JIP program.
Japanese Characters & Language
Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana
Contemporary Japanese uses a mixture of kanji,
hiragana, and katakana characters. First and
second grade students will learn Hiragana,
Katakana, and some Kanji. Other Kanji will be
introduced to older students as appropriate. It is
important for your child to spend time learning
these characters early on so that she can focus on
the contents of lessons later without struggling to
read the assignment. Your child will need to
know how to both read and write from memory
all the basic characters.
Kanji were introduced to Japan around the 5th
century. The Japanese, with no writing of their
own until the 5th century, adopted about 2,000
Chinese characters to represent their own
language. Each Kanji character has a specific
meaning (e.g., “一月” is a combination of the
characters for “one” and “month” and represents
the name for “January”, or “Ichi-gatsu”).
Hiragana. In the 10th century, the Japanese
developed Hiragana and Katakana. Hiragana is a
more simplified form of Kanji, consisting of 48
characters. As opposed to Kanji, where a single
character can represent an entire word, Hiragana
is phonetic (e.g. “January” or “Ichigatsu” is
represented by 4 Hiragana characters: いちがつ
i-chi-ga-tsu). Hiragana includes the five vowels
we are familiar with (a, i, u, e, o—in that order),
and those vowels combined with various
consonants.
Katakana is also phonetic and consists of 48
characters that mirror the same sounds
represented by the Hiragana characters.
Katakana is used to write words of foreign origin
adopted into the modern Japanese language.
The contents of this package were created by JIP parents solely for informational purposes and have not been approved or endorsed by Great Falls Elementary School or
Fairfax County Public Schools. Please contact the JCC chairperson if you have comments or questions.
1
Japanese Games
Culture
Cultural teachings, field trips, and celebrations vary
depending on grade level. Following are examples
of some of the celebrations, games, and activities
your child might participate in:

New Year Celebration/Oshogatsu.
In January, the children celebrate
“Oshogatsu” which is the Japanese
New Year. The Japanese New Year
Day is January 1, but the celebration in
Japan lasts longer that what we are
familiar with. Traditionally, at least the
first three days of the New Year are
spent relaxing and playing games with
family and friends, thanking people for
their support last year, and asking for
others to look favorably on you in the
coming year. Activities your child may
get to experience may include eating
mochi (Japanese rice cakes); using
sumi-e brushes to make Japanese
characters for “Nengajo” (Japanese
New Year’s Cards); folding origami or
other traditional activities.

Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri) is held on
March 3rd to celebrate the well-being of
girls. Most families with girls display
"Hina-ningyo, " which are special dolls
that represent the Emperor, Empress,
and Imperial court. Peach blossoms
are dedicated to the dolls.

Children’s Day (Kodomo No Hi), is
held on May 5th to celebrate the healthy
growth of children. The day was
traditionally called “Boy’s Festival.”
Many families with boys display a
“kabuto” (a replica of a samurai
helmet) or “gogatsu-ningyo” (samurai
doll) inside the house; and fly
“koinobori” (carp streamers) outside.

Fukuwarai—Fukuwarai is a game similar
to “pin the tail on the donkey,” but
instead of a donkey, the children use a
chubby-cheeked face, or “otafuku” to
place facial features. The teachers
often use this game to teach parts of
the body in Japanese.

Karuta—There are many variations of
Karuta, or Japanese playing cards, in
Japan. The teachers may use Karuta to
teach vocabulary and Japanese
characters.

Bingo—The teachers may also use a
modified version of bingo to teach
Japanese vocabulary and Japanese
characters.
There are also additional plays, assemblies, and
activities that are performed by classes or brought
to the school by the JIP teachers or the PTA/JCC.
おおきな かぶ “An Enormous Turnip”
JIP 2nd Grade End of Year Play, June 2013
Japanese Americans’ Arts & Crafts Fair, December 2012
2
Community
Communication
The School Community
Volunteering is a great way to become involved with
the school community. The Committee—which
focuses on promoting an understanding of Japanese
culture on a school-wide level—always needs
volunteers and getting involved is a great way to meet
other JIP parents and students. If you are interested,
please contact the JCC contact person at the end of
this packet to be added to the JCC Working Group
email list. Another way to become involved is
volunteering to be a classroom parent. The JIP Class
Parent(s) helps teachers coordinate and organize
classroom events, administration activities, and other
activities, typically via email or a web-based sign up
system (e.g., Sign-Up Genius). If you would like
more information on becoming a room parent, please
contact your child’s teacher directly.
Communicating with the JIP teacher
JIP teachers communicate through the 24/7
Blackboard site, e-mail, Tuesday packets, and
through parent-teacher conferences.
Communication for classroom volunteers is
typically done through one of the room parents
who is designated as the class communicator.
There are also opportunities to volunteer for
different events through the JCC.
Communicating with your child about JIP
Communication with your child is key. Trying
to understand what he/she is learning in the
classroom and reinforcing that at home is
important. You can do so by reviewing your
child’s homework assignments daily.
Most of the children enter the program without
understanding or speaking any Japanese.
However, children are so adaptable that they
quickly learn the routines and learn to follow
directions and lessons in Japanese. The JIP
teachers are very effective using other means to
communicate, such as hand gestures, visual aids
(videos, pictures, manipulatives), and
music/songs.
The Great Falls/Washington D.C. Communities
The JCC sends out e-mails to spread the word about
different Japanese activities throughout the area.
These can be anything from Taiko drumming
performances and workshops to art exhibits. The
students may also be invited, as a class, to participate
in different activities or perform at different events in
the area.
JCC has an emailing list. We send out emails
about upcoming JCC events, Japanese cultural
events in our local area, and other important JCC
information.
If you would like to be added to our mailing list,
please send an email to Caitlin Imaki at
caitlin@angeli.org.
3
Websites
Visiting Japan & our Sister School
The Fairfax County Public School website:
http://www.fcps.edu/index.shtml
Many students choose to visit Japan after they
finish the sixth grade; however, this is not a school
or Fairfax County sponsored trip. As such,
parents are responsible for the cost of the trip.
Great Falls Elementary School website:
http://www.fcps.edu/GreatFallsES/index.html
Volunteer JIP parents usually plan the trip to Japan
for graduating 6th grade JIP students as the
culmination of their study efforts in JIP at GFES
with the objective of providing our children with a
first-hand, wide-ranging exposure to the culture,
history, language, and daily life of Japan. During
the trip, in addition to various tourist-type
activities, students also visit our sister school in
Hiroshima, Eisugakkan Elementary, where
Japanese students learn in an English immersion
environment.
Our Sister School, Eisugakkan Elementary’s website:
http://www.eisu-ejs.ac.jp/english/immersion/index.html
Hiragana/Katakana Character’s Pronunciation
http://japanese.about.com/library/blhiraganaaudio.htm
You can hear many words and phrases at:
http://japanese.about.com/blsoundfile.htm
Japan with Kids
http://www.tokyowithkids.com/fyi/hiragana_chart.html
http://www.tokyowithkids.com/fyi/katakana_chart.html
In years past, GFES JIP students remember this
trip as a major lifetime experience that they
enjoyed with their family and schoolmates, and
they often hold reunions commemorating the trip.
Access Japanese
http://www.accessjapanese.com/hiragana.html
AIRnet
http://www.sf.airnet.ne.jp/ts/japanese/table.html
Kids Web Japan
http://webjapan.org/kidsweb/language/hiragana/index.html
Free Japanese Learning Website
https://www.erin.ne.jp/en/
Japanese News Sites (in Japanese)
http://www.nhk.or.jp/
http://www.asahi.co.jp/
http://www.mainichi.co.jp/
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/
http://www.tvjapan.net/en/ (in English and available
Great Falls JIP Students welcome students from
Eisugakkan Elementary, October, 2013
through your cable provider)
Great Falls JIP Students meet with Shinzō Abe, Prime
Minister of Japan, June 2013
4
Visiting Japan & our Sister School (continued)
This 6th grade Japan Trip is an optional event and not all JIP students participate. The trip typically
takes place in June following 6th grade graduation. To prepare for this significant opportunity, the
participating JIP teacher, parents, and children typically begin planning 10 to 12 months in advance
during monthly meetings since there are many details to manage. In 2014, the trip cost approximately
$2,725 per adult (excluding airfare). Children’s expenses were a bit less. This cost may vary because each
year the planners may choose different activities or places to stay, etc.
The 6th grade parents plan the trip to Japan and every parent who participates must take an active part in
helping with the numerous tasks that are associated with a major event of this kind. Parents typically
meet once a month, at different houses, to plan the trip and get to know each other prior to the 2 week
together traveling around Japan.
Left: Great Falls JIP Students
enjoy a Taiko Drumming
Performance, June 2013
Right: Great Falls JIP Students
visit with US Ambassador to
Japan, Caroline Kennedy, June
2013
Japanese Language Classes
Fairfax County Public Schools
Adult and Community Education
(ACE)
Japanese I through Intermediate
levels. The ACE office also tries to
coordinate adult evening
conversation courses for JIP parents
and after-school conversation
courses for JIP students in grade 3 –
6. To check class schedules and fees
you may call 703-658-1227 or visit
the FCPS web site at:
http://www.fcps.edu/aceclasses
Japan Foundation, Los Angeles
The organization was established by
the Japanese government to promote
international cultural exchange and
mutual understanding between Japan
and other countries. The Los
Angeles office also provides
assistance for Japanese-language
education nationwide and offers
online links and resources.
http://www.jflalc.org/
Japanese-English
Dictionaries
Jim Breen’s WWWJDIC Japanese
Dictionary Server
http://www.nihongoresources.com/d
ictionaries/jpen.html
Nihongoresources.com
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jw
b/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1C
Denshi Jisho
http://www.jisho.org/
Freedict.com
http://www.freedict.com/onldict/jap
.html
Japanese to English and English
to Japanese (Used by Many
Japanese native speakers)
http://www.alc.co.jp/
Japanese Culture
Kids Web Japan Contains
information on culture, geography,
language, and education. Website is
mostly in English, but can be
converted to Japanese. “Meet the
Kids” links directly to schools in
Japan. Sponsored by the Japanese
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
http://webjapan.org/kidsweb/index.html
Japan-America Society of
Washington DC (JASW)
Nonprofit, nonpartisan educational
and cultural organization of
individuals and institutions with an
interest in Japan and U.S.-Japan
relations. Includes information about
Japanese-related events, programs and
educational support in the
Washington DC area. http://www.usjapan.org/dc/
Shen’s Books Site http://www.shens.com/
5
Hiragana Chart
A
a as in ah
I
i as in pizza
あ
い
a
か
k
き
さ
た
t
な
に
は
h
ひ
ha
ま
m
み
ma
や
y
め
ho
も
me
mo
よ
yu
り
ra
る
ri
yo
れ
ru
わ
w
ほ
ゆ
ら
no
he
mu
ya
r (pronounced
with a rolling
sound,
between an “l”
sound and “r”
sound)
の
へ
む
to
ne
fu
mi
と
ね
ふ
so
te
nu
hi
そ
て
ぬ
ko
se
tsu
ni
こ
せ
つ
o
ke
su
chi
na
け
す
ち
お
e
ku
shi
ta
n
く
し
O
o as in open
え
u
ki
sa
E
e as in egg
う
i
ka
s
U
u as in flu
ろ
re
ro
を
wa
wo
(pronounced
close to “o”
ん
nn (long n
sound)
6
Katakana Chart
7
Sample 1st Grade Vocabulary
Numbers
Following are numbers in Japanese in Romaji (written English—“Roman letters”), Kanji and Hiragana. Please
note that we have not included all numbers serially, but there is a pattern similar to numbers in English. You
can hear many words and phrases through: http://japanese.about.com/blsoundfile.htm
Number
Romaji
Kanji
Hiragana
1
Ichi
一
いち
2
Ni
二
に
3
San
三
さん
4
Shi or Yon
四
し or よん
5
Go
五
ご
6
Roku
六
ろく
7
Shichi or Nana
七
しち or なな
8
Hachi
八
はち
9
Ku or Kyuu
九
く or きゅう
10
Jyuu
十
じゅう
11
Jyuu ichi
十一
じゅういち
12
Jyuu ni
十二
じゅうに
13
Jyuu san
十三
じゅうさん
20
Ni jyuu
二十
にじゅう
21
Ni jyuu ichi
二十一
にじゅういち
22
Ni jyuu ni
二十二
にじゅうに
30
San jyuu
三十
さんじゅう
40
Yon jyuu
四十
よんじゅう
50
Go jyuu
五十
ごじゅう
60
Roku jyuu
六十
ろくじゅう
70
Nana jyuu
七十
ななじゅう
80
Hachi jyuu
八十
はちじゅう
90
Kyuu jyuu
九十
きゅうじゅう
100
Hyaku
百
ひゃく
123
Hyaku nijyuu san
百二十三
8
ひゃくにじゅうさん
Days of the Week and Months of the Year
Following are the days of the week and months of the year written in Romaji (written English), Kanji and
Hiragana.
Day/Month
Romaji
Kanji
Hiragana
A Day
Hi
日
ひ
Sunday
Nichi-youbi
日曜日
にちようび
Monday
Getsu-youbi
月曜日
げつようび
Tuesday
Ka-youbi
火曜日
かようび
Wednesday
Sui-youbi
水曜日
すいようび
Thursday
Moku-youbi
木曜日
もくようび
Friday
Kin-youbi
金曜日
きんようび
Saturday
Do-youbi
土曜日
どようび
One week
Isshuukan
一週間
いっしゅうかん
A Month
Gatsu
月
がつ
January
Ichi-gatsu
一月
いちがつ
February
Ni-gatsu
二月
にがつ
March
San-gatsu
三月
さんがつ
April
Shi-gatsu
四月
しがつ
May
Go-gatsu
五月
ごがつ
June
Roku-gatsu
六月
ろくがつ
July
Shichi-gatsu
七月
しちがつ
August
Hachi-gatsu
八月
はちがつ
September
Ku-gatsu
九月
くがつ
October
Jyuu-gatsu
十月
じゅうがつ
November
Jyuuichi-gatsu
十一月
じゅういちがつ
December
Jyuuni-gatsu
十二月
じゅうにがつ
One Year
Ichi-nen
一年
いちねん
9
Sample Phrases Used in First Grade
Japanese language
First Grade
Teacher
Good Morning
Good Afternoon
Good Evening
Good bye
Thank You
Thank you very much
You’re welcome
I’m sorry
Yes
No
“I am (name)”
Ex. “I am Jon”
“My name is (name)”
Ex, “My name is Jon”
To denote a girl’s name, add the suffix,
“san” or “chan”
To denote a boy’s name, add the suffix,
“kun”
I do not understand
I understood
Please sit
Let’s listen
Let’s stand up
Please be quiet
Nihongo
Ichinensei
Sensei
Ohayogozaimasu
Konnichiwa
Konbanwa
Sayonara
Arigatou
Doumo arigatou gozaimasu
Dou itashimashite
Gomennasai/Sumimasen
Hai
Iie
Watashi wa (name) desu.
Ex. Watashi wa Jon desu.
Watashi no namae wa (name) desu.
Ex. Watashi no namae wa Jon desu.
(name)-san
Ex. Karen-san, Sara-san
(name)-kun
Ex. Robert-kun, David-kun
Wakarimasen
Wakarimashita
Suwatte kudasai
Kikimashou
Tachimashou
Shizukani shite kudasai
10