Language & Culture Workshops
Workshop topics for Centre Visits
Workshops of 1-2 hours can be arranged by our professional language consultant on a wide variety of traditional and contemporary themes. The workshops can be delivered in Japanese, English or a combination of both.
Workshops may be further tailored to your class’s needs in consultation with our language consultant.
(Revised May 2022)
Topics
Activities
Duration
Traditional New Year’s games
Students obtain information about traditional annual events of Japan. They learn about the historical background and beliefs of annual events, and then experience traditional Japanese games that children play for the New Year days.
[Suitable for: GENERAL]
60 – 90 mins
Traditional festivals and yatai games
Students obtain information about traditional Japanese matsuri festivals. They experience matsuri yatai (stall) games in a role-play as a customer and a yatai staff.
[Suitable for: GENERAL]
60 – 90 mins
Yukata1, Bon-odori and Obon ritual
Students learn how to wear the Yukata and practice typical Bon-odori dancing of Japan. They also learn about meanings and beliefs of Obon summer ritual (August).
[Suitable for: GENERAL]
40 – 60 mins
Furoshiki
Students obtain information about traditional Japanese furoshiki culture; and practice traditional wrapping with furoshiki.
[Suitable for: GENERAL]
40 – 60 mins
Shodo
(Up to 20 students at a time)
Students learn the basic techniques of shodo, and create their own work of shodo.
[Suitable for: GENERAL]
60 – 90 mins (minimum)
Taiko: learning Japanese through rhythm
Students learn about Japanese drums and practice drumming with Japanese phrases and expressions. Through this practice, students can familiarise themselves with haku (mora), which helps them to develop their pronunciation and orthography skills.
[Suitable for: Primary and Junior Secondary]
60 mins
七五三 ritual and annual events of Japan
Students obtain information about Japanese annual events focused on children. They learn about the historical background of the Shichi Go San (七五三) ritual (November) and common activities on the day. They design a special menu for the day and then present it, explaining their choices to the class, applying Japanese grammar and sentence patterns.
[Suitable for: Primary and Junior Secondary]
60 -90 mins
Shopping
Students familiarise themselves with Japanese konbini items and services; and learn expressions for shopping by role-playing.
[Suitable for: Junior Secondary]
90 mins (minimum)
Japanese armor & helmet, and Children’s day
Students obtain information about history and meanings (symbolism) of the armor & helmet displayed on Children’s Day. They design their own and then present it explaining their design to the class, applying Japanese grammar and sentence patterns.
[Suitable for: Secondary]
90 mins (minimum)
Obento & Ekiben
Students explore the historical background and features of Ekiben & Obento and regional food culture in Japan. Students then design imaginary special Australian Ekiben & Obento. Please note that this is not a cooking class.
[Suitable for: Secondary]
60 – 90 mins
Visiting a Japanese home
Students obtain information about manners and expressions for visiting Japanese home; and perform a role-play.
[Suitable for: Secondary]
60 mins (minimum)
Japanese manga and anime
Students obtain information about the history of anime and manga, and explore the contemporary manga and anime culture of Japan. They then create their own manga characters and introduce them to the class or group.
[Suitable for: Secondary]
90 mins (minimum)
Traditional patterns of Japan
Students learn about traditional Japanese patterns and the meanings attached to them. They will then explore the contemporary use of traditional patterns in daily life.
[Suitable for: Secondary]
90-120 mins (minimum)
School events in Japan
Students learn about school events in Japan. They will then prepare basic explanations about a school event in Australia, considering differences and similarities with equivalent school events in Japan.
[Suitable for: Secondary]
90 mins (minimum)
Dream trip to Japan
Students learn about Japan through the eyes of a potential traveler. They obtain information about famous places and fun activities in Japan through ‘jigsaw reading’. They then plan their own ‘Dream trip to Japan’ through group discussion.
[Suitable for: Senior Secondary]
90 mins (minimum)
Tadoku2–fun reading workshop
This workshop provides students with an easy and fun reading experience in Japanese. Following a basic and simple explanation of Tadoku, students read graded/guided readers in Japanese at their own pace based on their interests and proficiency level.
[Suitable for: Senior Secondary]
60 mins
NOTE:
1 Please note that Yukata sizes and colours are limited. Students may not be able to choose their favorite design.
Recommended number of students for Yukata wearing is up to 15 at a time.
2 Tadoku workshop is suitable for students who can read Hiragana and Katakana without difficulty. For more information about Tadoku: http://tadoku.org/