Grade 11 - Understanding Culture and Society

This sub-organizer contains the following sections:
Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
Recommended Learning Resources

PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is expected that students will:

employ various culturally specific Japanese manners and gestures
identify the characteristics of gender, age, relationships, situations, and occupations that affect the use of language in Japanese
analyse similarities and differences between Japanese culture and their own cultures

To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Understanding Culture and Society in other grades click on an icon below.

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

At this level, students' knowledge of Japanese increases, as do their abilities to make observations about their own cultures. Their knowledge of Japanese culture and its effects on language use begins to enhance their abilities to communicate using gender- and culturally appropriate expressions.

Lead a discussion on the nature of gender, age, and senpai-kouhai relationships in Japanese schools, companies, and communities. Have students brainstorm and demonstrate how these factors affect the use of language. Invite students to practise role-playing senpai-kouhai relationships in Japanese schools, companies, and communities.
Have students view pictures and photographs of neighbourhoods in Japan and compare them to their own neighbourhoods. In small groups, students outline the similarities and present this information to the class using visual support.
Challenge students to use Japanese television guides to identify key information about programs in Japan and how they differ from or parallel programs on Canadian television. Then have students categorize the programs by type (e.g., drama, comedy, documentary) and develop graphs showing which type of program is enjoyed most in both countries.
Form small groups and invite each group to create and present a role play about a Canadian exchange student arriving in Japan, or a Japanese student arriving in Canada, and having to deal with real-life situations.
After students have viewed a video or listened to an audiotape of native Japanese speakers communicating in real-life situations, ask them to create versions of the same communications, in each case changing one factor (e.g., age, gender, occupation). Have students discuss how each change affects the use of language.
Ask students to study different aspects of Japanese religion and how they influence lifestyles and customs (e.g., with regard to births, marriages, deaths, visitations to temples and shrines).

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

Most of the learning outcomes at this level focus on analysis and application of knowledge about Japanese conventions, language, and culture. Students demonstrate their knowledge as they engage in a variety of communication activities including role plays, discussions, presentations, and written assignments.

As students participate in classroom activities such as role plays of senpai-kouhai relationships, look for evidence of:
- accurate interpretations and references to Japanese language and culture
- appropriate use of Japanese manners and gestures
- sensitivity to factors that affect language
- openness to cultural diversity
awareness of features that are similar across cultures
When students compare their neighbourhoods with those pictured in Japanese photographs, look for evidence that they are:
- able to identify a wide variety of specific features
- relying on valid information rather than stereotyping
- objective in drawing comparisons
- able to identify some of the more subtle similarities as well as concrete, obvious features
tentative in arriving at generalizations or conclusions
When students create role plays about exchange students being introduced to new situations, look for evidence that they are able to:
- draw on relevant concepts and vocabulary they have learned
- use appropriate Japanese language, manners, and gestures
- show empathy for individuals who are in unfamiliar situations
- avoid stereotyping

RECOMMENDED LEARNING RESOURCES

Print Materials

"Body" Language
Eating in Japan
Everyday Japanese
Festivals of Japan
Haiku
In Japan
Japanese - An Appetizer
Japanese for Everyone
Japanese Society Today
Mangajin's Basic Japanese Through Comics
Nihongo Notes 1
NTC's Basic Japanese

Video

Annual Festivities and Ceremonies
Working Women

Multimedia

101 Japanese Idioms
Japanese Language and People
Kimono
Moshi Moshi

CD-ROM

Exotic Japan

Revised: January 26, 1999

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