British Columbia and Canada have growing economic and cultural ties with Japan. Japan has been a major contributor of technological advances worldwide, and Japanese, spoken by 128 million people, is one of the world's ten principal languages. Acquiring the Japanese language and an understanding of Japanese culture will provide students with an enriched range of career opportunities.

In using Japanese to create and convey meaning, students can discover new ways to express their individuality. The study of Japanese not only develops the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to understand and communicate effectively in Japanese, but also expands students' knowledge of language-learning processes in general. This enhances the development of their first and additional languages. Communicating in real-life situations in another language also enhances students' self-confidence, risk-taking skills, interpersonal skills, and critical-thinking skills.

In this curriculum, students will have opportunities to recognize and understand cultural links that affect communication in Japanese (for example, social position, gender, family, and age). They will gain insight into and appreciation of Japanese society through exposure to its history, customs, arts, and contemporary culture. Japanese language study will also enhance students' understanding of their own and other cultures.

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