Teaching about Japan in the English Classroom PLP

Workshop Aims

This workshop aims to:

• demonstrate that it is possible and desirable to incorporate the material included in Hanabi: Sources from Japan for the Secondary English Classroom in Australian classrooms;
• demonstrate that Asian literature in translation can be included in the English curriculum;
• provide teachers with background information about contemporary Japanese culture, particularly in relation to contemporary and popular literature.

Workshop Rationale

Teachers of English are accustomed to using texts in translation in the classroom, but Japanese texts have rarely featured. This is in part because of a paucity of readily available material, and appropriate contemporary sources have been particularly difficult to access.

The texts included in Hanabi: Sources from Japan for the Secondary English Classroom are a contribution towards remedying this situation. They are contemporary and likely to be of interest to Australian students in Years 10 and 11.

There are several key reasons why Japanese literature can play an important role in the education of Australian students:

• Contemporary Japan's vibrant literary and popular cultures produce many texts worthy of study in their own right.
• Relationships between Japan and Australia are closer today than ever before. Japan is one of Australia's biggest trading partners, it is an important market for Australian exports and there are high levels of Japanese tourism and investment in Australia.
• Despite increasing interaction between Australia and Japan on many levels, Australian students often have limited knowledge of Japan and Japanese culture. In some cases, stereotypes persist about Japanese people. The study of sources from Japan can assist in challenging these stereotypes and promoting greater understanding.
• Although there are many differences between Japanese and Australian culture, the two countries have much in common. Both economies are heavily industrialised and are substantial donors of humanitarian and other aid. Both face the challenges of competing internationally in the global economy and increased exposure to the cross-cultural experiences.

Implementing the Workshop

This workshop has been developed to allow users the opportunity to be creative and implement the different sections according to local needs. Although the workshop appears here in designated sections, and can be implemented according to these sections, the design is not inviolable. Leaders may choose:

• to take a specific section, or;
• to combine one or more sections and present these as a workshop to explore Japanese literature through Hanabi.

Leaders of this professional development workshop are encouraged to look for innovative ways in which to use the material and activities, and to attempt to incorporate reference to the use of online technology wherever relevant and possible.

The opportunity to isolate sections of the workshop widens the scope of the potential audience that can be exposed to Japanese literature through Hanabi. It is envisaged that elements of this workshop will appeal to a wide range of educators, rather than only Japan/ literature specialists. Although Hanabi is directed towards the English curriculum, the various sections of the professional development workshop can be extracted and effectively integrated into other key learning areas.

The workshop includes the following sections:

Section 1: Introduction

Introductions, brief background information about the Hanabi project, an outline of the contents of Hanabi: Sources from Japan for the Secondary English Classroom and a guest speaker who is a specialist in Japanese literature who can inform participants about:

• What is happening in Japanese literary circles today and how various developments may reflect socio-cultural trends.
• How contemporary Japanese literature genres are positioned in relation to traditional forms of Japanese literature.

Section 2: Background to Using Texts from Japan

Another speaker, perhaps a linguist, who can inform participants of the challenges of accurately interpreting translated literature. Specific reference could be made to Japanese-English translations and the genres of manga and tanka.

Section 3: Japanese Manga

Information about Japanese manga and haiku, small group work about a section of Frederik L Schodt's book, Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics and a consideration of Sailor Moon manga.

Section 4: Contemporary Japanese Tanka Poetry

An introduction to the tanka poetry of Machi Tawara and associated classroom activities. An exploration of the use of Hanabi: Sources from Japan for the Secondary English Classroom, in conjunction with local curriculum guidelines.

See Slide 1 for a summary of the contents of this workshop.

Workshop Outcomes

It is hoped that at the end of a workshop, participants should:

• have some background information about contemporary Japanese culture, particularly in relation to contemporary and popular literature;
• have increased understanding of the variety and significance of some Japanese literature and popular texts;
• be able to use Hanabi: Sources from Japan for the Secondary English Classroom with their own students; and
• have an increased awareness of the challenges inherent in interpreting translated texts.

Planning the Workshop

A whiteboard and computer with a data projector will be required.

Section 3 requires that Resource 2 be cut up so that each haiku is on a separate piece of paper.

Resource 1, to be distributed to participants, is the same as Slide 2.

A selection of Japanese manga is necessary for Section 3, as well as photocopies of examples of Sailor Moon manga.

Copies of the curriculum guidelines particular to the State or Territory in which the workshop is to be run should be available to participants.

It will be necessary to make arrangements with visiting specialists well in advance of the workshop. Such specialists should be asked to ensure their familiarity with Hanabi: Sources from Japan for the Secondary English Classroom and to provide a summary of their remarks for distribution to workshop participants.

Note:

A display should be available for inspection during breaks in the workshop. The display should include:

• related texts in the ‘Access Asia’ series such as Hanabi: Sources from Japan for the Secondary English Classroom, Many Flowers or Same Difference;
• samples of the downloadable lesson plans available on the Access Asia website;
• a computer that can be used to display Access Asia websites and online materials.

The Participants: Who is the Workshop For?

The workshop will be of particular value to:

• Practising middle and senior secondary school English teachers, whether or not they have a particular interest in Japanese culture;
• Practising middle and senior secondary school teachers of LOTE (Japanese);
• Educators skilled and experienced in Japanese literature;
• Curriculum consultants;
• Asia Education Foundation State and Territory Advisors; and
• Participants in the AEF's Teacher In-Country Fellowships to Asia.

The workshop assumes no particular knowledge of Japanese culture or, in particular, Japanese language or literature, therefore extending the scope of possible participants.

Presenter Expertise

Presenters of this workshop should be familiar with the content of Hanabi: Sources from Japan for the Secondary English Classroom. Specific knowledge of Japanese culture is not required, but would be an advantage. The absence of specific knowledge demands the inclusion of specialised speakers to fill the void.

Experience and knowledge of strategies for incorporating studies of Asia in Australian classrooms (particularly English classrooms) is also required and familiarity with other AEF /Curriculum Corporation Access Asia publications is desirable.