Welcome to the Japanese online resources

The Japanese resources consist of:

Scenarios: The six Scenarios use culturally relevant stories to engage students with language used in context. They also include a number of computer-based activities and relevant information on culture and language. For detailed language notes, please refer to the Teachers' notes section of this website.

To launch or download, go to the Scenarios home page.
Summary Language
1 Kasajizo is a fairytale/fable about an old couple in ancient Japan who have nothing to eat at New Year.
  • 〜です/〜ます style sentence construction
  • dates
  • weather
  • food
  • numbers
  • likes/dislikes
2 Ninja Story engages students in the use of Japanese language in the context of a ninja adventure in the samurai era.
  • 〜です/〜ます/〜ました/〜て sentence construction
  • colours
  • particles は、を、に
  • simple kanji
  • directions
  • い adjectives
3 Makeover Camp explores the use of Japanese language in the context of a healthy lifestyle in Australia and Japan.
  • 〜です/〜ます style sentence construction
  • likes/dislikes
  • eating and drinking
  • numbers
4 Big Brother explores the use of language in the context of family life in Australia and Japan.
  • 〜です/〜ます style sentence construction
  • self-introduction
  • time
  • food
  • sport
  • likes/dislikes
5 The Honeymooners uses the context of two holidays to explore the use of Japanese language. The holiday that starts disastrously turns out to be quite an adventure whereas the one that seemed so wonderful at the start goes off the rails.
  • 〜です/〜ます style sentence construction
  • numbers
  • food
  • likes/dislikes
  • hungry/thirsty
  • parts of the body
  • how to say it hurts
6 Speed Dating explores the use of Japanese language in interpersonal relationships in the context of popular culture.
  • 〜です/〜ます style sentence construction
  • likes/dislikes
  • self-introduction
  • Japanese zodiac
  • hobbies
  • family members

Explorers: The four Explorers aim to develop students' awareness of Japanese society and culture.
Texts are short and based on familiar vocabulary and structures written in hiragana, simple kanji and katakana with furigana gloss. For detailed language notes, please refer to the Teachers' notes section of this website.

To launch or download, go to the Explorers home page.
1 A Japanese House: This interactive resource explores the:
  • house
  • garden
  • genkan (entrance foyer)
  • washitsu (Japanese-style room)
  • kitchen
  • bedroom and living room
  • bath and toilet

Tour 1: In the first tour, Alyssa is staying with the Ishii family. Her host sister, Mariko, shows her around the family home.

Tour 2: In the second tour, the owner of a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) shows an overseas visitor around the inn.

2 Our Neighbourhood: This interactive resource explores:
  • ceremonies
  • 'on the street' (street life)
  • shops
  • transport
  • people (one meets)
  • food
  • entertainment

Tour 1: In the first tour, Keishi has a new car and takes his friend Mark on a trip to Akihabara, the electronics district of Tokyo. On the way, Mark learns about various aspects of the neighbourhood, and about traditional and contemporary Japanese culture.

Tour 2: In the second tour, Hiroko meets Lisa, an Australian exchange student, and they go shopping in Tokyo.

3 Japanese Food: This interactive resource explores:
  • fast food
  • noodles
  • okonomiyaki
  • lunch boxes
  • convenience stores
  • vending machines
  • restaurants
  • sweets

Tour 1: In the first tour the student accompanies Mr Kitano and Ms Suzuki, food critics for one of Japan's major newspapers, as they visit food establishments in Tokyo. They travel around the various locations and discuss the food, giving each dish a star rating. After each visit, students see the town map and an animated trail to the next location.

Tour 2: In the second tour Keishi shows Julie how to make okonomiyaki, Japanese savoury pancakes. Students will learn how to make this dish, and also how procedural language is used.

4 The Samurai: This interactive resource explores:
  • samurai society
  • family crests
  • architecture
  • culture
  • weapons
  • religion

Tour 1: The first tour takes the student with the shogun's trusted samurai, Shimada, to stop the evil Tsuchida, who is trying to take over the shogun's fiefdom.

Tour 2: In the second tour, Janelle, an exchange student in Japan, is taken by her host sister Mia to experience aspects of traditional Japan.


Space voyage games: In these innovative games the student plays the part of an Australian astronaut visiting a Japanese space station. The student must engage in dialogue with the inhabitants of the space station to solve a range of problems. Each game is limited to 30 minutes. Students must review the available dialogue, then construct correct language (questions and responses) in order to make things happen. Initially most students will be unable to complete the game in 30 minutes, but each time they play they will use knowledge they have acquired in earlier rounds to help them move more quickly through the game. For detailed language notes, please refer to the Teachers' notes section of this website.

To launch or download, go to the Space voyage games home page.
1 SOS: Solve the problems and collect the supplies to save the crew. This interactive resource explores language in the following rooms:
  • Arrivals – welcome
  • Information – collect PRAk, the helper robot
  • Decontamination – you've got to be clean
  • Immigration – fill in the entry forms
  • Clinic – tell the nurse what's wrong with the crew and get some medicine
  • Internet cafe – send a message home
  • Convenience store – collect supplies
  • Hardware store – collect supplies
  • Checkout – nothing comes for free, pay for it
  • Departure lounge – taxes and saying goodbye
2 Computer virus: Solve the problems and collect the parts of the key to reset the space station's main computer. This interactive resource explores language in the following rooms:
  • Arrivals – welcome
  • Information – collect PRAk, the helper robot
  • Vending machine – food dispenser
  • Junkyard – feed the dog what it likes
  • Laboratory – build a pet
  • Observation deck – find the model planets
  • Gym – do the right number of the correct exercise
  • Communications – reset the times on the world map
  • Weather room – make it stop!
  • Control room – time to return to base

Teachers' resources Go to Japanese teachers' notes

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