American Association of Teachers of Japanese

National Standards for Japanese
Language Learning: Communities

Participate in Multilingual Communities at Home and Around the World

Japanese is no longer a language spoken only by native speakers of Japanese. The number of people outside of Japan who speak Japanese increases every year, and a large number of Japanese live or visit abroad. Thus, one does not have to go to Japan to communicate with others in Japanese. Japanese learners should take advantage of this trend during the course of their language studies. They also should recognize that a major goal of Japanese language learning is to contribute to community-building by making use of their language abilities. Students can reach out to parents, day care centers, senior citizen homes, ets., and share their excitement about learning Japanese through performances and presentations.

Standard 5.1
Students use Japanese both within and beyond the school setting.

Sample Progress Indicators, Grade 4
--Students communicate with speakers of Japanese via letters, e-mail,or exchanges of audio and video tapes.
--Students identify professions that require proficiency in Japanese (travel guide, translator, Japanese teacher).
--Students participate in imaginary play ("omiseyasan gokko," "mamagoto").
--Students present information about the Japanese language and culture to their peers, parents, or community groups in English or Japanese.
--Students prepare illustrations or posters to present to their peers, parents, or community groups.
--Students perform for a school or community celebration (sing songs, perform a skit, dance).
--Students use Japanese outside the classroom to complete assigned tasks and to interact with peers.

Sample Progress Indicators, Grade 8
--Students use Japanese to talk or write to peers about various activities and events (family vacation, school holidays, daily activities).
--Students interact with members of the local community to learn how they use Japanese in their professional and personal lives.
--Students present information about Japanese language and culture to others (through school assemblies, exhibits at a local library or shopping mall, visit to a nursing home).
--Students participate in activities that benefit the school or community (receiving Japanese visitors, preparing bulletin boards).
--Students write and illustrate stories and reports to present to others.
--Students perform for a school or community celebration (skits, songs, dances, martial arts).

Sample Progress Indicators, Grade 12
--Students communicate orally or in writing with members of Japanese language communities regarding personal interests and community or world concerns ("haikibutsu," transportation, global warming, population increase).
--Students participate in a school-to-work project or an exploration of a career in which they might use proficiency in Japanese language and culture (travel agent, translator, business consultant, lawyer, flight attendant).
--Students use community resources (libraries, Web pages, interviews) to research a topic related to Japanese culture and/or language study.
--Students present information about Japanese language and culture to others.
--Students participate in activities that benefit the school or community (gathering information about how Japanese communities deal with social problems, receiving Japanese visitors to the community, helping prepare tourist information in Japanese).
--Students write and illustrate stories and reports to present to others. --Students perform for a school or community celebration or event (skits, songs, dances, plays, martial arts). --Students participate in study abroad programs and share their experiences with others.

Sample Progress Indicators, Grade 16
--Students communicate orally or in writing with members of Japanese language communities regarding personal interests and community or world concerns (chemical weapons, environmental issues, international trade).
--Students explore careers (e.g. through internships) that require proficiency in Japanese language and culture.
--Students present information to others in writing as well as orally. --Students do research using Japanese language resources (books, World Wide Web, journals, native speakers, documentaries, newspapers. --Students participate in an outreach program that helps others studying Japanese language and culture (tutoring Japanese at a local elementary school, giving presentations on Japanese culture at local service organizations and businesses).
--Students participate in study abroad programs in Japan and/or help international students from Japan at their institution.

Standard 5.2
Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using Japanese for personal enjoyment and enrichment.

Sample Progress Indicators, Grade 4
--Students use Japanese audio and visual materials for enjoyment (TV programs, children's videos, picture books).
--Students play sports (artial arts) or games ("karuta," "sugoroku") from Japanese culture. --Students plan real or imaginary travel to Japan (locations to visit, mode of transportation, sights to see).
--Students attend or view via media Japanese cultural events and social activities ("bon odori," "tanabata," "shichi-go-san").
--Students listen to music, sing songs, play musical instruments, or learn dances from Japan.
--Students pursue activities learned about in Japanese class on their own time (origami, eating Japanese foods, playing games, playing house).
--Students make friends with speakers of Japanese.

Sample Progress Indicators, Grade 8
--Students read materials (children's books, illustrated books) and/or use media (videos, computer programs) in Japanese for enjoyment or personal growth.
--Students consult various sources (children's books, illustrated articles, videos, acquaintances) in Japanese to obtain information on topics of personal interest.
--Students play sports (martial arts) or games (computer games) from Japanese culture. --Students exchange information about topics of personal interest.
--Students attend or view via media Japanese cultural events and social activities ("mochitsuki," "hanami," "yukimatsuri").
--Students listen to music, sing songs, play musical instruments, or learn dances from Japan.
--Students engage in activities related to their personal interests (cooking and/or eating Japanese food, building models, calligraphy, origami). --Students plan real or imaginary travel (locations, lodging, schedule, interactions with homestay families).
--Students establish and/or maintain interpersonal relations with speakers of Japanese.

Sample Progress Indicators, Grade 12
--Students consult various sources (books, magazines, World Wide Web, films, experts) in Japanese to obtain information on topics of personal interest.
--Students play sports (martial arts) or games ("shoogi," "go") from Japanese culture.
--Students read materials (books, magazines, "manga") and/or use media (videos, CDs, World Wide Web) in Japanese for enjoyment or personal growth.
--Students establish and/or maintain interpersonal relations with speakers of Japanese.
--Students attend or view via media Japanese cultural events and social activities (kabuki, "matsuri," school functions).
--Students listen to music, sing songs, play musical instruments, or learn dances from Japan.
--Students plan real or imaginary travel (locations, budget, itinerary, interactions with travel agents).
--Students engage in activities related to their personal interests (cooking and/or eating Japanese food, crafts, "sumie," calligraphy, martial arts).

Sample Progress Indicators, Grade 16
--Students consult various sources (books, magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias and other reference works, documentaries, films, Internet, experts) in Japanese to obtain information on topics of personal interest.
--Students read and/or use various media in Japanese for entertainment or personal growth.
--Students establish and/or maintain interpersonal relations using both written and spoken Japanese.
--Students attend or view via media Japanese cultural events and social activities ("noo," "rakugo," concerts, plays, receptions, "konpa," "gookon").