Theme 1: Social Issues

Civic Responsibility and Engagement

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Elicit an exchange and discussion on participation in community activities.
• Maintain a discussion related to topics such as education, travel, and involvement in today's society.
• Discuss topics related to adulthood.
• Debate what makes one a responsible citizen.
• Discuss personal rights and responsibilities of young adults.
• Discuss a citizen's responsibility to vote and be informed politically.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Understand written and oral materials on the role of the young adult in his or her community.
• Understand spoken or written information given by community organizations, schools and the media.
• Comprehend written and oral materials on young adults' involvement in politics.
• Comprehend literature pertaining to one's civic responsibility to be informed and aware of issues such as politics, the environment, and social issues.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Communicate oral and written information pertaining to community involvement.
• Produce well-organized spoken and written presentations on civic responsibilities upon reaching adulthood.
• Produce and present original presentations highlighting one's community responsibility and civic rights.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Compare and contrast young adults' civic responsibilities in the U.S. and in Japan.
• Compare and contrast community structures and civic involvement in the U.S. and in Japan.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various school subjects such as civics, government, and social sciences.
• Compare and contrast civic responsibilities of a young adult in the U.S. and Japan.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast the U.S. government to the Japanese government.
• Compare policies and practices regarding voting and civic and personal responsibilities in Japan and in the U.S.
• Compare and contrast business transactions in the U.S. and in Japan.
• Compare and contrast linguistic conventions in English and Japanese when discussing an individual's personal and civic responsibilities.

Communication Across Communities

• Investigate voting practices and civic responsibilities in Japan.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to community involvement and civic responsibility
• Expressions of preference, agreement and disagreement
• Use of the conditional and different levels of speech (honorific, humble, polite)

 

Diversity, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Maintain a discussion related to diversity.
• Discuss and/or debate prejudice and discrimination.
• Express and explain reactions to prejudice and discrimination.
• Express opinions and react to issues concerning human rights.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend and analyze written and oral materials on diversity and discrimination.
• Read and comprehend materials on prejudice in all societies.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce oral and written reports on prejudice and discrimination throughout history.
• Produce an activity showing prejudice and discrimination and discuss possible solutions.
• Produce an oral or written presentation reflecting current trends and/or attitudes in society related to diversity.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore traditional attitudes when reacting to diversity and discrimination in the U.S. as well as in Japan.
• Explore bias in reporting human rights issues.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various school subjects to include humanities, social sciences, history and government.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Japan towards discrimination in the criminal justice system.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources in Japanese to broaden understanding of prejudice and discrimination.

 

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to political and social systems
• Vocabulary related to geography and contemporary issues
• Expressions of conviction, opinions, and agreement or disagreement

 

Historical and Present Conflict

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Discuss past and present conflicts including causes, resolutions, and impact on the world (e.g. World War 1, WWII, war in Iraq, etc.).

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Understand current and historical texts relating to world conflict.
• Understand spoken presentations about world conflict, including news broadcasts, speeches and interviews.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Express differing points of view and opinions about world conflict.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Identify the sources of conflict in Japan, such as language, religion, tradition, colonialism, etc.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Relate knowledge of world conflict from social studies classes to knowledge gained in Japanese class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare prevailing opinions in the United States regarding world conflicts with those in Japan.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate information about world conflict in Japanese.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to diplomacy, geography, and nationality
• Vocabulary related to opinions

 

Crime and Justice

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Maintain a discussion related to a crime or mystery story.
• Express and explain reactions to crime and the judicial system.
• Debate criminal cases.
• Express opinions about the effectiveness of various laws.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify relevant information or legal issues when listening to newscasts.
• Identify pertinent evidence when reading mystery stories.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce oral and/or written book report in Japanese on a mystery.
• Produce and present an original mystery.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore attitudes when reacting to today's criminal justice system in the U.S. as well as in Japanese-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various school subjects to include social sciences, literature, biology and government.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Japan towards the criminal justice system.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources in Japanese to broaden understanding of the criminal justice system in Japan.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to political systems
• Vocabulary related to legal systems
• Expressions of conviction, opinions, and agreement or disagreement
• Use of the passive voice

Theme 2: Globalization and Communication

Current Events

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Debate issues concerning current events.
• Express and exchange reactions to current events.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify pertinent information when listening to newscasts or reading selections.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce oral and written reports and articles on current events.
• Develop and explain opinions and reactions to current news events.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore traditional attitudes when reacting to current events.
• Explore differences in reporting current events.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various school subjects to include social sciences, history, government and science.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Japan towards world events.
• Recognize borrowed words and cognates from news articles and TV broadcasts in both languages.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources in Japanese to broaden understanding of current events.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to political systems
• Vocabulary related to geography and contemporary issues
• Expressions of conviction, opinions, and agreement or disagreement
• Use of the passive voice

 

Politics

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Participate in sustained conversation and/or debate about past and present political events.
• Debate merits of political candidates.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Read newspaper and magazine articles related to political events.
• Comprehend news broadcasts about political matters.
• Comprehend written and oral materials on elections.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce spoken or written presentations on varied political views.
• Give a detailed summary and/or critique of an article or news broadcast about politics.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Examine the influence of history on the political systems of Japan to include monarchies, democracies, dictatorships, etc.
• Explore the influence different political systems have had on cultural aspects of Japan.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Relate knowledge of politics gained in government or social studies classes to information learned in Japanese class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare the political systems in the U.S. and Japan.
• Compare the world view of the U.S. to world views of Japan (international law, conflicts, economic issues, etc.).

Communication Across Communities

• Access information on the Internet about political issues and events in Japan.
• Investigate the various voting policies in Japan.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to the legal system
• Vocabulary related to rights and responsibilities
• Vocabulary related to government, political parties, and elections
• Vocabulary related to economic issues
• Expressions used in negotiations

 

Technology

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Discuss the evolution of technology.
• Discuss the applications of technology in contemporary society.
• Describe how technology has influenced our society.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend oral and written information about the use of technology throughout history.
• Explore and understand the history of evolution of technology in today's society.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Describe how technology has created as well as solved problems in our society.
• Give a detailed summary and/or critique of an article or news broadcast about technology.
• Produce spoken or written presentations supporting the use of technology in our community.
• Use various technological techniques in a presentation to examine the use of technology in our community.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss attitudes towards technology in education and the workplace.
• Examine and discuss how technology has changed social interactions in today's society.
• Compare and contrast historical achievements without the use of modern technology.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Discuss how technology is used in other disciplines, such as math, science, the humanities and vocational studies.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Increase awareness of the use of technology in Japan.
• Identify cognates and other vocabulary related to technology.

Communication Across Communities

• Access information on the Internet about the evolution of technology.
• Use technology in the production of commercials, plays, recordings, menus, etc.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to technology

 

The Media

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Maintain a discussion related to the media.
• Discuss the media's influence on current events.
• Discuss the impact of the media's presentation of current events.
• Analyze and discuss presentational techniques of the media.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify pertinent information when listening to newscasts or reading selections from print news sources or the Internet.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce an oral or written report on the positive and/or negative influence of the media.
• Develop and explain opinions and reactions to the media.
• Produce spoken and/or written presentations on the variety of ways in which the media can be used to slant the news.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore authentic media sources and discuss cultural attitudes when reacting to the media.
• Explore differences in media reporting.
• Explore how media presentations reflect cultural attitudes.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Identify and/or demonstrate a connection to various school subjects to include psychology, history, humanities, government and biology.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast reporting techniques of the American media with those of Japan.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources in Japanese to broaden understanding of the media.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to the media, past and present
• Vocabulary related to contemporary issues
• Expressions of conviction, opinions, and agreement or disagreement

Theme 3: Culture

Visual and Performing Arts

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Express and elicit opinions pertaining to theatre, music, dance, the visual arts, and films.
• Express and elicit opinions concerning Japanese-speaking artists and their work.
• Analyze information pertaining to the arts.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend the basic themes and historical and cultural contexts of Japanese works of art.
• Explore and understand the history and evolution of various forms of Japanese artistic expression.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce and explain opinions and reactions to visual and performing arts from various time periods, such as Noh and Kabuki.
• Produce well-organized spoken and written presentations on people in the arts.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss how a particular work of art reflects Japanese culture.
• Explore how music, art, theatre, dance, and films are influenced by historical and political events.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various subjects to include music, art, and the humanities.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and discuss different approaches to artistic productions observed in Japan and in the U.S.
• Compare the Japanese use of the passive voice with English when discussing the arts and past events.

Communication Across Communities

• Compare popular films, stories and actors in Japan and the U.S.
• Study and compare the value placed on the arts in Japan versus the U.S.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to the visual and performing arts

 

Historical Events

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Maintain a discussion pertaining to major political events in Japan.
• Discuss the cause and effect that wars have had on Japan.
• Discuss and analyze the various leaders in the history of Japan.
• Discuss the success and failures of a variety of past regimes in Japan.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify and analyze pertinent information when reading materials pertaining to world history.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce well-organized spoken and written presentations on historical events in Japan.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Examine racial and class differences within Japanese history.
• Investigate ideological differences of Japan, past and present.
• Explore current attitudes among the youth in Japan.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various school subjects including history, government, and political science.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast social structures, economies, and political regimes of Japan.
• Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Japan towards historical events.
• Explore the influence of Asian languages on the Japanese language.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources in Japan to broaden understanding of the various political systems and historical events of Japan.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to historical events and politics
• Expression of conviction, opinions, and agreement or disagreement

 

Literature

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Maintain a discussion pertaining to literature in Japan.
• Discuss and critique major Japanese authors and their works.
• Discuss and analyze the various literary genres in literature from Japan.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify and analyze pertinent information when reading literature.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce well-organized spoken and written presentations on writers from various time periods.
• Recite poetry from Japan and Haiku.
• Perform a play written by a Japanese author.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore how literature is influenced by historical and political events.
• Analyze how literature reflects Japanese cultural attitudes.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various school subjects including the humanities and social sciences.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Japan towards literature.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources to deepen understanding of Japanese literature.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Literary terminology
• Vocabulary related to historical events

Theme 4: Nature and Ecology

Environmental Issues and Problems

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Brainstorm different environmental issues and discuss ecological concerns.
• Identify environmental issues.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend informational materials pertaining to environmental issues.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Present problems and propose solutions to environmental issues.
• Produce and present well-organized spoken or written presentations on environmental issues and problems.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Compare and contrast environmental issues in the U.S. and in Japan.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Relate environmental information gained in Japanese class to information learned in other classes such as science and the humanities.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast the ecological laws of the U.S. with those in Japan.
• Identify cognates that relate to environmental concerns and practices.

Communication Across Communities

• Investigate environmental concerns and practices of Japan.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Environmental and ecological vocabulary
• Subjunctive mood
• Expressions related to giving opinions

 

Wildlife Conservation

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Participate in a sustained exchange about wildlife, its impact on the environment, and issues concerning endangered species.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Understand information on wildlife conservation from a variety of sources, such as TV, news, magazines, newspapers and the Internet.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Describe situations in Japan where wildlife conservation is currently being debated, giving details on specific fauna or wildlife, its habitat, and its importance to the environment.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Examine the importance of protecting endangered species as part of the traditions and culture of Japan.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Share information learned about wildlife conservation in another class (e.g. biology).

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and share information from Japanese sources on endangered species.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to wildlife conservation
• Expressions used in formulating hypotheses
• Terms and expressions used in oral debates or persuasive essays

Theme 5: Scientific and Creative Advancements

Health Issues and Disease Prevention

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Participate in a sustained conversation about health issues such as nutrition, exercise, and maintaining good health.
• Analyze information pertaining to science and medicine.
• Discuss the major health in our society.
• Discuss diseases of the last two decades (e.g. AIDS, Monkey Pox, SARS).
• Explain causes and prevention of a variety of diseases.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Understand spoken and written information on health issues and disease prevention from a variety of sources such as short stories, TV, newspapers, magazines and the Internet.
• Understand and analyze current research on a variety of diseases.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Describe problems related to substance abuse, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and poor sleeping habits.
• Explain causes and prevention of a variety of diseases.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore attitudes towards socialized medicine, comparing and contrasting the health care programs in Japanese-speaking countries and the U.S.
• Examine health issues and diseases as related to Japanese lifestyles.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Use knowledge of disease prevention and nutrition acquired in health classes.
• Use information gained in social studies classes to discuss the political implications of disease and health issues in Japan.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Japan towards health issues.
• Explore the emphasis on sports and exercise in Japan.
• Compare and contrast eating habits in Japan and in the U.S.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources to broaden understanding of scientific contributions to the field of disease prevention.
• Locate and use community resources and/or the Internet to broaden understanding of health-related issues and disease prevention.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to scientific and medical technology
• Expressions of conviction, doubt, opinions, and agreement or disagreement
• Use of the passive voice

 

Scientists and Mathematicians

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Maintain a discussion pertaining to scientists and mathematicians.
• Discuss inventions in science.
• Discuss scientific contributions from Japan.
• Discuss or debate the application of scientific research in medicine.
• Analyze information pertaining to science and medicine.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify and analyze scientific research and inventions.
• Identify diseases, illnesses, and cures in oral and written materials.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Present well-organized spoken and written presentations on scientists, mathematicians, and medicine.
• Research and report on advancements in medicine to include curable and incurable diseases.
• Perform an activity about a scientist or mathematician from Japan.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore attitudes when reacting to scientific discoveries.
• Explore attitudes towards socialized medicine, comparing and contrasting the health care programs in Japan and the U.S.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize a connection to various school subjects to include science, mathematicians, and social sciences.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes of people in the U.S. and in Japan towards science and mathematics.
• Explore the emphasis on mathematics and science in schools in Japan.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources to broaden understanding of scientific and mathematical contributions.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to scientific and mathematical terminology
• Expressions of conviction, doubt, opinions, and agreement or disagreement