Term 4 Newsletter articles for Japanese include 'Furoshiki: Finding connections', '2023 Kansai Immersion Programme', and 'Japan Foundation Sydney September Intensive Seminar for Junior Secondary Teachers'.
Participants designed their own Furoshiki. From left to right: Rieko Woodford-Robinson (artist), Maryann Green (Hobsonville Point Secondary School), Yukiko Kojima (Mt Roskill Grammar School), Fukuko Hoshino (Macleans College), Emma Hu and Jacqueline Murphy (Epsom Girls Grammar School)
On Saturday 9th September I attended the Tui Tuia Art x Language workshop held at Auckland University’s Epsom campus along with five other local Japanese teachers. When I arrived and saw all of the art equipment, I felt nervous as I am definitely no artist. However, I was soon put at ease by the amazingly talented Rieko Woodford-Robinson. As she explained the art of furoshiki, she somehow managed to fill even this non-artist with quiet enthusiasm. The actual furoshiki design process was as easy or as difficult as you wanted to make it. I went for a cute otter theme and traced images to make up for my lack of artistic skill. In the end, I was really proud of the cute furoshiki I made and can’t wait to have an excuse to use it.
A highlight of the workshop was all the connections made between the symbols used in Japanese and Māori art. The workshop provided us with a wonderful model of how we can incorporate Mātauranga Māori into our Japanese classrooms.
The workshop also gave us teachers a safe space to speak Japanese and we chatted as we each worked on our unique furoshiki. Telling stories as we worked was entertaining and relaxing. I can definitely see the value of including similar activities in the language classroom.
Overall, the workshop made me feel inspired to share this activity with my students. I am even pondering how to turn it into a fundraising activity for our students going to Japan next year. Despite my initial concerns about not being arty enough, I had a fabulous time, and I would encourage other Japanese teachers to make the most of the wonderful workshops offered by Tui Tuia.
Written by Maryann Green, Hobsonville Point Secondary School
2023 Kansai Immersion Programme
Photo:Yea Young Lee (Hillmorton High School) holding her certification in the library where the librarians set up a special booth for us, the participants from New Zealand
Right:A group photo of participants with ‘Kafu’, from left, Petra Kent (Takapuna Grammar School), Jingwen Zhang (Wellington East Girls’ College), Krystal Boland (Ellesmere College), Maeve Lonie (Logan Park High School), Yea Young Lee (Hillmorton High School), and Hilary Harison (Trident High School).
The Kansai Immersion programme was intensive however, it was rewarding. Having to spend the entire time of the programme speaking, listening, writing & reading in Japanese definitely helped to consolidate the language knowledge and boost my proficiency especially using Keigo (respective language). A home visit, along with wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) making & a calligraphy session not only deepened my knowledge of Japanese culture but also gave me some ideas that I can share with my students.
We had two school visits that enabled us to understand how Japanese schools operate. Visiting the primary school was great fun and we also had an opportunity to introduce Aotearoa New Zealand to the local primary students.
Learning how to make the ‘Tadoku (Extensive reading)’ book was a really good experience. I gained more confidence in making books to match the reading level of my students.
One of the highlights was having ‘Kahu the Kiwi’ with six members of our team to explore and experience together what the Kansai programme provided us. I highly recommend this opportunity to anyone who would like to continue exploring more of the Japanese language & culture. Special thanks to Ms Fukazawa, our National Japanese Adviser and all the staff at the Japan Foundation Center in Osaka with their hospitality.
Written by Yea Young Lee, Hillmorton High School
Japan Foundation Sydney September Intensive Seminar for Junior Secondary Teachers
Picture 1: JFSydney logo with 2023 NZ participants
JFSydney 2023 participants (L-R) Grant Petersen – Aotea College, Paula Kasper- Tui Tuia Languages, Jennie McMillan – John Paul II High School, Garron White – Manurewa High School
Picture 2: Grant Petersen – Aotea College with calligraphy
I attended the Japan Foundation, Sydney Intensive Seminar for Junior Secondary Teachers in September. The course was an informative and an inclusive environment where teachers at any stage of their Japanese language journey can share and learn how to teach more effectively, as well as practice and improve their own language ability.
Day 1: Participants came from Australia and New Zealand. We met by doing rajio taisou (the now 100-year-old tradition of calisthenics done to a recognisable time). By the end of the first day, I had had many conversations in Japanese and had picked up new vocabulary, and practiced some vocabulary I don’t usually use.
Day 2: Language focus and resources that could improve and assist our teaching practice. Compared to New Zealand it was interesting to see how the Australian curriculum implements their core competencies. I found some that I am keen to implement.
Day 3: Focus on levelling up our language ability. We had conversations in Japanese with people we had not yet met. In preparation, we were primed with ways to move between topics and how to appropriately initiate an interaction. We ended the day with shodo, calligraphy practice. We learnt and practiced the main strokes and eventually wrote a character that resonated with us. I chose nozomu, ‘to hope for’, since self-improvement is a continual process.
Day 4: Had a cultural focus, with instruction on furoshiki, the art of wrapping items in traditional Japanese cloths. These techniques and those learnt doing shodo are perfect for introducing students to practical sides of Japanese language and culture.
We ended with a certificate ceremony, to acknowledge our Professional Learning Development. Everyone’s friendliness and helpful demeanor made this seminar engaging and interesting. This has been a rewarding experience I can recommend to all.
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2023 - Japanese - Term 4 Newsletter Articles
Furoshiki: Finding connections
Participants designed their own Furoshiki. From left to right: Rieko Woodford-Robinson (artist), Maryann Green (Hobsonville Point Secondary School), Yukiko Kojima (Mt Roskill Grammar School), Fukuko Hoshino (Macleans College), Emma Hu and Jacqueline Murphy (Epsom Girls Grammar School)
On Saturday 9th September I attended the Tui Tuia Art x Language workshop held at Auckland University’s Epsom campus along with five other local Japanese teachers. When I arrived and saw all of the art equipment, I felt nervous as I am definitely no artist. However, I was soon put at ease by the amazingly talented Rieko Woodford-Robinson. As she explained the art of furoshiki, she somehow managed to fill even this non-artist with quiet enthusiasm. The actual furoshiki design process was as easy or as difficult as you wanted to make it. I went for a cute otter theme and traced images to make up for my lack of artistic skill. In the end, I was really proud of the cute furoshiki I made and can’t wait to have an excuse to use it.
A highlight of the workshop was all the connections made between the symbols used in Japanese and Māori art. The workshop provided us with a wonderful model of how we can incorporate Mātauranga Māori into our Japanese classrooms.
The workshop also gave us teachers a safe space to speak Japanese and we chatted as we each worked on our unique furoshiki. Telling stories as we worked was entertaining and relaxing. I can definitely see the value of including similar activities in the language classroom.
Overall, the workshop made me feel inspired to share this activity with my students. I am even pondering how to turn it into a fundraising activity for our students going to Japan next year. Despite my initial concerns about not being arty enough, I had a fabulous time, and I would encourage other Japanese teachers to make the most of the wonderful workshops offered by Tui Tuia.
Written by Maryann Green, Hobsonville Point Secondary School
2023 Kansai Immersion Programme
Photo:Yea Young Lee (Hillmorton High School) holding her certification in the library where the librarians set up a special booth for us, the participants from New Zealand
Right:A group photo of participants with ‘Kafu’, from left, Petra Kent (Takapuna Grammar School), Jingwen Zhang (Wellington East Girls’ College), Krystal Boland (Ellesmere College), Maeve Lonie (Logan Park High School), Yea Young Lee (Hillmorton High School), and Hilary Harison (Trident High School).
The Kansai Immersion programme was intensive however, it was rewarding. Having to spend the entire time of the programme speaking, listening, writing & reading in Japanese definitely helped to consolidate the language knowledge and boost my proficiency especially using Keigo (respective language). A home visit, along with wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) making & a calligraphy session not only deepened my knowledge of Japanese culture but also gave me some ideas that I can share with my students.
We had two school visits that enabled us to understand how Japanese schools operate. Visiting the primary school was great fun and we also had an opportunity to introduce Aotearoa New Zealand to the local primary students.
Learning how to make the ‘Tadoku (Extensive reading)’ book was a really good experience. I gained more confidence in making books to match the reading level of my students.
One of the highlights was having ‘Kahu the Kiwi’ with six members of our team to explore and experience together what the Kansai programme provided us. I highly recommend this opportunity to anyone who would like to continue exploring more of the Japanese language & culture. Special thanks to Ms Fukazawa, our National Japanese Adviser and all the staff at the Japan Foundation Center in Osaka with their hospitality.
Written by Yea Young Lee, Hillmorton High School
Japan Foundation Sydney September Intensive Seminar for Junior Secondary Teachers
Picture 1: JFSydney logo with 2023 NZ participants
JFSydney 2023 participants (L-R) Grant Petersen – Aotea College, Paula Kasper- Tui Tuia Languages, Jennie McMillan – John Paul II High School, Garron White – Manurewa High School
Picture 2: Grant Petersen – Aotea College with calligraphy
I attended the Japan Foundation, Sydney Intensive Seminar for Junior Secondary Teachers in September. The course was an informative and an inclusive environment where teachers at any stage of their Japanese language journey can share and learn how to teach more effectively, as well as practice and improve their own language ability.
Day 1: Participants came from Australia and New Zealand. We met by doing rajio taisou (the now 100-year-old tradition of calisthenics done to a recognisable time). By the end of the first day, I had had many conversations in Japanese and had picked up new vocabulary, and practiced some vocabulary I don’t usually use.
Day 2: Language focus and resources that could improve and assist our teaching practice. Compared to New Zealand it was interesting to see how the Australian curriculum implements their core competencies. I found some that I am keen to implement.
Day 3: Focus on levelling up our language ability. We had conversations in Japanese with people we had not yet met. In preparation, we were primed with ways to move between topics and how to appropriately initiate an interaction. We ended the day with shodo, calligraphy practice. We learnt and practiced the main strokes and eventually wrote a character that resonated with us. I chose nozomu, ‘to hope for’, since self-improvement is a continual process.
Day 4: Had a cultural focus, with instruction on furoshiki, the art of wrapping items in traditional Japanese cloths. These techniques and those learnt doing shodo are perfect for introducing students to practical sides of Japanese language and culture.
We ended with a certificate ceremony, to acknowledge our Professional Learning Development. Everyone’s friendliness and helpful demeanor made this seminar engaging and interesting. This has been a rewarding experience I can recommend to all.
