Japanese Culture

LEAD-IN:
1 Brainstorm ideas.
· What is the role of culture in society?
Culture plays a significant role in society by shaping the values, norms, beliefs, and behaviors
of a community. It influences how people interact, communicate, and make sense of the
world.
· What do you know about Japanese Culture?
Japanese culture is rich and diverse, with a long history that has shaped its customs and traditions.
Japan is known for its traditional arts. Japanese art also includes traditional painting, pottery, and
contemporary art forms like manga and anime. Japanese cuisine is renowned worldwide, featuring
dishes like sushi, sashimi, ramen, tempura.

TASK:
PROCESS:
4 Discuss these questions:
1. You are a teacher at secondary school. You are writing an article for the ‘National
Geographic’ journal, or preparing a public speech. Consider what material (e.g. text, video,
photos, etc.) you could contribute on the theme “The World Cultural Heritage. The Cultural
Heritage of Japan (or Kazakhstan)”. Don’t forget about your class!
As a secondary school teacher, I am passionate about teaching my students about the world's diverse
and fascinating cultural heritage. Japan's cultural heritage is a topic of deep meaning and fascination.
In this article for National Geographic, I aim to highlight the essence of Japan's cultural heritage and
explore resources we can use in the classroom to engage our students.
We can introduce students to the vast history of Japan, from ancient times to the present day, focusing
on the transformation of customs, traditions, and social shifts. The use of Japanese literature can
become a means of conveying the essence of Japan's literary heritage. Teachers can talk about these
traditions in detail, revealing their cultural significance.Teachers can provide vivid photographs of
iconic Japanese landmarks.Students are encouraged to watch documentaries about Japanese culture,
exploring topics such as traditional crafts, art, and modern Japanese life. Teachers should organize
workshops for students to become familiar with traditional Japanese activities.
To summarize, Japan's cultural heritage is a valuable repository of history, tradition and artistic
expression. It is our responsibility as educators to present this cultural richness in an engaging way,
promoting global awareness and understanding of diversity among our students.
2. You have to explain the following questions to a class of secondary school pupils: ‘What are
the benefits of studying languages and cultures?’ ‘What relations and meanings does the
concept ‘language-culture-personality’ show?’ Think of the ways to introduce these ideas to
children.
I will ask the class if they have ever met anyone from a different country or speaking a different
language. I note that learning languages and cultures can help them understand and communicate
with people from all over the world. Moreover, I will explain to them some of the benefits of
learning languages and cultures. If they know many languages, they will have the opportunity to
make new friends, travel, and also get great job opportunities. I will also explain to them that
learning about other cultures teaches us to be respectful and open-minded.
3. You work as a Foreign Language teacher at a secondary school. Think of the ways of creating
the authentic target-language learning environment in the classroom. Share your ideas at a
teachers’ meeting.
Creating an authentic target language learning environment in the classroom is essential for effective
language acquisition.
We can decorate the classroom with posters, maps and pictures related to the culture and geography of
the target language. This can help students connect language to its real-world context. We can
organize cultural events or invite a native speaker to introduce students to culture and traditions. We
should encourage students to engage in role-playing scenarios in the target language. Students can
use music, movies, and podcasts in the target language to make learning more fun and authentic.
Also, students should speak only the target language during classes, creating an immersive
atmosphere.
By incorporating these ideas, we can create a dynamic and authentic language learning environment
that motivates students to actively engage with language and culture.