Japanese

Resources for Teaching and Learning

Thematic Curricula

Thematic unit curriculum in World Language Education organizes learning around central themes, allowing students to explore language and culture in a meaningful and integrated way. By connecting vocabulary, grammar, and cultural content through engaging themes, students can develop language proficiency while making real-world connections. This approach encourages students to think critically, communicate effectively, and gain a deeper understanding of the target language and its cultural context, making language learning both relevant and immersive.

Assesments

Japanese Language Proficiency Test From the Japan Foundation.

National Japanese Exam

Authentic Resources

• The Asahi Shimbun (Japanese/English)
• NHK for School
• Authentic Resource Activities for World Language Teachers A spreadsheet of Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and Chinese resources compiled by Julie Caldarone.
• Japan National Tourism Organization A tourism available in Japanese, English, and many other languages.

For websites offering authentic resources in a variety of languages, see this website's Resources for Teaching and Learning.

Exploring Japan

• Youth for Understanding: Intercultural Exchange Programs
• Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme
• An online course in "cultural learning and survival" by Jane Bachnik
• Kids Web Japan
• Web Japan
• The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus: Analysis of the forces shaping the Asia-Pacific and the world.
• Japan Forum
• Japan-Guide.com: An English-language tourism site.
• Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire: A website about the PBS program of the same name, containing supplemental resources.
• Japan National Tourism Organization: A tourism available in Japanese, English, and many other languages.
• Nipponia Quarterly Web Magazine: A web magazine introducing modern Japan to people all over the world.

Learning Tools

• Free learning materials based on the DVD "Erin's Challenge! I can speak Japanese."
• Nihongo E: Portal for Learning Japanese
• Jisho: A powerful Japanese-English dictionary.
• Kanji Alive A free study tool for reading and writing kanji.
• Collection of Japanese Plans (assembled by Julie Caldarone)
• Visualizing Japan From MIT Visualizing Cultures project, these lessons reconstruct Japan's past with historical visual images.
• The Japan Foundation: Supports Japanese language education and culture.
• The Japan Times
• American Association of Teachers of Japanese: The National Network for Early Language Learning (NNELL)