Activity: Listen to/read messages

This activity idea was created for use in the training program for elementary school teachers of Japanese in China held in the summer of 2004.
Original idea by Saito Hiromi, Assistant Professor, Tokyo Gakugei University
Edited by TJF

Procedure:

1.

Distribute the first page of the worksheet , and go over the content. Introduce or review vocabulary (あだ名 nickname, 趣味 hobbies, 習い事 lessons, etc.) as necessary.

2.

3.

Students present what they have heard.

4

Check the answers out loud. [Have students check their answers together.]

5

Have students listen to messages by students other than Shii-chan, and repeat the activity.

6

Distribute print-outs of the five messages listed below and the second page of the worksheet .
(1) http://www.tjf.or.jp/shogakusei/6-1/jikosyoukai/j_01_j.htm （しーちゃん）
(2) http://www.tjf.or.jp/shogakusei/6-1/jikosyoukai/j_02_j.htm （あんちゃん）
(3) http://www.tjf.or.jp/shogakusei/6-1/jikosyoukai/j_03_j.htm （ふじも）
(4) http://www.tjf.or.jp/shogakusei/6-1/jikosyoukai/j_04_j.htm （せんべい）
(5) http://www.tjf.or.jp/shogakusei/6-1/jikosyoukai/j_05_j.htm （りん）

7

Read (1) on the worksheet as a class and answer the questions. Write out vocabulary and sentence patterns on the board as necessary.
Examples:

好きなこと／趣味は～です	What I like / My hobby is _____.
好きなこと／趣味は～することです	What I like / My hobby is _____ing.
～たり、～たりします	I do _____ and _____.
～が好きです	I like _____.
～が得意です	I am good at _____.
～になりました	I have come to do _____.
～になりたいです	I want to be _____
～てみたいです	I would like to do _____.
～でたまりません	I am desperate to do _____ / for _____.
～たいと思っています	I think I want to _____.

8

Students read (2) through (5) and answer the questions on their own.

9

Expansion:

Select a student from Grade 6 Class 1 and write a message to the student. Record the message on a video or audio cassette. (Review necessary expressions before writing the message.)