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Click Nippon News
April 24, 2020

【1】Report from a teacher in Victoria, Australia

【2】Online Teaching Support

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As the threat of the coronavirus pandemic continues, teachers all over the world are working hard to instruct their students using new approaches and techniques for teaching. In support of their efforts, CNN shares reports from teachers about how they are handling the situation and introduces worksheets to help elementary and secondary students of Japanese carry on with their studies.

Please tell us about your teaching during the pandemic. Send us your information using the url below. The questions are from 1-6 below. Answers are optional and can be brief. We look forward to this way of sharing our ideas and experience.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNCzUPAmPFbac6Put9F2o30Tuu5IXFKBU1uefSf5vhGzw11Q/viewform

【1】Report from a teacher in Victoria, Australia

1. Do you teach using the Internet?　Do you teach live online?
We commenced online teaching and learning on Wednesday (16 April). We are using Google Meet to facilitate online video classes. Google Classroom is also used with staff to upload content for lessons.

2. If you teach live online, what challenges do you face? How are you solving them?
Not all students have internet access at home or unlimited internet plans. There is the option for hard copies of work to be left at the front office and these will be sent home. We have reduced the lesson length during this time of online learning, and we have built in 'self-directed time' at the end of the day where students can collaborate, plan or prepare for future classes.

3. If you don't teach live online, how do you teach? What kind of content do you use now that you didn't use before?
Our teachers are doing a blend of synchronous learning ('live' video calls using 'Google Meet') and asynchronous learning (where students are self-directed and access work from Google Classroom/their emails and complete this at their own pace).

4. How are your students responding to your online lessons?
They have adapted really well to online learning. We have made a smooth transition at the College to online learning through supporting teachers by giving time to plan and prepare for online learning, and through communicating information to parents to ensure they are well supported.

5. If you use a combination of methods (e.g., live online lessons plus recorded video lessons), how do you combine them?
We use the Google Suite of apps at the College. This integrated series of apps enables students to engage in both synchronous (using Google Meet) and asynchronous (using Google Classroom) learning.

6. Please tell us about what has worked successfully for you.
Using technology is a great way to support and engage students in their learning of Japanese. My lessons so far have included the use of Google Meets. Students also have access to a Google Classroom for Japanese where they have been able to access Quizlet games to learn vocabulary as well as links to other resources such as YouTube clips. Google Forms is also a great way to get feedback from students about their learning.

【2】Online Teaching Support

Students are at home much longer now, so how about giving them activities to make use of their time? In this special issue, we introduce activities centered around 'recycled art' based on the article "Creating Art From Things We Throw Away".
English version: https://www.tjf.or.jp/clicknippon/en/mywayyourway/09/post-21.php
Japanese version: https://www.tjf.or.jp/clicknippon/ja/mywayyourway/09/post-21.php
Through these activities, we will cover sustainability, intercultural understanding and cross-curriculum priorities.
The worksheets have been designed for students to be able to work independently. The text has been rewritten to be shorter and easier, and students will make their own recycled art. There are three levels available: elementary, junior high, senior high.
Worksheets can be downloaded from the link below.

・https://www.tjf.or.jp/clicknippon/en/henblo/online-teaching-supportreport-from-a-teacher-in-victoria-australia.php
・https://www.tjf.or.jp/clicknippon/en/henblo/online-teaching-supportworksheets-with-theme-of-recycled-art-for-primary-junior-and-senior-highs-sch.php