Prairie Trace Elementary School – JAPANESE I 1-2

Apr 2026 · 2nd Semester

One of the main points of emphasis of this beginning course is the written language. Students will master the two native Japanese writing systems, hiragana and katakana,  and will begin learning the third writing system borrowed from the Chinese language, kanji.  Students will be able to respond to classroom requests, use familiar words and phrases both orally and in writing, and answer short-answer questions in the target language. They will learn the days of the week, the months of the year, how to tell time, and how to ask for and provide personal information, such as phone numbers, age, grade level in school, and the number of family members. Students will be able to give information about their families both orally and in writing. Students will create a family project, such as a family tree or photo album, in this course. They will also be on holiday and discuss their daily school schedules in the target language. They will compare/contrast what goes on in Japanese and American schools. Students will use newly learned descriptive words to describe their school, classes, and teachers. They will learn the basics of expressing what they want and what they want to do. Students will be introduced to basic vocabulary related to sickness and the four seasons in Japan. Students will be briefly introduced to vocabulary related to places, clothing, and food. They will learn how to use giving/receiving verbs properly. Lastly, students will be introduced to various aspects of Japanese culture, including shopping, money, and dining.