Japanese: 7–10 Sequence / Levels 9 and 10 / Understanding / Role of language and culture
Content description
Recognise and explain how the Japanese language carries embedded cultural information, such as the prioritising of collective well-being, respect and harmony
Elaborations
discussing ways in which learning Japanese can lead to new ways of thinking, behaving, or interpreting experience and values, for example, noticing and responding to demonstrations of politeness and respect through the softening of negative responses, such asあしたはちょっと...。
considering the cultural significance of language associated with interactions such as issuing, accepting or declining invitations, leave-taking at social events, offering thanks, or giving and receiving gifts, for example, どうぞ。あまり…。どうもありがとうございます。、 and reflecting on how they react and adjust to such expressions of cultural values when interacting with Japanese speakers
exploring familiar types of Japanese community texts such as print or online advertisements, brochures, catalogues or memes that employ different representations of culture, for example, by analysing which products use traditional icons such as samurai in their advertisements and which use more contemporary images
investigating language associated with events such as national holidays, for example, お正月 and ゴールデンウィーク、 and identifying how it reflects associations between holidays and family values
understanding that language carries cultural associations, for example, the ordering of information on Japanese business cards, such as じこしょうかい (company, title, surname, given name), indicates priorities in regard to individual, collective and family relationships
identifying Australian ways of communicating and behaving that may appear unusual or inappropriate to Japanese speakers, for example, eating in public places, sitting on the floor or desk, speaking loudly and using direct eye contact
