Classroom Ideas

Student Place cards

Some teachers swear by place cards to help them remember students names, some have been scared by students swapping them... Personal choice! However, even if they're not being introduced to katakana until Yatta! 3, all students love learning how to write their own names.

Try this name generator

Complete Vocabulary List

There is no state or nationally prescribed vocabulary list for Japanese. It is expected that learners will be familiar with a range of vocabulary and phrases. I have a list based on one created in Tasmania, which you can access via the link below. It is a guide only.

View Complete List

Japanese Exit cards

Exit cards are a useful, fast strategy to gauge the understanding a class has of a new topic or sentence structure. I often use Japanese style exit cards made with X/O.

Download the PDF

Japanese everywhere - Labels to use

Labels for you to print and laminate in script, romaji and English so that the whole community can start to use and learn some Japanese words. Be inclusive and put these around the school

Download the PDF

Games in target language

Examples include:

shiritori
karuta
fukuwarai
hayaguchi kotoba
bingo
nurie
daruma san
daruma daruma
kotowaza
nan desu ka?
hiragana Pac-man

Japanese keyboard

If students are unable to access IME or download the Google Japanese word-processor on their laptops, two alternative options are:

More resources

You can find a wide range of resources on the Japanese Teaching Ideas website.

Visit the site

WHose turn is it? だれのばんですか。

Students sit with a set of vocabulary or ひらがな cards in the middle of a circle. In a small space, students could remain in their seats and cards could be placed along a white board edge. After practicing the target vocabulary, 先生 starts by saying whose turn it is first, _______さんのばんです。If that student is correct, they may then nominate the next student to have a turn. So, the class asks- だれのばんですか。The student responds by saying, _______さんのばんです。先生 may elect to step in and select students if turns are not shared.

What’s in the box? 何ですか。

In order it reinforce question words, write the 漢字or ひらがな for what? 何？on the side of a small empty box. A tissue box works well. Place an object or card with vocab. item in the box and ask students, 何ですか。Students should answer in the target language　＿＿＿＿です。

Of course, the questions can develop in difficulty or change depending on the topic being studied. This includes target question words. Hints when necessary.

For example, どうぶつです。たべものです。かぞくのメンバーです。

Swatt Game　たたきゲーム

Either write key vocabulary or attach flashcards to board with magnets.
Select two students to come to the front. Give them fly swatters or have them use their hands to indicate the word called by the teacher.
Winning student selects the next two students.

Digital kamishibai

Kamishibai originates from traditional Japanese street theatre in the form of picture card storytelling. The Japan Society of the UK has over a dozen eazy to download, free, digital kamishibai Japanese stories. Using these resources you can either:

Kamishibai originates from traditional Japanese street theatre in the form of picture card storytelling. The Japan Society of the UK has over a dozen eazy to download, free,digital kamishibai Japanese stories. Using these resources you can either:

https://www.japansociety.org.uk/resource?resource=19