Speaker: Kaori Watanabe (MA Candidate) Global Society Studies, Humanities, and Social Sciences Program, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Kochi University

Date &Time: Thursday, January 10 (6:30-7:30)

Place: Meeting Room 2 (2F) Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kochi University, Asakura Campus

Abstract: The aim of this presentation is to introduce ‘tasks’ in Japanese-language education, especially in classroom situations overseas. Based on recent international interest in Japanese pop culture, such as ‘anime’ (animated cartoons) and ‘manga’ (comic books), Japanese-language learners’ motivation and purpose of study has been changing. Because of such changes in the needs for Japanese-language study, a communicative pedagogy and methodology are gradually being introduced. While there are various kinds of textbooks for ‘Japanese as a foreign language’, with many of them aimed at improved communication, the present content of these textbooks often consists of grammar-based instruction. Thus, revised textbook content and pedagogy is required.

In this presentation, I will introduce my experience of working as a Japanese-language teaching assistant in a secondary school in Malaysia and will give examples of the present condition of Japanese-language education in Malaysia. I will next outline the history of communicative pedagogy and methodology in Japanese-language education. Finally, I will suggest tasks with the aim of helping learners acquire not only knowledge of grammar and vocabulary, but also communicative skills in Japanese-language.