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LOTE (JAPANESE)
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The focus of LOTE (Japanese) is to develop the
children’s cultural awareness through learning about Japanese
festivals, customs and lifestyle. Each year the children have
opportunities of participating in girls’ and boys’ day festivals
and a whole school Japanese Day. Children begin to learn
about the 3 writing systems in the Japanese language; in
particular reading and writing the hiragana alphabet. During the
year the children have the opportunity to communicate with
Japanese visitors/interns who come to our school. |
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Japanese News
Grade 1 and 2 students have been using mini whiteboards to
practice writing their hiragana characters. Now the students know at
least 20 hiragana, they are starting to write some useful words.
They learnt classroom objects in Japanese. Keane Sensei
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Japanese News
As part of Japanese class last term, Grade 4 and 5 students
talked about the story of Sadako and her 1000 paper cranes. They
were then asked to create a poster that depicted images of peace and
the words "Peace Day" in Japanese writing. The creative and
colourful posters were sent away for the inaugural Heiwa no Hi
Poster Competition, which attracted over 400 entries across
Victoria. By Michelle K. |
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Japanese Day
During the Japanese day we participated in lots of fun activities such as Japanese
Cooking, Calligraphy, Manga, Origami, Sumo and Aikido to name a
few. Our favorite group was the Origami with Miss Parsons. The
things that you could make were pretty balloons, goldfish,
cranes, colorful tulips, chop stick cases and mini fans. It was
fantastic to see nearly everyone in beautiful kimonos, karate
uniforms and sumo suits. Japanese day was absolutely brilliant
and everyone had a really great day. We would like to give big,
big thank you to all the teachers and parents who helped out on
the day, especially Miss Keane for all the time she put in to
make it such a great day. By Jenny & Lilly
The Japanese Day started with a bang as an audience of
Geisha girls, Sumo wrestlers, Karate kids, Ninjas and Japanese
tourists were entertained by Taiko drum performers! Students
celebrated the Japanese language and culture by enjoying five
different activities throughout the day. Thank you again to all
the SEPS staff, outside helpers and wonderful parents that
contributed to a fantastic day. Arigatou! Keane Sensei -
Japanese Coordinator |
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Sayonara Yuichi Sensei
Yuichi Sensei has finished his time working with students in the
Japanese room and he is off to explore Australia. The students have
really enjoyed testing out their Japanese and teaching our assistant
teacher English in return! We thank you Yuichi and wish you well on
your travels.
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Japanese News
Students welcomed a new Japanese
student teacher in the Japanese room. Yuichi Sensei arrived in Melbourne last Monday from
Kagawa in Shikoku. This is Yuichi Sensei’s first trip abroad and he
is surprised at how much SEPS students know about Japan! The
students will enjoy practicing their Japanese with Yuichi Sensei. |
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Japanese Boys’ Day
Kodomo no Hi or Boys’ Day is a Japanese festival that celebrates
the healthy growth of boys. On the 5th day of the 5th month,
Japanese families with a son fly Koinobori, beautiful multi-coloured
carp windsocks outside of homes to wish their sons a good future.
Japanese people believe the carp to be the boldest and noblest of
fish, swimming up-stream against strong currents, they have become
the symbol of courage and strength. Since parents hope their sons
grow up in the same way - to be brave and strong, families
traditionally flew koinobori from their homes to honour their sons.
During the week, students have celebrated Boys’ Day in Japanese
classes by making their own koinobori. Michelle Keane (LOTE teacher)
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Nihongo News
Students celebrated Hina Matsuri,
an annual festival for girls in the Japanese room. On the third day of the third month,
families in Japan show their pride n their daughters by displaying a
set of dolls in ancient costume in a special place in their homes.
The girls at SEPS enjoyed dressing in kimono while our Japanese
exchange student, Yoko-san demonstrated how to make origami dolls. |
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Japanese News
In early February, in an effort to ward off illness and
misfortune, Japanese families scatter roasted soy beans inside their
homes. Someone in the family wears a mask representing a demon,
while the rest of the family throws beans at them, shouting “Oni wa
soto!” (Out with the demon). “Fukuwa uchi!” (In with good luck!).
Prep students learnt about this fun festival in Japanese class and
made their very own “Oni” masks to wear. Keane Sensai (L.O.T.E.
Coordinator) |
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Onigiri
Grade 1J made Onigiri, (Japanese rice
balls wrapped in seaweed, popular with school children in Japan).
In our Japanese/cooking class, students learnt
what to say before and after eating, and how to say oishii,
delicious!!! |
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Calligraphy
Grade 1 students learnt about the
Japanese art of shuuji (calligraphy). Our newest Japanese assistant
Rimi Sensei, from Tokyo, demonstrated this traditional art of
drawing characters with a brush and black ink. Then it was time for
our lucky Grade 1 students to give it a go! They could choose to
write JAPAN, PEACE or LOVE.
The students were really proud of their finished products....so was
I!! Keane Sensei. |
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Children's Day with Sho Sensei
Sho Fujiwara has been helping Sandy East
students with their Japanese. Sho comes from Chiba city, near Tokyo
and is here on a working holiday. It was great to have him in the
Japanese room for "Kodomo no Hi" where all the boys dressed up in
yukata. In Japan on the 5th of May, families with a son fly
fish-shaped windsocks (koi nobori) outside of their homes on a long
pole. The carp is a symbol of strength and determination because
they are able to swim upstream against the flow of the water. This
is a day for families to celebrate their sons' strength and
character. |
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"Hina Matsuri"
LOTE students celebrated "Hina Matsuri" (Doll
Festival) in Japanese class. On this day, families in Japan
celebrate their pride in their daughters by displaying dolls in a
prominent
place in the home. Students at Sandy East made origami dolls and the
girls dressed up in kimono. |
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We enjoyed the visit by the Waidako drummers.
They demonstrated how to play the different traditional Japanese
drums. Some of the students and teachers played with the performers.
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"I am wearing a kendo suit." Billy |
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