Week Three

We started the class with a number of objects on the table and some cards with Japanese words written on them.  The object of the exercise was to try to match the words to the objects.  The words and objects (with pronunciation/kana dividers) were; bo-u-shi (hat), ha-ko (box), i-su (chair), e-n-pi-tsu (pencil), ka-sa (umbrella), ta-ma-go (egg), to-ke-i (watch, clock), sa-i-fu (wallet), ho-n (book), ji-te-n-sha (bicycle), za-s-shi (magazine), shi-n-bun (newspaper), ku-ru-ma (car), ka-ba-n (bag), ku-tsu (shoe), pe-n (pen), ri-n-go (apple), ne-ko (cat), i-nu (dog), ji-te-n (dictionary; ji-sho is another word that can be used), ku-tsu-shi-ta (socks).

After the exercise finished, I handed out some cards with colours on them.  Pi-n-ku (pink), cha-i-ro-i e(brown), shi-ro-i (white), ki-i-ro-i (yellow), a-ka-i (red), mu-ra-sa-ki (purple), a-o-i (blue), mi-do-ri (green), ku-ro-i (black).

The second part of the class was spent practicing the new sentences that I introduced, as well as the ones from last week.

A wa B deshita...A was B
A wa B dewa arimasen... A is not B
A wa B dewa arimasen deshita... A was not B
Watashi wa B ga arimasu... I have... (non-living objects)
A no B wa C desu...is example: my book is heavy

Reviewed:

A wa B desu... A is/am B
Watashi wa B ga imasu... I have...(living objects)

At the end of class, I gave everyone an assisgnment.  They are to watch a Japanese movie or anime episode with the subtitles and practice listening.  I also reminded them to check the blog every day for the word of the day.

Next class, I will be reinforcing and clarifying some of the rules of Japanese, and adding on to the vocabulary.  The rest of the time will be spend practicing.

Week Two

This week, we began with a review of time and numbers.  I also added another term to the time sheet; -fun and -pun, which means "minute", and I asked the question "Ima nanji desu ka" (What time is it now?).  After we did a quick review exercises, I took the class on a short tour of the blog.  They were shown the "Word of the Day" feature, which is supposed to be seen every day to build vocabulary and for class use.  Once that was done, we began the new phase of the session; Introductions.  I gave everyone their names in Japanese and the first sentence;

 "A wa B desu". 

A=person, object, colour, location, occupation
B=object, occupation, colour, emotion
desu="is", "am", "are"

Occupations included: gakusei (student), koukousei (high school student), shufu (housewife), kodomo (child), kaishain (office worker), kyoushi (teacher), hishyo (secretary), daikusan (carpenter), Kanadajin (Canadian), Indojin (East Indian), seito (primary-middle school student), toshyokanin (librarian), haha or okaasan (mother), chichi or otousan (father).

We used "watashi" ( I ) in place of A, and everyone chose an occupation or age to describe themselves.  We practiced that for awhile, then moved on to the next sentence;

"watashi wa --- ga imasu (I have...)"

The blank could be a family member: imouto (younger sister), otouto (younger brother), ane or oneesan (older sister), ani or oniisan (older brother), obasan (aunt), ojisan (uncle), obaasan (grandmother), ojiisan (grandfather).

Everyone took turns practicing for a bit.  We went off on a couple of tangents after that.  We discussed Japanese food, some customs, feelings towards Westerners.  I told them about the term "gaijin", and a little while later we got onto the topic of having a little food festival in class.

Next week, we will be learning how to say "My..." and expanding our vocabulary.

Hiragana Practice

This is the writing and reading practice for the A I U E O line of hiragana.

A-O


Ai    love

Ue    above, top

Au    meet

Ie    house; extended family

Iu    say

Aoi    blue

Week One

Week One
We began by practising common greetings and phrases one would hear in Japan on a daily basis. After this activity, we moved on to numbers and telling time. The last 20 minutes of class were spent practising the first line of hiragana: A I U E O.

Common Phrases

Good morning.     Ohayou

Good morning. (polite)     Ohayou Gozaimasu

Good afternoon.     Konnichiwa

Good evening.     Konbanwa

Good-bye.     Sayounara

Good night.     Oyasumi nasai

Thank-you.     Arigatou

Thank-you. (polite)     Arigatou Gozaimasu

You’re welcome. (polite)     Douitashimashita

Excuse me; I’m sorry.     Sumimasen

No; Not at all.     Iie

I’ll go and come back.     Ittekimasu

Please go and come back.     Itterashai

I’m home.     Tadaima

Welcome home.     Okaeri nasai

Before eating     Itadakimasu

After eating     Gochisousama

How do you do?     Hajimemashita

Nice to meet you.     Douzo yoroshiku

Numbers

Zero  Zero        Ichi  One

Ni  Two        San  Three

Shi/Yon  Four        Go  Five

Roku  Six        Shichi/Nana  Seven

Hachi  Eight        Kyuu  Nine

Juu  Ten        Juuichi  Eleven

Juuni  Twelve        Juusan  Thirteen

Juuyon  Fourteen        Juugo  Fifteen

Juuroku  Sixteen        Juunana  Seventeen

Juuhachi  Eighteen        Juukyuu  Nineteen

Nijuu  Twenty        Sanjuu  Thirty

Yonjuu  Forty        Gojuu  Fifty

Rokujuu  Sixty        Nanajuu  Seventy

Hachijuu  Eighty        Kuujuu  Ninety

Hyaku   One hundred

Time

Ichiji   One o’clock        Niji   Two o’clock

Sanji   Three o’clock        Yoji   Four o’clock

Goji   Five o’clock        Rokuji   Six o’clock

Shichiji   Seven o’clock        Hachiji   Eight o’clock

Kuji   Nine o’clock        Juuji   Ten o’clock

Juuichiji   Eleven o’clock        Juuniji   Twelve o’clock

Han   Half past

Gozen   AM

Gogo   PM