Internet-Based Activities: Possibility of the Internet to Integrate the National Standards into the Classroom

Miyuki Fukai
Indiana University Bloomington

1. The Standards for Japanese Language Learning (http://www.Colorado.EDU/ealld/atj/Standards/stand1.html)

Published by The Japanese National Standards Task Force in 1999

Address five goal areas known as ﾒfive Csﾓ incorporating issues specific to Japanese language education

Contain two to three content standards within each goal area defining knowledge and skills that learners should master as a result of Japanese learning

2. Evidence from Pilot Study

3 advanced-level Japanese learners visited Web sites and exchanged opinions about topics presented in those Web sites via e-mail

The Web as a rich source of up-to-date, culturally authentic information

E-mail as a communication tool which strengthens links among other speakers of Japanese = a faster, more convenient version of letters

3. Summary

The Internet "affords materials and opportunities for students to achieve the content standards for language learning" (Gonglewski, 1999, p. 360)

The Web: Rich in authentic, current information about a foreign language and its culture E-mail: Easier access to other speakers of Japanese outside of the classroom --> More opportunities to practice Japanese regardless of the physical distance, engaging in Japanese language learning in a way suggested by the Japanese Standards

4. Possible Activities

Reading Japanese texts on the Web using online dictionaries

Class discussion via e-mail

Key-Pals

WebQuest

Useful Resources

Collection of useful links

Keiko Schneider's Bookmarks: http://www.sabotenweb.com/bookmarks/index.html

The links for Japanese classes at Punahou School in Hawaii: http://www.punahou.edu/acad/japanese/jpn3link.html (this page is shared by teachers and students at Punahou School and will be gone soon)

Online dictionaries and learning

Rikai.com: http://www.rikai.com

Reading Chuta: http://language.tiu.ac.jp/index.html

Newspapers

Asahi Shimbun: http://www.asahi.com

Asahi Shimbun Bulletin Board System ひとこと言わせて: http://board.asahi.com

Mainichi Interactive デジタル切り抜き帳: http://www.mainichi.co.jp/eye/feature/article/digital/mokuji1.html

Asagaku.com 朝日学生新聞社: http://www.asagaku.com/

For kids

Kids Web Japan: http://jin.jcic.or.jp/kidsweb/

E-pals

ePALS Classroom Exchange: http://www.epals.com/index_en.html

J@pan penfriend: http://www.japan-guide.com/penfriend/index_e.hts

Misc.

Keraton Live (Can listen to radio stations): http://www.keaton.com/topsite.html

Utamap.com (Search lyrics of Japanese songs): http://www.utamap.com/

MP3.com Japanese site: http://japan.mp3.com/

Rekihaku 国立歴史民族博物館: http://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/ (Japanese); http://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/index_ne.html (English)

WebQuest

WebQuest page by Bernie Dodge and Tom March: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webquest.html

Invite Japanese Exchange Students to the Party! (by Miyuki Fukai and Yoko Hanson): http://php.indiana.edu/~mfukai/webquest/webquest.html

東京へ行こう！ (by Nagako Hirohashi): http://php.indiana.edu/~nhirohas/wqhome2.html

Japanese Lunch Box (by Junko Ady sensei): http://www.punahou.edu/acad/japanese/obentoo/
(Other WebQuests by Ady-sensei are also available at her page http://www.punahou.edu/acad/japanese/ady/ (Click "日本語３ (J3)"--> "Projects")

Japan Newspaper WebQuest (for 6th - 8th graders): http://pages.about.com/eldoradoeh/japanwebquest.htm