Nihongo Caravan SY 2010-2011

Last school year (2010-2011), my Nihongo students and I decided to come up with an open-house style culminating activity.  Previously, we've already done a song and dance type of program; for a change, we wanted something that is more interactive.  So we decided we'll just have five booths --- onigiri booth, origami booth, calligraphy booth, yukata booth and a game booth.  Judging by the tons of pictures I have saved on my laptop, this was one huge success.  Thanks to my students and to all who dropped by to show some support.  This is going to be a picture-heavy post, so please be forewarned.  I wanted to show all the images, but it will take me the whole day to load 300++ pictures in one post. 

So here's what made into the final cut:

 I ❤ Manga!  Thankfully, Meara has a collection of manga, anime characters and some toys and trinkets.  These were a big hit among the students.

 I want one of those for myself, but where would I put them in my house?  ;-)

 Micah (in green yukata) and her friends had their hands full trying to write the students' names in Katakana.

 Julie and Ayra try to show to the students how to make a crane origami.

 Kat, Dana (in hat) and Pam (in green yukata) demonstrate how to make onigiri, or Japanese rice balls.

 See?  Japanese manga have many fans in Pasig!

 Guess what anime character he is ;-)

 A girl tries to wear a floral yukata.

 Oishii!  Tabetai!!!

 Who's that mysterious guy behind the mask?

 Ms Jha (Filipino / Spanish teacher) becomes a Japanese for a day.

 Ms Beloy (Science teacher), Ms Jha and Ms Joan (Filipino teachers) ---- geisha for a day? Hehehe

 Students try writing in Japanese ink and brushes

 Pretty Cosplayers

 Hanami Sensei + Sir Ephraim (Science teacher) and me

 Francis tries to demonstrate how to do karate while we're busy posing

 Julie demonstrates another onigiri art.

 The boys and the girls turn competitive playing the kendama.  Yatta!

 The Japanese believe that when you combine a thousand cranes, it means good luck, prosperity and longevity.  Check out this article from Wikipedia for more info.

Library in-charge Ate Lita with Kenneth and Rein.  She is wearing the pink yukata which my friend bought for me from Japan.

Visitor Session - December 9, 2010

Practicing one's speaking skills, especially in a foreign language, is important.  One's proficiency in a certain language is directly proportional to how much one uses the language in natural settings.  With this in mind, Hanami Sensei and I thought of coming up with the Visitor Session, a day in which our students get to interact with real Japanese nationals ---- no English on this day, please!

Hanami Sensei actually invited two of her friends from Japan, who came over to enjoy a short vacation in Cebu for the weekend.  Though they had a hard time speaking English, I must say that they did an awesome job interacting with Nihongojins from Pasig.  I was so proud!

Thanks for visiting our school!

This Is It

...And we thought it'll just be English in our lifetime.

With the help of DepEd and the Japan Foundation Manila, our school offered a Japanese language education program called Course on Japan for High School Students (CJH) last June 2010.  Initially, it is a two-year plan designed to teach both Japanese culture and language to selected students.  It's being offered right now as an elective for our sophomores, majority of whom belonged to the Course on Japan for High School students pilot course.  They are:

1. Joseph Gabriel J. Adaoag
2. Ynson Aldrich A. Amiller
3. Christian Joseph B. Anin
4. Allain Louies P. Dalisay
5. Leeroye John P. Flores
6. Francis Regulus R. Gomez
7. Ian Neil D. Gutierrez
8. Jan Kenneth P. Mati-Ong
9. Myron Danielle C. Montefalcon
10. Lorenzo E. Ortiz-Luiz
11. Mark Joseph M. Sacramento
12. Chelsea P. Alejandro
13. Katrina T. Almonte
14. Eloisa Ann J. Antinero
15. Lois Ayra N. Baay
16. Camille Ann O. Capitly
17. Maria Micah B. Cruz
18. Julie Ann D. Dao
19. Pamela C. De Guzman
20. Patricia Marie R. Faraon
21. Angelica Mae Z. Felipe
22. Meara Angela P. Galvez
23. Aliena Mari P. Miranda
24. Denise Mikhaela C. Ortiz
25. Danielie Anne B. Pacheco
26. Rojene A. Pajalla
27. Jaymie L. Reyes
28. Rein Coleen D. Sandoval
29. Melody R. Sombilon
30. Aniña D.C. Soriano
31. Diane Pauline O. Umali
32. Carmina Gabrielle A. Villena

Collectively, the students belong to a class named Pasteur under the advisorship of Ms. Cristina Sofia C. Del Rosario.  The class is being jointly handled by Ms. Sayaka Hanami, a Young Japanese Teacher (YJT) sent by the Jenesys Programme in Japan, and yours truly.

The CJH program and participants were recently featured in the latest issue of Merienda, the newsletter of The Japan Foundation Manila.

The official commencement of the CJH program was also announced in the worldwide website of The Japan Foundation.  The article can be found at http://www.jpf.go.jp/world/en/archives/1007.html#asia.

The seedlings of Japanese language education has just been planted in our school.  But we are hopeful that it'll grow up to be a sturdy and strong tree, bearing good fruit and making a lasting impact in the foreign language education scene in the Philippines.

And we're so proud to be part of this  :-)