SPEECH 

Here is the family member sheet if you want to practice their words.  

This is a YouTube that is very, very short and to the point, and explains the same stuff.

Here is a website if you don't like videos.

Here is a list of descriptor words and phrases you can add to your speech.

Here is a very easy sample speech that you can borrow ideas from.

Weather, Temperatures, colors, and other Adjective Stuff

Here is the powerpoint we looked at for learning weather and temperature words.  The PowerPoint also has information on conjugating tense of those adjectives (making them negative) and changing adjectives into adverbs ("becoming warmly").

 Here is a written list of those words, and a partially filled out list for you to practice with.

Here are colors, and here is video 1 and video 2 for helping with colors.

Click on the graffic for an independant website explaining the same concepts.

Howl's Moving Castle

Here is the Ghibli Wiki for Howl's Moving Castle. 

Here is a brief commentary about the book this movie is based upon (which is part of a series; Miyazaki nerds will freak to find out that "Castle in the SAir" is a not un-related book in this series.)

To recieve points for this assignment, please turn in a list of vocabulary in both Japanese and English of words or grammar you recognized from the film.  If you missed class these days, you may find somewhere to stream this on your own, or substitute a different Japanese film in its place.

COUNTING and PLACES AROUND TOWN

Here is the PowerPoint with places around town on it for practice.

Here is a link to the counting "flat objects" video.

Here is a link to the counting "Cylinders" video

Here is a link to counting with "general counter" つ

Here is a link to a document reviwing some simple verbs, and here is a video that helps.

DAYS and DATES

Here is the Calendar assignment Template, and NOTES ON HOW TO SAY DATES AND DAYS

Here is a rather technical YouTube explanation of Days of the week, Months, and Days of the Month

Here is a かわいい song to help you remember the days of the month. 

Here are the PUNIPUNI rainbow poops to explain the dates the PUNIPUNI way.

Here is Koichi from Tofugu giving a no-nonsense version of the days of the month.

KATAKANA!!!

It's time to start learning katakana!

Here is a smiley-faced chart to keep track of them with.

Here is the drill-sheet for the first 5,  A-O アイウエオ

Here is the KA-KO drill sheet.カキクケコ

Here is the SA-SO drill sheet. サシスセソ

Here is the TA-TO drill sheet タチツテト

Here is the NA-NO drill sheetナ二ヌネノ

Here is the HA-HO and MA-MOハヒフヘホマミムメモ

Here is YA-Nヤユヨワヲン

Click on the chart for a katakana study aid.

If you need extra credit, or the dog eats the one I gave you and you need to print a new one or two. Click on the graffic for a kana cheat-sheet.

Time quiz heads up:

The following items will appear on the current quiz- they can be found on the announcements appearing below on this page:

• TTPOV and particles that go with it
• Days of the week (in hiragana, kanji, and English)
• Hours and minutes (in hiragana, kanji, and English)
• Vocabulary listed in in the anouncement below entitled "Time and Time Words," including those words on the worksheet there for "reasoning out words like 'next week,' etc.
• Pay particular attention to: all the time, when?, next week, tomorrow, exist, today, everyday, what day of the week?, did read (よみました）. 

TTPOV

Here is the worksheet packet explaining TTPOV

Here is the word bank excersise for writing and Translating TTPOV sentences.

The Seven Samurai

Your assignment is to

1. Write a simple synopsis of the plot as we watch the movie

2. Answer this question, after you have watched the entire movie: Is the 7th Samurai (Kikuchiyo) a "real samurai," or not.  Answer this from the view of either the other samurai, the farmers, or yourself as an audience member.

3. extra credit for 

 a. comparing and contrasting to the 2017 version of The Magnificent 7, and/or the 1960 version of The Magnificent 7

b. Writing a series of Q and A about the film I could use on another class.

Here is a "modern" trailer for The Seven Samurai.  You may be able to find a version to watch online somewhere, or borrow from your library.

Time and time words

Here is how to tell time in Japanese, part 1 (hours only)

Here is how to tell time in Japanese, part 2 (hours and minutes, etc.)

Here is a chart with hours and minutes on it.

Here is the clock face assignment.

Here is the worksheet we used to reason out time words like next week and this evening, etc.

Here is a list of vocabulary words.

Click here for the doki doki morning music video with the phrase いま、なんじ？in it.

Days of the Week

Here is the kanji writing assignment for the days of the week

Here is a video teaching their pronunciation,

and here is a song to help with learning them.

You can also click on the PuniPuni boys, below.

Vocabulary Review from Day 1

Here is a list of vocabulary from day 1 of class-  without English, if you want to use it to review.

Reading Practice!

click HERE for a hiragana practice powerpoint

Vocabulary Review from Day 1

Here is a list of vocabulary from day 1 of class-  without English, if you want to use it to review.

あります vs. います

Here is the handout for exist (inanimate vs. animate) and saying you have things.

Here is a bite-sized video about the concept to help you get it.

I like it.  I hate it.

Here is the small powerpoint for learning to say you like and hate things... and here is the article about fish ice cream, in case no one believes you.

電車男

Here is the Rotton Tamatoes page for 電車男(Train Man).  If you missesd it in class, you can find somewhere to stream and watch it- or another Japanese film of your choice, and turn in a list of words (written in both ひらがな and English- no Roomaji) that you recognize from the film.

Asking for Phone Numbers

Here is the asking for phone numbers assignment.

Numbers Part 2

Here is a comprehensive guide to the big numbers and other counting systems.

Here is Risa with an excellent explanation of simple counting, even with big, big numbers.

Numbers Part 1

Here is the kanji practice drill for numbers.  the readings and meangs can be foud on the drillsheet, of course.  Download this if you lose yours or the dog eats it or something.

Here is a bingo grid if you want to play on your own.

Here is a quizlet for pronunciation (hiragana).

And here is a quizlet for the kanji.

Hiragana Spelling Guide

This is the handout detailing the different little spelling tricks that hiragana can do, like double consonants, ten-tens, blended (contraction) sounds, etc.

Hiragana Game Site

Click here for a page with multiple links to hiragana-learning games.

Click here for a useful hiragana app

Hiragana Quizlet

Click here to practice Hiragana for the upcoming exam!  Whee!!!

Quiz Review Materials

Though this quiz is not about Hiragana expressly, much of it will be written in hiragana, so please be prepared for that.

In addition to the power point and other articles published in the last week or so, here are some vocabulary lists:

Here's a master vocabulary list of what we've been doing in this unit so far.  Click here.

Here is the list of school subjects.  Click here.

This is the handout on spelling double consonants with itty, bitty, silent つ.  Click here.

Here is the translation piece with "Please shut the book," etc.  Click here.

Lastly, here is the handout for the culture lesson about Chinese influences on Japan.

THE LAST HIRAGANA!!!

Here is the drill sheet for those last hiragana. click on this: ひ、ふ、む、め、や、り

Click on the symbols below for the stroke-order animation sites for each character

ひ

ふ

む

め

や

り

Welcome back, Mr. McDonald

This assignment involves listening to vocabulary as you watch the film, and writing down what you understand- if you missed the assignment in class, stream the movie (or selct another Japanese language movie) and fill out the form that magically pops up when you click here.

New Hiragana O, KE, RU, CHI, TSU

Click here for the practice drill sheet for these exciting new hiragana!

Click on the following for stroke order animations and information about each character:

Hiragana お

Hiragana け

Hiragana る

Hiragana ち

Hiragana つ

Particle は　vs.　Particle　を

Here's the PowerPoint comparing particle は and particleを.

If that doesn't work for you, here's a very easy-to-understand video featuring a Japanese woman wearing an ascot:

video

School Vocabulary 1

Click here for a powerPoint introduction to "school" vocabulary.

Click here for a quizlet to help you study.

And here's another quizlet. Just click.

New Hiragana  yu, u, ro, mo, ne

Click here for another copy of the drill excersize.

Click on  these for stroke-order animations and other information:

ゆ　　YU

う　　　U

ろ＿＿＿RO

も＿＿＿MO

ね＿＿＿NE　

Ghibli (Miyazaki) Films

 Tonari no Totoro 

 You'll need to answer the qustions on this worksheet.

MAKE-A-TEST

To review for the exam over this unit that is coming very, very soon, you will "Make-A-Test" complete with answer key. Follow these directions.  Click right here for them.

Japanese Toilet Etiquette

In order to avoid some awkwardness in Japan, and to gain some insight into Japanese ingenuity when it comes to saving money and being green, we should learn how to use a Japanese toilet.  In class we had an open-note quiz after this lecture.  If you missed class, make up the assignment by viewing the following material, and write a short synopsis of the differences in Japanese and American toilet use and turn in.

Here is the PowerPoint we used in class, and a video from Risa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sUKYAoUaG4

Review work sheet:  これ Means "this" and Dialog Assignment

We will do this in class.  This worksheet will walk you through recent concepts one more time and prep for for what's coming next.  Click here for that worksheet.

What's coming next, you ask?  Here it is- a short DIALOGUE with another student.  Click here.

Introducing the kanji for "hito!" ひと：

It Does nationalities, and counts people, too!

Click here for an explanation!

Tenses: Desu

Here is the short PowerPoint explaining the tenses of Desu.

Japanese Creation Myths

Here's the PowerPoint we used in class.

Clicking on this picture will take you to a simplified version of the Creation myth.  If you need to make up the quiz over this, please read the version below, and create and provide answers for 5 questions about the content.

NEW HIRAGANA!   ki, su, yo, wo, to, mi, se, i

Here is the drill sheet handed out in class.

Here are the wiki's for each that have stroke order animation-

ki

su

yo

wo

to

mi

se

i

Quiz #3 is coming up!

Use your notes and the links  included in earlier announcements below to study the following:

• All vocabulary to date (some will be written in hiragana)
  • You will need to be able to go from Japanese->English, as well as English->Japanese
• Particles and their usage- in particular,
  • posessives with particle の
  • as for/talking about.../topic marker は(pronounced WA in this case)
  • question marker か
• the two different versions (so far) of "this, that, that over there, which" -
  • これ、それ、あれ、どれ
  • この (n) 、その(n)、あの(n)、どの(n)
• The following hiragana.  You will need to be able to convert hiragana -> roomaji, as well as convert roomaji -> hiragana
  • あ、え
  • か、く、こ、が、ぐ、ご
  • さ、し、そ、ざ、じ、ぞ
  • た、て、だ、で
  • な、に、ぬ、の
  • は、へ、ほ、ば、べ、ぼ、ぱ、ぺ、ぽ
  • ま
  • ら
  • わ
  • ん
• Extra credit could be from anything else discussed in class on a tangent... or it could be something totally nonsensical, just to see if you are willing to participate.

Most of you have made AMAZING progress learning to read and write hiragana in a very short time.  However, some of you have asked for additional help.  Here, I've posted a link to a page of Hiragana games (if that link doesn't work, try this one). I recommend you pull it up from time to time and work your way through the games- they really do fire up your synapses and wire the characters into your brain.

Also, if you'd like some interesting "stupid mind tricks" (mnemonics)  watch Risa's lessons here in one video.  She will walk you through each of the characters.

Click here.

Click here for a powerpoint explaining this, that, that over there, and which? 

These are 

これ、それ、あれ、どれ

or

この(n)、その(n)、あの(n)、どの(n)

 Video is on the last slide.

 Shall We ダンス？

Here is the worksheet viewing assignment for the Shall We ダンス？ movie.

Here is Roger Ebert"s

review of Shall We Dance.  

 If you need to make up this assignment, write a response to Mr. Ebert's review.

Here is the Powerpoint that has the animal names on it.

Here is the assignment asking the name of your animals.

Here is Risa explaining particle の

Here is the drill sheet for learning hiragana ku sa he nu so

and information and stroke order for each of them:

ku

sa

he

nu

so

re

te

Here is the "Excuse me but, who is that person?" dialog and vocabulary words.

Click here

Business card ettiquette:

MEISHI  Bowing and Meishi with Risa

Idiot's Guide to Japanese History

The question sheet for the Idiot's guide to Japanese History is here,

and the website the lecture is based upon is here.

YAY!!! New Hiragana : wa, e, shi, ma, ha

Here they are- the new characters you've been waiting for: わ、え、し、ま、は!!!

Don't forget- when writing PARTICLE wa, you will spell it with hiragana HA.  Click here for the video explaining that.

the drill sheet is here if you need to download it either because the dog ate yours or because you want to do an extra for extra credit (if the latter is true, be sure to write "extra credit" by your name).

Click on these for animations of stroke order:

Hiragana WA

Hiragana E

Hiragana SHI

Hiragana MA

Hiragana HA

Quiz 2 Guide

IMPORTANT!!!  Flash cards (digital or hard copy) are due during the quiz.

The next quiz will be over:

• All hiragana to date
• Vocabulary that was on the first quiz (ohayou gozaimasu, etc.)
• animal vocabulary and other items
• phrases from our dialogue (ohisahiburi, okagesama de, etc.).  be sure you can spell them right.
• "who is it?" "What is it?"
• negative forms of desu (is/am/are not with de wa arimasen or janai yo)
• Spelling and identifying the islands of Japan AGAIN

Please see the links below or your notes for reference.

If you want to practice, this is the "negative form of desu" worksheet (ja nai yo; de wa arimasen)

Reading Practice and New Vocabulary

This powerpoint will give you a chance to practice reading the hiragana you have learned out loud.

Also, it has a list of new vocabulary and phrases, and the live dialogue assigment we will do in class

click here.

New Hiragana: na, ta, no, ka, ra

YAY!!!  Here's hiragana drill 2 which adds な、た、の、か、ら(na, ta, no, ka, ra) to our base.

click here for the drill sheet.  If you turn in an extra for extra credit, be sure you write "extra credit " on the top near your name.

Click on the following for stroke-order animation and other information.

Hiragana NA

Hiragana TA

Hiragana NO

Hiragana KA

Hiragana RA

Quiz 1 Guide

First of all, don't forget that Flash cards (electronic or hard copy) of current material will be graded on the day of the quiz.  Be sure to bring them with you on quiz day.

Quiz 1 will cover: explanation  and recognition of the 4 Japanese scripts (roomaji, hiragana, katakana, kanji), the characters に、ほ、ん、こ、ご、あ、日本語, vocabulary covered in class (greetings, farewells, etc.), the names and locations of the Japanese islands, and the alphabetical order of Japanese sounds (written in roomaji).