Exploring Japanese Language and Culture: Online Class at GD Goenka School Ranchi

We are excited to announce that on February 18th, we conducted another exciting online session for students of Class IV to VIII at GD Goenka School, Ranchi. The session, led by native Japanese speakers, lasted for 30 to 35 minutes and continued to build on the students' understanding of Japanese language and culture. This class provided an opportunity to revise key concepts, explore new topics, and practice new language skills in an interactive setting.

Key Highlights of the Class:

1. Revising Counting in Japanese: The class began with a recap of counting from 1 to 1,000 in Japanese, reinforcing what the students had learned in their previous session. Building on this foundation, they also took on the challenge of counting up to 10,000. This helped solidify their understanding of Japanese numbers and increased their confidence in using them.
   
2. Currency calculations Quiz: The lesson took a deeper dive into Japanese currency by engaging students in practical calculations, such as converting Japanese yen to Indian rupees and vice versa. Through exercises like the one shown in the image, students actively applied their learning to real-world scenarios, reinforcing their understanding of currency exchange. Additionally, to help them become familiar with the kanji character for yen (円), all references to Japanese currency in the second session were written using "円" instead of "yen." This approach encouraged students to recognize and use the character as it commonly appears in daily life in Japan.
   
3. Introduction to Kanji Characters: One of the most exciting parts of the class was the introduction to Kanji characters, a major component of the Japanese writing system. Students were introduced to three basic Kanji characters – Eye (目), Tree (木), and Fish (魚). These characters are not only fundamental but also provide a window into Japanese culture and its connection with nature.
   
4. A Creative Workshop for Kanji Characters:
   After learning how kanji characters evolved, students participated in a hands-on workshop where they used their imagination to create their kanji. The activity encouraged them to think about how meanings can be represented visually and how characters might have developed from pictorial forms. This exercise deepened their understanding of kanji structure, reinforced their ability to recognize patterns, and made learning more engaging.

Japanese Teachers were amazed to see some students writing characters that resembled true Kanji in the workshop. Also, it was heartening to see them grasp the Japanese way of counting, even up to 10,000, so quickly! They were particularly moved by their intellectual curiosity and eagerness to learn.

Overall, the February 18th online class was an enriching experience for the students, offering a blend of linguistic skills and cultural exploration. From counting and currency to writing Kanji characters and studying Japan’s geography, the session provided a comprehensive introduction to different aspects of Japanese life.