4 Major Contents of Senior Japanese Studies

There are 4 major contents in Senior Japanese Studies;1. Kanji( 漢字 )2. Vocabulary ( 単語 )3. Grammar( 文法 )4. Culture/Society( 文化／社会 )

1. Kanji( 漢字 )New Curriculum Alignment (This year’s Y12):

Reading requirement only for external exams Level 1: 55

Level 2: 55 Level 3: 47 Total: 157 Old Curriculum (This year’s Y13)

Reading and Writing required Level 1: 50

Level 2: 78Level 3: 73 Total: 201

*But, Kanji learning is not just for the kanji sake, but for vocabulary learning as well!

Eg. 　げんき、てんき　でんき＝元気、天気、電気

By learning かんじ、 you can connect and relate each vocabulary.

かんじは　ともだち！

You will learn: いみ　よみ　れい　（ Meaning, Reading and examples ）

2. Vabulary ( 単語 )

Categorise in each grammar and the construction of the word.

Categories in Grammar: Major words ( 自立語 ( じりつご ) ）：

Nouns 名詞 ( めいし ) 、 verbs 動詞 ( どうし ) 　い／なadjectives 形容詞 ( けいようし )

Minor words ( 付属語 ( ふぞくご ) ）： particles 助詞( じょし ) 、 question words 疑問詞 ( ぎもんし ) 、Interjection 間投詞 ( かんとうし )onomatopoeia オノマトペ etc.

Categories in construction of words: 和語 ( わご ) と漢語 ( かんご )わご： Old Japanese words that existed before

the import of Kanji began. Normally used for the simple and

primary ideas. Eg. き、え、やま、かわ、 Etc.

かんご： The words which uses kanji and shows the higher levels of ideas. The new words were created by combining 2 or more kanji when needed. These are called JUKUGO.

Eg. 先生、日本語、名前、学校　 Etc.

＊ Up to Y11 the majority of the vocab were WAGO, but in Y12 and Y13 the most vocabulary are KANGO, therefore learning the kanji becomes very important, particularly when you learn a few words which have the same sounds but different meaning. You identify the meaning of these words if you know the kanji.

3. Grammar( 文法 )As written above, the complexity of grammar will increase dramatically in Y12 but not so much from Y12 to Y13.

The secret of Japanese Grammar=2 major groups for 4 major words

Group 1: The words that change forms: 　 Verbs and い Adjectives 　

Group 2: The words that don’t change forms: Nouns and な Adjectives If you know the difference between these 2 groups then

you’ll conquer the Japanese grammar.

Complexity of sentence in Japanese ：単文、重文、複文Simple sentence ( 単文 ( たんぶん )) ：

A は B です / ます。Compound sentence 　（重文 ( じゅうぶん ) ） :

2 or more simple sentences are connected and becomes one sentence.A は B で、 C は D です。　　　A は　～て、～です / ます。

Up to Y11, most sentences are either simple or compound sentences.

Complex sentence ( 複文 ): sentence which is consisted with 2 or more

clauses.

Eg: While watching TV I ate my breakfast. テレビをみながら、あさごはんをたべました。

(Sub Clause) (Main Clause)

The Complex sentence require much higher levels of grammar with different forms of verbs and

い -Adjectives.

Levels of formality in Japanese: 敬語 ( けいご )

It’s like the New Zealand TV channels: Channel 1, 2 and 3 (or 4???)

Channel 1:Formal, Polite level of Language (Used to the customers, businesses etc.)

To the person who are higher level than you.「しょうしょう　おまちください。」

Channel 2Neutral (not too polite, not too rude)

To the person who is equal level to you but not too close to you.

「ちょっと　まってください。」

This is the level of language used up to Y11.

Channel 3Plain, friendlyMedia articles, records Friendly communication to yourself, non-

specific persons or To the one who are close to you or lower than

you.

「ちょっと　まって。」

Channel 3 uses plain forms!!

4. Culture/Society( 文化／社会 )Level 1: Topics/Context in most immediate

relevant =You’re in NZ contacting Japanese

people.Level 2: Comprehend and exchange the

information and ideas in a various familiar matters.

Level 3: Use the language in a less familiar contest

*In senior Japanese the deeper understanding of Japanese culture and society is vital!!

Eg. Topic: Family: Level 1: Family life in NZ

Level 2: Family Life in Japan

You will learn the cultural and social studies of Japan along side the language itself.