Japanese lessons at Mountain Creek State School are about to become more authentic, with Japanese teacher Alison Law receiving a grant from the Queensland Program for Japanese Education to study at a Japanese language school for three weeks in Kyoto, Japan.
The Queensland Program for Japanese Education was established with an endowment from The Tokyo Foundation. The aim is to promote Japanese language education in Queensland and the Northern Territory. A significant component of this program is study grants to enable practising Japanese language teachers to visit Japan. These trips are designed to further enhance their Japanese language skills and understanding of teaching methodology. And to deepen their knowledge of Japan.
“My experience in Japan will help me to incorporate cultural aspects into my lessons, making them more authentic and meaningful,” says Alison.
“I think that this program will also enhance my cultural sensitivity. And then, I can incorporate that attitude into my teaching. Fostering students’ interest, motivation and appreciation for learning Japanese,” said Alison.
Alison has been teaching Japanese in a variety of settings for 28 years.
“Rarely have I taught the same thing twice in the same way! My learners are constantly changing and adapting to a world that keeps presenting us with new challenges. Through all these changes, one constant in teaching remains—if learning experiences are interesting and authentic, students are far more likely to engage with them and enjoy success.”
Mountain Creek State School Japanese teacher Katrina Dwan has also applied for the grant. She is to study the Japanese language and culture for five to six weeks in Japan. She plans to visit historical places and schools and experience Japan’s latest and most significant trends.
Japanese lessons at Mountain Creek State School
The Japanese program at Mountain Creek State School is rich and immersive at all year levels. Students start to learn the Japanese language from Prep.
As well as regular Japanese lessons, Mountain Creek State School has several exciting projects to enhance the cultural experience for students.
These include things such as exchanging letters and having video calls with students at Mukai-Machi, Ohori and Mogami-Machi Elementary Schools, Yamagata, Japan, and taking part in the MLTAQ (Modern Language Teachers Association of Queensland) Speech Content and Poster Competition. Mountain Creek State School also partners with Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, Japan, to facilitate an intern experience for a Japanese student, allowing students to meet and converse with the intern during their regular Japanese lessons.
Related Stories
The Sunshine Coast swim school combining surf and swim
New state-of-the-art early learning service opens in Mountain Creek
Servicing Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and beyond, Kids on the Coast is an online guide for parents with kids events, attractions & things to do with kids, schools and education, school holiday guides, health & wellbeing for families, parenting and lifestyle news located on Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast & Brisbane, QLD.
