Bring the World to Your Community Bring Your

Bring the World to Your Community; Bring Your Community to the World Lynn Sessler & Chie Kakigi Japanese Teacher Menasha Joint School District

Menasha Joint School District’s World Language Program • K-12 (German, Spanish, Japanese) • History • Why Japanese? – Challenge of teaching less commonly taught languages “A Rolling Stone Gather No Moss”

Language Classes vs. “A Program” • Audience Quiz – Do you…. ?

Ultimate Goal World Language Standard 5. 2 Students show evidence of becoming life-long learners by using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment. **Cultural Intelligence**

Standard 5. 2 Samples • Grade 4 – Student listen to music, sing songs, or play musical instruments from the target culture. • Grade 8 – Students attend or view via media cultural events and social activities. • Grade 12 – Students establish and/or maintain interpersonal relations with speakers of the language.

Before, during and after…. Our Steps……. • Typical “cultural” events/surface culture (3 Fs) 1. Food 2. Fashion 3. Fun Games • Typical community experiences • Elementary to High School experiences

Integrate into Curriculum and Involve the Community Curriculum Community

Curriculum Integration Main focus as a “School Program” • Elementary • Secondary • K-12 – Exchange programs – Bring cultural groups into our schools

Tsunagaaru (Social Networking Site)

One example: Japanese Club • Dual Purpose: high school student opportunity to use what they have learned outside of classroom/Elementary enrichment • Planning and Teacher role • Japanese Club Blog • Service Learning

Japanese Club HS Website

Japanese Club Blog

Connection to Different “Communities” • Formal Relationships – Sister School – Sister City – The Japan Forum • Advocacy Piece – Getting the word out – Concrete displays

Advocating…….

Educating……

Connection to Different Communities cont. • Local vs. Extended Community – Day trips • Elementary (In School Trip/tea house, Japanese garden/outdoor classroom) • Middle School (Concordia Language Villages) • High School (Japanese Market and Garden in IL) – Internet – NEW Japanese network • Outreach – Public library – PAC – Rotary

”NEW” Project

Doing…………! • Organize a calendar of “typical” events Sister City Exchange (MS) October • Concordia Language Village January/ • Elementary School Event February Doll Festival at city library March Sister School Exchange(HS) April Field Trip to IL (HS) May • JNHS Induction Ceremony • Elementary School Children’s Day

What You Can Do • Have your contact information ready – Business card – Pamphlet – Website • Find local place to host an annual “Event” – Library, Turn off TV week • Display • Hands-on learning • Service project • Integrate with other subject areas

What You Can Do • Connect with the lower levels – Find an elementary staff member to connect with – Create a “program” for the elementary/middle school experience – Involve the MS/HS students – Find a small funding source to get started (PTO, local grants, etc) – Make it happen! 七転八起