NCEA Level 1 Japanese

This Japanese course is a combination of four language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Cultural knowledge is also an integral part of the course. There is one internally assessed standard to complete for Speaking and/or Writing.

In written work at Level 1, being able to read, understand and write Japanese script is very important. The emphasis is on communicating in Japanese, both spoken and written. By the end of this course, the students’ oral Japanese will be good enough to enable them to engage in simple but meaningful conversation with native Japanese speakers.

The main topics to be covered are:

1. “My City”: town and getting around, describing people, describing homes, sport activities
2. “My Friend’s Birthday”: shopping, families, leisure activities, eating and drinking
3. “Holiday Trip”: weather and seasons, times and dates, daily routines, health, travel and holidays
4. “Japanese Schools”: school life, formal and informal introductions

Hosting a Japanese student as part of Burnside High School’s Japanese exchange programme gives students a real opportunity to use and practise Japanese.

By Studying Japanese, students will gain an understanding of a foreign culture very different to that of New Zealand. Level 1 Japanese is a prerequisite for Level 2 and 3 Japanese in Years 12 and 13. Japanese can be continued in full time courses at tertiary institutes such as Ara or universities. Many fields of employment both in New Zealand and overseas require people who have skills in Japanese language e.g. tourism (travel companies and hotels), Internal and External Affairs, and private enterprises (importing and exporting companies).