Asking for Items

Year level

Year 2

Duration

50 minutes

Class size

25 students

Learning Area

Languages – Japanese

Western Australian Curriculum Links

Content Descriptor

• Use words, familiar phrases and modelled language to create spoken texts

Achievement Standard

• Students use familiar words and phrases orally and in writing and role-plays to exchange information in familiar contexts and engage in simple interactions

General Capabilities

• Literacy: understanding simple spoken Japanese and producing basic phrases
• Intercultural Understanding: recognising cultural practices in Japanese communication such as politeness and courtesy

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Understand and use simple Japanese phrases to ask to borrow classroom objects.
• Participate in role-play dialogues practicing common classroom requests.
• Develop confidence in speaking Japanese in a familiar context using polite expressions.
• Recognise the cultural value of polite requests in Japanese manners.

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Resources

• Real or paper replicas of common classroom items (e.g. pencil, eraser, ruler, book, scissors)
• Flashcards with Japanese names for classroom items (optional)
• Posters/visual aids with key phrases: これをかしてください (Kore o kashite kudasai - May I borrow this?), ありがとう (Arigatou - Thank you), どうぞ (Douzo - Here you are)
• Name tags or simple props for role play pairs or groups
• Matching cards with pictures and Japanese words for classroom items
• Play money or tokens for the shopping game
• Story prompt cards for group storytelling activity

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Lesson Outline

1. Introduction and Warm-up (10 minutes)

• Greet students and briefly introduce the lesson’s focus: asking politely for classroom items in Japanese.
• Show and name several classroom objects in Japanese, using clear pronunciation and gestures.
• Use repetition and choral practice to familiarise students with object names.

Teacher prompt example:
「これはえんぴつです。えんぴつ。いっしょに言いましょう。えんぴつ、えんぴつ。」

2. Modelled Language and Phrase Introduction (10 minutes)

• Introduce the key polite phrase:
  「これをかしてください」(Kore o kashite kudasai) – "May I borrow this?"
• Write the phrase on the board (hiragana or romaji as appropriate).
• Break down the phrase and model correct pronunciation.
• Repeat as a class and individually.
• Explain the cultural importance of politeness in Japanese (briefly, age-appropriately).

3. Guided Practice: Role-Play Demonstration (10 minutes)

• Demonstrate a simple role-play with a volunteer:
• Student A asks: これをかしてください。(Kore o kashite kudasai) while pointing to an object.
• Student B responds by handing over the object and says どうぞ (Douzo - Here you are).
• Student A says ありがとう (Arigatou - Thank you).
• Have the class practice this dialogue with a partner once or twice with teacher guidance.
• Rotate the classroom objects so students practice asking for different items.

4. Interactive Activities for Practice and Engagement (15 minutes)

• Matching Card Activity (5 minutes):

  • Distribute matching cards with pictures of classroom items and their Japanese names.
  • Students work individually or in pairs to match the picture cards with the correct Japanese word cards.
  • Review matches as a class, reinforcing pronunciation and meaning.

• Shopping Game (5 minutes):

  • Set up a “shop” area with classroom items and play money or tokens.
  • Students take turns being the “shopkeeper” and “customer.”
  • Customers ask politely using 「これをかしてください」 to “borrow” items from the shopkeeper.
  • Shopkeepers respond with どうぞ and customers say ありがとう.
  • Rotate roles to ensure all students participate.

• Group Storytelling Activity (5 minutes):

  • Divide students into small groups.
  • Provide each group with a simple story prompt involving borrowing classroom items (e.g., “Today, we need to borrow some things for a project.”)
  • Students take turns using the phrase 「これをかしてください」 and responding with どうぞ and ありがとう within their story.
  • Groups share their short dialogues or stories with the class.

5. Reflection and Cool Down (5 minutes)

• Gather students for a brief group discussion.
• Ask questions such as:
• 「何をたずねましたか？」 (What did you ask for?)
• 「どんな言葉を使いましたか？」 (What words did you use?)
• Reinforce polite phrases and thank students for their participation.
• Close with a simple thank you and goodbye phrase in Japanese:
• ありがとうございました (Arigatou gozaimashita)

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Assessment

• Observe students’ participation and use of the polite phrase during role-play and activities.
• Listen for correct pronunciation and appropriate turn-taking.
• Provide formative feedback during activities to support confidence and accuracy.
• (Optional) A simple exit card where students draw an object and write or say the phrase to ask for it.

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Differentiation

• Support: Provide picture cues or flashcards for students needing extra help.
• Extension: Encourage some students to add variation such as 「〜をかしてください」 using names of objects not listed.
• Incorporate gestures such as bowing or polite hand movements to deepen cultural understanding.

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This lesson follows the Western Australian Curriculum for Languages, ensuring students use familiar Japanese words and phrases in role-play activities and interactive games to engage in basic social interaction, fostering both linguistic competence and intercultural awareness in an age-appropriate and engaging way.