Conversation Class Lesson Summary

Language Resident Name: Yohichi Tagami

Day and Date: Monday, Nov 21, 2016

Language and Level (intermediate or advanced class): Intermediate Japanese

Class theme/topics discussed: Traveling

Goal of the class:

Students will be able to know how to get to a destination by using a Japanese website and introduce about their trip.

How did you structure the class?

Activity 1 (15 min): Attendance check & Warm-up

I check students’ attendance and then ask them about their thanksgiving days. Students talk about it in pairs and then share it in the class.

Activity 2 (5 min) Opening

I show some pictures of Japanese famous spots in Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa, and I introduce them a little bit with the pictures.

Activity 3 (10 min): Introduction of Yahoo! Japan & Norikae Annai

I introduce them a popular website/application which Japanese people usually use when they travel. Students use their own cellphone opening that website/application. Then I demonstrate how it works to the students and they play with it. I also explain briefly to the students about Japanese metro & JR railway lines network and currency (exchange rate between Japanese yen and US dollars).

Activity 4 (15 min): Pair-work

I make pairs in the class and give each pair a piece of paper written about the certain locations on the Japanese railway map and another handout. And then I introduce the activity which they are going to that location marked by blue from the designated place marked by red. They will use Norikae Annai in order to get there in each pair. They will work on it and make a plan for visiting that place with their partner.

Activity 5 (15 min): Main Activity

After they make a plan, each group introduce about their trip. They explain the following things at a minimum.
How do they get to the destination from their designated place??
How long does it take?

How much does it cost?

What are you going to do in your destination?

What technology, media or props did you use? (internet resources, playmobiles, handouts, etc.)

Powerpoint, handout

What worked well in this class? What did not work?

The class was great in general. All students engaged a lot and participated in the activities I prepared. They collaborated in making plans for visiting that places in their group by using Norikae Annai. Their presentations were also good. Today I forgot to cover some important parts of the website/application when explaining it to the students, so I need to make them up in the next class. Since this was the second time I did the activity, it was better than the first time, overall.  

How could this class be improved/ modified?

I think it will be great if I use the whiteboard during the class putting some points on it, which definitely should have been helpful to them in some ways. Also, I could consider extra questions for those who finished the activity early, so they are further motivated to work on it. This activity makes the students speak up and interactive because they need to talk with their partner, so I would like to conduct it again in the near future.

If you have a more detailed lesson plan, please attach it below (OK to use target language for that).  Please attach any handouts as well.