Japanese Level 3, Activity #12: “Thanksgiving” / “感謝祭” (Face-to-Face)
Description:
In this activity, students will practice using basic travel vocabulary like ‘to take’ and ‘to go on vacation’, constructing sentences with a wide variety of possible nouns. They will then transition into an open discussion about travel and holidays in general, with questions provided to guide the discussion. They will wrap up the discussion by sharing things or people that they are thankful for.
Semantic Topics:
Japan, Japanese, Nakama 2, Chapter 2, travel, conversation, asking questions, holidays, breaks, Thanksgiving, celebrations, food, 日本, 日本語, 中馬2章, 旅行, 会話, 質問, 休日, 休憩,感謝祭, 祝賀, 食べ物
- Standard 1.1: Students engage in conversation, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.
- Standard 1.2: Students understand and interpret written and spoken Japanese on a variety of topics.
Idaho Content Standards for World Languages:
- COMM 1.1: Interact and negotiate meaning (spoken, signed, written conversation) to share information, reactions, feelings, and opinions.
- COMM 2.1: Understand, interpret, and analyze what is heard, read, or viewed on a variety of topics.
NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements:
- I can interact in a dynamic conversation using travel vocabulary.
- I can talk about my preferences for Thanksgiving and other breaks.
- I can talk about cooking and eating Thanksgiving meals or other special foods.
Materials Needed:
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Warm-Up
Have the students play a conversation game, “I’m going to travel and I’m taking…” to practice vocabulary and warm-up their conversation skills.
To play, one person will receive a single rule from the rule cards. This rule dictates what people can bring and what people can’t bring.
That leader will start the game by saying an example sentence that follows the rule. In this case, the rule is that the object anyone brings has to start with the first letter of their name.
- ex. JOHN (leader): I’m going to travel and I’m taking a jumper.
The other students will then try to make their own sentences that might comply with the rule that they do not yet know.
- ex. ROBYN (student 1): I’m going to travel and I’m taking a coat.
JOHN: You can’t come.
HARLEY (student 2): I’m going to travel and I’m taking a jumper.
JOHN: You can’t come either.
The leader can give more examples of sentences that follow the rule.
- ex. JOHN: I’m going to travel and I’m taking Jenny.
The game continues until the students can create a sentence that follows the leader’s rule!
- ex. ROBYN: I’m going to travel and I’m taking rum.
JOHN: OK, you can come.
HARLEY: Aww! I’m going to travel and I’m taking a cat.
JOHN: Nope, you’re staying home.
JOHN: I’m going to travel and I’m taking a jet ski.
ROBYN: I’m going to travel and I’m taking relatives.
JOHN: Yep, you’re still coming.
HARLEY: I’m going to travel and I’m taking a horse.
JOHN: Cool, you’re coming at last!
ROBYN: OK, my turn to make one up.
An example sentence in Japanese would be:
- 旅行に「〜」を持って行きます。
The instructor should do the first round, to help the students understand the activity.
Draw a rule from the Warm-up Rules.
Give the first example sentence and have your students make sentences that they think will follow the rule.
Once everybody understands the first rule, ask for a volunteer and have them lead the next game.
Main Activity
Use the following questions to have a discussion with the students. (These questions are displayed on slides in the Google Slideshow as well).
Does your family celebrate this holiday?
- あなたの家族は感謝祭を祝いますか？
Do you celebrate every year?
- 毎年祝いますか？
Are there special foods connected with the holiday?
- 特別な食べ物は何かありますか？
Do you like the food?
- その食べ物が好きですか？
Can you make these foods?
- その食べ物を作れますか？
Do you enjoy the holiday?
- 感謝祭が好きですか？
Why or why not?
- どうしてですか？
Do you like to spend the holidays with someone?
- 感謝祭は誰かと過ごしますか？
Where is the best place to be for the holidays?
- 感謝祭はどこで過ごすのが好きですか？
Are you traveling during the break?
- 休みの間はどこか旅行に行きますか？
Where do you want to go on vacation?
- どこに行きたいですか？
Do you like to have a tight schedule (itinerary) or do you like to have an open schedule?
- 旅行の時はタイトなスケジュールとオープンなスケジュールどっちがいいですか？
Do you prefer to travel with your friends or family? Why?
- 旅行する時は誰と行きたいですか？
Wrap-Up
Ask students the following question to finish the activity:
What are you thankful for?
- 感謝していること（人）は何ですか（誰ですか）？
Eng of activity
- Read Can-Do statements once more and have students evaluate
their confidence.
(Use thumbs up/thumbs down or download our student cards.) - Encourage students to be honest in their self-evaluation.
- Pay attention, and try to use feedback for future activities!
NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements:
- I can interact in a dynamic conversation using travel vocabulary.
- I can talk about my preferences for Thanksgiving and other breaks.
- I can talk about cooking and eating Thanksgiving meals or other special foods.
