Kisetsu - Haruichiban

TEXTBOOK
#9510
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ISBN#4-907811-00-4
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#9717
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ISBN#0-9678606-0-1
10-1/2'' X 8''		 WORKBOOK VOL.2
#9718
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ISBN#0-9678606-1-X
10-1/2'' X 8''

Design of Kisetsu
Kisetsu is a series of Japanese-language textbooks for junior high and high school students. It means ''seasons'' and the first volume is called ''Haruichiban(literally, First Spring Storm),'' Kisetsu aims to help a student become not only a sucessful communicator in Japanese but also a self-deirected and reflective learner, a skillful problem solver and an active, sensitive and productive participant in the global community. Kisetsu also relfects the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st century.

Organization of Kisetsu
A sequence of conceptual units has been developed in order to realize the aforementioned goals and objectives and these units facilitate a meaningful progression of learning throughout the program. The current volume, Haruichiban, contains two preliminary sections (Getting Started I and Getting Started II) and the first two of the conceptual units (Encounter and Awareness). The units are broken down into four thematically organized chapters. The accompanying chart allow users to see how the five goals of foreign language education identified in the Standards -- Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities -- are incorporated into the textbook.

Contents:
1. Introduction
The introduction section gives you an overview of the chapter. It also lets you warm up with simple recognition drills, games and exercises utilizing useful learning and communication strategies. This section consists of the following.
1. Objectives: List of what you will be learning and what you will be able to do with it.
2. Kisetsu Theater: A visual overview with compact descrptions.
3. Warm-Up: A group of exercise emphasizeing useful strategies.
4. Basic Vocabulary: A pictorial introduction to selected basic words and expressions.
5. Mechanics: Drills employing basic vocabulary.
6. games or songs.
2. Mechanics
The Mechanics section reviews the Introduction section and introduces you to a new set of vocabulary. You will also learn communication skills through various drills and activities which concentrate on one or two items of importance at a time. This section is divided into several parts and it is accompanied by an additional segment which deals with one of the following topics.
1. Culture Note
2. Language Note
3. Pronunciation
4. Form (grammar and function)
3. Application
The Application section provides opportunities to integrate what you have learned in the Mechanics section into a more meaningful context. Often working in groups, you execute tasks using various functions and strategies including reading and writing. Although these tasks are not open-ended, they will encourage you to express your own ideas and help you become a successful communicator. This section is accompanied by an additional segment which deals with one of the following.
1. Vocabulary: A list of functional vocabulary and notional vocabulary.
2. Kana and Kanji: Japanese syllabaries and Chinese characters.
4. Virtual Reality
In this section you will participate in a comprehensive project where you wil mobilize and integrate everything you learned to this point. Again, working with your peers, you will sumulate situations that are open-ended and close to real world tasks as much as possible. The Virsual Reality section gives you oppotunities to work on matrials of your particular interest and facilitates both independent and group learning. The Virsual Reality section is supplemented by the following.
1. Assessments: A self-assessment or peer assessment to check your performance, knowledge and skills.
2. Checklist: A set of questions asking you to evaluate your own progress and reflect upon your learning experience.
3. Additional Vocabulary: An advanced list of words which will be useful for the Virtual Reality projects.
4. Additional Information: Pictures depicting real Japanese life accompanied by photographs taken by Japanese students.