Homestay Parents

Submitted by: Patrick Bickford     Borrowed or inspired from: N/A     Date added: 02-25-08     Edited by: Nobody

Brief Outline:  You and the JTE are homestay parents. Students receive Japanese sentences and their goal is to communicate the sentences to the parents using whatever communicative tools in their arsenal. This activity teaches students that translating something perfectly is not as important as they are led to believe.

Materials Needed

Preparation Needed:

Teaching Suggestions:

Detailed Explanation:

1. The object of the students is to portray the MEANING of the Japanese sentences rather than trying to translate it. If done right, this sets up an environment where the students pull from every grammar in their arsenal and try to communicate what their cards say.
2. The class divides into groups of 4-6 students.
3. Give each group a ‘signature’ worksheet and have them write their names on it.
4. Lay the cards facedown on the teacher’s desk. One person from each group comes and takes a card back to their group. As a team, they try and work out how they are going to express the meaning to the homestay parents without using any Japanese.
5. When they think they can do it, one student comes to the ALT/JTE and tries to express the meaning. If you can understand what they mean, sign their worksheet on the appropriate line card. Next to the signature, assign 1-5 points depending on their accuracy: How much English they used? Did they use Japanese? How hard did they try to get the meaning across? The student then picks another card to take back to their group.
6. Group members should take turns on who comes to the ALT/JTE.
7. The sentences are as follows:
• 日本料理を食べたいです。 I want to eat Japanese-style food.
• ５０ドルを失くしてしまいました！ I lost $50 dollars!
• 野球場へ行って試合を見たいです。 I want to go to a baseball game.
• おなかが痛いです。 My stomach hurts. OR, I have a stomachache.
• 熱があるみたいです。 I might have a fever.
• バスの乗り方が分かりません。 I don’t know how to use ride the bus.
• 今日は私の誕生日なのでパーティーをしたいです。 I want to have a party today because it is my birthday.
• 僕の部屋にゴキブリがいます！ There is a cockroach in my room!
• 自分に１人でロックコンサートへ行きたいのです。 I want to go to the rock concert by myself.
• 円をドルに変えたいです。 I want to exchange my yen for dollars.
• トイレに紙がありません！ There is no toilet paper.
• 猫アレルギーです。 I have a cat allergy.
• 家族へ書いた手紙を郵便局から送りたいのですが。。。 I wrote a letter to my family and I want to send it from the post office.
• 私の髪にガムがついてしまいました。とって下さい。 There is gum in my hair. Please take it out.
• 家のカギを失くしてしまいました。 I lost the house key.
• 日本へ電話をしたいのですが。。。 I want to call Japan.
• あなたの息子が僕にまとわりついて手品をしてくれるんだ。 Your son follows me around and shows me magic.
• 角のお店に行っている時、借りていた自転車が盗まれました。 When I went to the shop on the corner, the bike I borrowed was stolen.
• のどがかわいたから、何か飲み物をちょうだい。 I’m thirsty. I want something to drink.
• シアトルへ車で一泊の旅をしたいけど、一緒に行かない？ I want to take a trip in a car to Seattle. Shall we go together?
• 今夜デートに行きたいです。 I want to go on a date tonight.
• チーズバーガーを作ってみたいです。作り方を教えてください。 I want to try to make a cheeseburger. Please teach me how to make it.
• 来年またあなたの家を訪ねてもいい？ May I call your house again next year?
• 買い物に行きたいけどお金がない。 I want to go shopping but I don’t have money.
• パスポートを失くしてしまった！どうしたらいい？ I lost my passport. What shall I do?
• フットボールをしていたら勝手口の窓を割ってしまいました。 The kitchen window was broken because we played football.
• 隣の家の植木鉢をこわしてしまいました。 The house next door’s flowerpot was broken.
• あなたと一緒にあの建物の前で写真を取りたいんだ。 I want to take a picture of us together in front the building.
• 今日、フライト予定の飛行機がトラブルで飛ばなくなったんだ。 Today, the airplane’s flight schedule was stopped because there was trouble.

Variations:

• For higher level classes, if you hear any Japanese words spoken while they are trying to explain the meaning to you, make them put back the card and choose another one. They can come back to the card later.