Teaching different degrees of formality in Japanese -- Yoshiko Jones
You can download this introduction text:
- Japanese Formality Introduction (English) (PDF)
- Japanese Formality Introduction (English) (DOC)
- Japanese Formality Introduction (Japanese) (PDF)
- Japanese Formality Introduction (Japanese) (DOC)
The objective
The use of formal language poses serious difficulties for students who learn Japanese as a foreign language. They study them as grammatical items at Beginner level (Japanese Beginners 2 Term 3), but the majority find that using them can be very problematic. Even advanced learners would admit it is one of the most difficult aspects of learning Japanese. Our objective therefore is to boost their confidence by setting up contexts in which the language can be demonstrated and practised, including business contexts, so that learners can apply a useful set of expressions within those contexts.
The level and type of learners
The material is aimed at Post-Beginner to Intermediate level or beyond, and should be especially useful for those learners who wish to learn Japanese for business purposes.
NB: A revision session on keigo is vital at the very beginning of the course.
Learning aims, syllabus and contexts
The aims and contexts of the material are as follows:
- 1. Introducing oneself and others
- how to introduce oneself with different degrees of formality
- how to introduce one’s family members, friends, and superiors
- Greetings
- how to use a set of daily greetings
- how to use a set of seasonal greetings, greetings for ceremonies, weddings
- On the phone
- how to make a business call
- how to address people in a higher position
- how to leave messages
- Making Requests
- how to make requests and ask for favours
- how to decline requests politely and appropriately
- Praise - praising and being praised
- how to praise someone appropriately
- how to respond to praise appropriately
- Asking for and Giving Permission
- how to ask for permission (e.g. asking for time off work)
- how to give permission and decline appropriately
- Invitations
- how to invite someone
- how to accept or decline an invitation appropriately
- Making complaints
- how to complain appropriately in different contexts, e.g. about noisy neighbours
- Apologising
- how to apologise in different contexts, e.g. when having made a mistake
- how to respond to apologies
- Interviews
- how to ask questions and respond appropriately in interviews for Japanese companies.
Materials
The materials text is in Japanese:
- Japanese Formality Materials Word format
- Japanese Formality Materials PDF format
Yoshiko Jones. SOAS Language Centre, November 2005
