At Birkdale State School, we are proud to offer a vibrant and enriching Japanese program that fosters global awareness, cultural appreciation, and language proficiency. Japanese is introduced in Prep, and the curriculum continues to build progressively from Year 1 through to Year 6. Our vision is to provide students with authentic and engaging experiences that deepen their understanding of Japanese language and culture.
Cultural Engagement and Digital Learning
Birkdale State School prides itself on offering a diverse language learning experience. Students are engaged through the incorporation of digital technologies in their lessons and enjoy participating in cultural arts and crafts activities such as origami, calligraphy, traditional food sampling, and festival celebrations.
Cultural Engagement and Digital Learning
Birkdale State School prides itself on offering a diverse language learning experience. Students are engaged through the incorporation of digital technologies in their lessons and enjoy participating in cultural arts and crafts activities such as origami, calligraphy, traditional food sampling, and festival celebrations.
The Curriculum
Throughout the program, students explore both the language and cultural traditions of Japan. They develop the ability to communicate in Japanese, both orally and in writing, and build a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity. Students also reflect on their own cultural identity through these cross-cultural learning experiences.
From Prep onwards, students are engaged in rich learning experiences aligned with the Australian Curriculum. As students progress through to the upper school, they continue to consolidate what they have previously learnt. Students explore topics including families, food, homes, and school life. The unit on families allows students to learn vocabulary for Japanese family member names, compare lifestyles, and interview their own family members in Japanese.
By Years 5 and 6, students continue to build on their vocabulary by learning to construct sentences using key words and basic grammar structures of the Japanese language. Units explore subjects, games and sports, shopping, cultural differences in table manners, and food. Students also learn to describe a place or celebration of their choice. Digital resources and apps are regularly used to enhance speaking and listening skills.
CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS
Harmony Day: Origami for Peace
As part of our Harmony Day celebrations, students learn the powerful story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, a symbol of peace and hope. Students fold paper cranes and hearts, writing messages in both English and Japanese. These are then sent to Japan, where our sister schools display them in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Parks. BSS students love seeing photos of their creations featured in these globally significant locations.
Guest Judges from Japan
During the school year, there are occasions when students' work is judged in competitions by a specialist judging panel in Japan. One of the head judges is Mr Sonoda, the principal of one of our sister schools. He provides personalised and encouraging feedback to our students and plans to visit BSS in 2026. During his visit, he looks forward to teaching students about Japanese culture and traditional games, including Kendama (a challenging stick-and-ball game).
Japanese Manga Challenge
Students in Years 5 and 6 take part in a special unit exploring anime (Japanese animation) and manga (comic books). As part of the Japanese Manga Challenge, students create their own bilingual character profiles and compete in class and year-level competitions. Their entries are judged by Japanese teachers and students, including Mr Sonoda. The level of creativity and language use is always impressive, and students are highly motivated to improve their work by acting on feedback and collaborating with their peers.
お弁当チャレンジ Obento Lunchbox Challenge
One of the most highly anticipated events of the year is the Obento Lunchbox Challenge! Year 6 students are tasked with assembling a beautifully presented Japanese-style lunchbox within 30 minutes, using pre-cooked ingredients. Each entry includes a written explanation in both English and Japanese.
With judges from numerous countries involved, the competition reaches an international standard. Each year, the judges face the tough task of selecting winners, as the entries consistently showcase an extraordinary level of artistry, cultural understanding, and imagination.
The Japanese program at Birkdale State School provides students with a meaningful, future-focused learning experience, opening doors to global connections and lifelong curiosity.