Japanese L8: Example 3
Example 3: Response to blog entry
Glossary
ちきゅうのおんだんか — global warming
せきゆ — oil
かんきょう — environment
来年、ニュージーランドでラグビーワールドカップをすることになっている。だからせかい中からたくさんの人が しあいを見に来ると思う。
ぼくにとって一番(いちばん)しんぱいなことは、 ちきゅうのおんだんかだ。せかい中のラグビーのファンが、ニュージーランド
まで ひこうきで来ると、せきゆをたくさん使って、にさんかたんそ（CO2）をたくさん出すことになる。
ワールドカップを見るために、ひこうきでニュージーランドに来る人は、きっぷのお金をはらう時に、木をうえるためのお金もはらうべきだと思う。
かんきょうをまもるために、１人１人がみんな せきにんをとらなければならない。色々な国の人が あつまることはいいことだが、かんきょうのことも かんがえた方がいい。
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Context and text type
Ben is reading a response to his recent blog entry.
Text type
Informal writing. Receptive.
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Observations a student might make concerning:
Information, ideas, and opinions communicated in the text
The writer of this response focuses on the environment, commenting that it will use a lot of valuable oil to fly to New Zealand to watch the World Cup:
- ニュージーランドまでひこうきで来ると、せきゆをたくさん使って、にさんかたんそをたくさん出すことになる。
The writer offers a suggestion for offsetting damage to the environment:
- きっぷのお金をはらう時に、木をうえるためのお金もはらうべきだと思う。
In their conclusion, the writer reiterates their viewpoint concerning the environment:
How the writer explores the views of others
The writer picks up on one point and raises a concern:
The above point may appear to be a tangent, but blogs offer people the opportunity to ask unexpected questions and explore topics from different angles.
How the writer develops and shares personal perspectives
The writer expresses concerns:
- ひこうきで来ると、せきゆをたくさん使って、にさんかたんそをたくさん出すことになる。
Expressions such as なければならない and べき carry strong, emotive feelings.
How the writer justifies their own ideas and opinions
The writer appeals to readers’ emotions and implores them to think about the issue on a different level:
- １人１人がみんなせきにんをとらなければならない。かんきょうのこともかんがえた方がいい。
How the writer supports or challenges the ideas and opinions of others
The writer’s use of emotive language will either support or challenge the views of readers, depending on their viewpoint.
The writer acknowledges the importance of world events such as the Rugby World Cup:
The writer offers a compromise:
- きっぷのお金をはらう時に、木をうえるためのお金もはらうべきだと思う。
Strong, emotive words such as べき can challenge readers, especially those with a differing opinion.
How linguistic meaning is conveyed across languages
In Japanese culture, people are not normally as direct as in English-speaking cultures. But べき and なければならない are quite direct and emotive. Explore when it is acceptable to use such phrases.
How language is used in the text to expresses cultural meanings
Explore せきにん (responsibility) and words that contain the せき kanji（責), for example責任者(せきにんしゃ) (person in charge) and 責任感(せきにんかん) (sense of responsibility).
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Opportunities for developing intercultural communicative competence
Investigate how kanji are constructed. For example, 責 has the radical 貝, and radicals can sometimes give guidance as to the meaning of a kanji.
Investigate attitudes in Japan and in New Zealand towards particular environmental issues, and the practices associated with them. What are the similarities and differences?
How would students apply the knowledge they gained from this research to their understanding of texts in Japanese (written, visual, oral)?
Last updated March 27, 2013
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