Parish News
Catholic and government Japanese primary teachers from across the Central Zone joined together for a rich day of professional learning on Wednesday, May 6, led by Ms Junko Nichols, Director of the Monash University Japanese Language Education Hub.
Participants explored the work of Yayoi Kusama, one of Japan’s most celebrated contemporary artists, to understand more about how her work can inspire engaging and meaningful Japanese language learning. Junko illustrated how to combine art appreciation with language learning, including describing artworks in simple Japanese, developing viewing skills and integrating cultural studies. The presentation also focused on Kusama’s story of resilience, creativity, and perseverance.
Junko also led the group through some accessible, classroom-ready activities to build student confidence and linguistic depth. Drawing on the work of Dr Gianfranco Conti’s Extensive Processing Instruction (EPI) approach, teachers were able to identify how they could be adapted to suit different contexts and learners.
