Domhnall McFarline
Izumi SHS
Long-Term Projects
Japanese Folk Story Manga
Class time needed for lesson:4-5 lessons
Class size taught: Suitable for any size- 4-40 students
Target audience:Senior High School (though could be modified for JHS)
Objective:To motivate students into using simple English to tell a story
目的：簡単な英語を使って物語を伝える
Materials
Worksheet to tell your story
A5 paper (6 sheets per group)
Markers
Japanese folk story children’s books (if possible)
Procedure:
Lesson 1
The first lesson will begin with the ALT introducing the project- explaining that over the next four lessons students will create a 6 page picture book or manga telling a traditional Japanese story. If possible, it is useful to show an example of this for the students- each page will have one image and text beneath telling the story. When I did this, I told a traditional story from my home country, using the pictures and acting out the retelling.
This should take about 15-20 minutes.
Next the ALT should split the class into groups of 4 and ask each group to decide which Japanese story they will wish to retell in English. If it is possible to bring a selection of these from the local library it might help the students creatively but these stories are so well known that no group I have taught has ever struggled.
For homework students are asked to write out their story in Japanese
Lesson 2
In the second lesson students will be asked to translate their story into English and to make a rough plan of what 6 pictures they will draw. The JTE and ALT should attempt to help the students with this but it is important to not provide translations for the students. Instead try and get them to think of a simple way they can express what they mean.
Once a group is finished they can be given 6 sheets of A5 paper to begin.
All groups should be finished by the end of the class
Lesson 3-4
Students should finish their 6 pages, both drawing and colouring their background images and writing out the English. Once they are finished they will be asked to start practicing so they can do an oral presentation of their story to the group.
Lesson 5
Each group will make an oral presentation of their story. If possible, digital pictures can be taken of each panel and then presented on screen so all the class can see their pages. If not, students can hold up their images themselves while they retell the story.
Additional information:
When I do this lesson I tend to be pretty strict that the stories the students tell are traditionally Japanese, so I don’t allow Three little pigs, Little Red Riding Hood or Snow White. I also make sure each group in a class is telling a different story from the others
Students generally choose, Momotaro, Urashima taro, IssunBoshi,Omusubi,Kachi-kachiyama, or Kaguya-hime.
It is important to be watchful on time during this project. Two lessons for the students to complete the pictures can seem like a lot but I’ve found it impossible for it to be completed in one lesson alone. Students should be able to complete it in two lessons and have time to practice but they will need to be given time limits.
I find this a really enjoyable lesson, for the students and myself. At least one student in each group enjoys expressing themselves with art, and some of the examples I have got have been really beautiful. These have helped motivate students and keep the energy level up and left them excited for the retelling at the end. Once this project is finished, I display one story from each class on the corridor wall. I feel that having a concrete example of their hard work in front of them, is something that students can be proud of and it forms part of a positive reinforcement of English. In the beginning many students feel the idea of translating a story on their own is impossible but working together, few find it difficult.
The example worksheet below only has one picture but I normally include six, both on the worksheet and drawing six of mine of the board to help tell the story.
Name:Class:Number:
Lesson 3- Sending smiles through picture books
Folk tales in Ireland and Japan
Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the angry giant
Fionn Mac Cumhaill (Finn Mc Cool) was a mighty Irish giant. However one day he heard that an even bigger giant from Scotland was coming to fight him, so he ran home and his wife Oonagh (Una) dressed him like a baby and put him into the crib.
She then baked some cakes and put griddles (hot plates) inside all but one. The Scottish giant arrived to fight Fionn but Oonagh said he was off fighting someone else and he could wait. He was shocked by Fionn who he thought was a baby. She gave him a cake which he bit into and broke his teeth. She then handed one to baby Fionn which had no griddle and he ate it without a problem. The giant was scared by how tough this baby was and so ran away and as he did so- he broke up the bridge between Ireland and Scotland