Developing JFL learners’ reading and writing skills with the SNA
Abstract
In real-world communication, the choice of Japanese script can significantly influence the overall meaning of a message. A particular genre of manga (Japanese graphic novels) makes heavy use of kanji to highlight the historical setting. On the other hand, hiragana and katakana are dominant in many shojo (girls’) manga. In other words, each of the four scripts in Japanese represents distinctive linguistic and visual imagery, defined by unique cultural, historical and social reinforcement through discursive social practices of the Japanese-speaking community. Thus, in reading and writing Japanese, Japanese as a foreign language learners need to develop the ability to recognize and select suitable script types to accomplish successful communication. In contrast to the traditional approaches to foreign language instruction, the Social Networking Approach considers reading and writing skills as integrated communication skills. To achieve persuasive communication with kanji, for example, students need to incorporate language, cultural and global skills.
Publication Title
Social Networking Approach to Japanese Language Teaching: The Intersection of Language and Culture in the Digital Age
Recommended Citation
Matsuda, Y. (2020). Developing JFL learners’ reading and writing skills with the SNA. Social Networking Approach to Japanese Language Teaching: The Intersection of Language and Culture in the Digital Age, 72-100. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003001157-5
