Aiming to connect individual experiences to society, change, and the future

An attempt to create teaching materials using narratives as resources

Abstract

This paper describes the developmental process and significance of teaching materials that utilize the narratives of immigrants as a resource. In addition, we can also see and recognize the issues related to “meeting the needs of people who are learning to survive.” Our purpose in crafting the narratives of immigrants into teaching materials can be summarized by the following 3 objectives: First, to take individual student narratives and introduce them into society. Second, to change the way of thinking currently revolving around Japanese language education. Third, to connect the education process to the futures of learners. As a result of creating and implementing these teaching materials, we found that immigrants can be empowered, and are able to share their experiences through lesson worksheets and interviews. In addition, we found that holding instructor training courses encourages greater awareness of student concerns and leads instructors to have expectations for changes in their students’ futures.