Classes on Japanese Expressions Based on the Philosophy of “Easy Japanese:

Thinking about Japanese Language Skills Aimed at Multicultural Coexistence

Abstract

This study is a report on classroom practice conducted to apply the insights from Japanese language education to general education of university students. After learning the philosophy and methods of “easy Japanese,” students learned the importance of expressions that suit the audience and occasions, as well as increased their own awareness and practiced responding flexibly to difficult expressions. The class was focused on practice through group activities. As a result, students made presentations which were easy for people with diverse backgrounds to understand (e.g. choice of vocabulary, pronunciation). On the other hand, writing showed that students can also handle more academic expressions. In order to live in a multicultural society, it is critical to be able to adapt verbal expressions flexibly for the audience and occasions.