The Japanese Term "yousu" in the Transcripts of Japanese Lower Secondary School Science Lessons

Abstract

We have argued that the typical use of the term "yousu" (appearance or situation) in documents of the course of study in Japan represents one characteristic of Japanese school science, "Rika." In this study, we analyzed the transcripts of science lessons of junior high schools in Japan in order to examine this characteristic of the science lesson. The term "yousu" was used in 29 out of 95 science lessons, that is, almost one third. Moreover, "yousu" was often used to mean looking at or observing natural phenomena. So the term "yousu" seems to distinguish Japanese school science, "Rika," from that of other countries.