Jill Bignell (Japanese); Rachel Oldham (Integrated Studies Gr 7/8)

Identity and place: how does where I live influence who I am?

The focus of learning in this sequence was developing an attitude of “mindfulness” rather than “mindlessness” when engaging with the difference of others. Having knowledge about ourselves as cultural beings is important for our interactions and relationships with others. Understanding how to interact with others from different subgroups from within Australian society and from groups of people from around the world is a worthwhile life skill for our learners to acquire.

Students deconstructed and critically analysed the features of a tourist brochure. They researched facilities and attractions in their local community in order to produce effective brochures in the target language (Japanese) to present their local area to Japanese visitors. Local businesses agreed to showcase these brochures, which strengthened links with the local community and gave authentic reasons for student work.

Students came to understand how the physical environment in which they live plays a part in the person they are, how they live their lives and how they think about issues and other people.

Essentials connections
Social responsibility: Valuing diversity
Communicating: Being literate; Being information literate

Key concepts Identity, culture, stereotype, place.
Duration 10 weeks