About this item
My First Book of Japanese Words is a beautifully illustrated book that introduces young children to Japanese language and culture through everyday words.The words profiled in this book are all commonly used in the Japanese language and are both informative and fun for English-speaking children to learn. The goals of My First Book of Japanese Words are multiple: to familiarize children with the sounds and structure of Japanese speech; to introduce core elements of Japanese culture; to illustrate the ways in which languages differ in their treatment of everyday sounds; and to show how, through cultural importation, a single word can be shared between languages.Both teachers and parents will welcome the book's cultural and linguistic notes, and appreciate how the book is organized in a familiar ABC structure.
About the Author
I am a passionate about promoting intercultural awareness, especially by means of providing insight about the Japanese culture, as compared to the American. Currently, I incorporate cross-cultural lessons and fun into teaching Japanese language and culture.In preschool, I befriended an edlerly German couple in the neighborhood whom no one else could understand. In high school, my best friend was an immigrant from Russia and not the typical student at a Houston suburban (and rather cowboy) high school.I went on to study abroad for a year in a Japanese high school and live with a Japanese family. I fell in love with not only the Japanese culture and language but also with the foil that the whole experience provided to my cultural lenses and way of thinking. In a nutshell, it gave me perspective on my own culture and way of thinking. If I can bring to life the world for youngsters so that they feel that the world is is friendly, fun, and exciting, I will have accomplished my calling. "I am not a teacher but an awakener" -- Robert Frost
