Our talented Tanken Centre team has just released their third activity pack to support teachers of Japanese – Japan!

This activity package introduces students to the culture of Japan through a series of stunning images, as a short video with interactive worksheet. It may be used as a stand-alone activity at the start of a course or embedded into existing units of work.

You can download the resource, with all relevant links, from the Stages 4 and 5 Japanese section of our website – scroll to the bottom of the page. You'll also find the Tanken Centre's other activity packs there too – 'Japanese house' and 'Making onigiri'.

The Tanken Centre has created a video with highlights of Japan, including:
- what Japan is known for
- famous sites
- food in Japan.

The Tanken Centre team is also working on an accompanying activity package in the near future, however we wanted to release the video quickly for subject selection or just as a beautiful classroom resource.

You can view the resource below, or download it from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BfMTUEwoUqeBbjeXTbJ1BAPkC83dNsfc/view?usp=sharing

This term the Tanken Centre is offering online group speaking sessions for Year 11 students.

There are speaking sessions available on the following dates:
 18, 21, 31 August
 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 15, 17, 18 September.

The 40 minute online group sessions are to assist students with their speaking practice. Sessions will take place during school hours using Zoom. Students will be divided into 3 breakout rooms and the Tanken Centre staff and class teacher will spend 10 minutes with a set of questions in each room. Staff will rotate through the rooms to ensure students have the opportunity to practise with 3 different speakers.

After the speaking rotations are complete, the groups will come back together in the main room and students will be given feedback.

​These sessions are free of charge. At this stage, sessions are only available to NSW public schools.
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If you are interested in booking a session for your students, please email the Tanken Centre with the following details:
- the course (Beginners or Continuers)
- preferred dates and times (please provide at least 2 options)
- name list of attending students.
 
Bookings will be made on a first-come first-served basis. As there is a high chance that you will not be able to get your first preference, please send several preferred dates with times. Please note that your session is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email. 

Excursions
Excursion bookings for Term 4 are filling quickly. Currently the following dates are available:
30 October
9, 11, 14, 15 December.

If you are interested in booking any of these dates, please contact the Tanken Centre.
If you have a tentative booking with the Tanken Centre for Term 4, please send through the booking form to secure your date. Should you no longer require the date you have booked, please let us know so that we can release the date to another school. In relation to COVID-19, we will advise you closer to the date if the excursion needs to be cancelled or if there are any changes to excursion procedures. 

Online group speaking sessions for Year 12
There are speaking sessions available on the following dates:
 4, 7, 14, 21, 25, 27 August
 2, 4, 8 September.

Please note that these sessions are offered to NSW public schools only. If you are interested in booking a session for your students, please contact the Tanken Centre with the following details:
- the course (Beginners or Continuers)
- preferred dates and times (please provide at least 2 options)
- name list of attending students.

​Bookings will be made on a first-come first-served basis. As there is a high chance that you will not be able to get your first preference, please send several preferred dates with times. Please note that your session is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email. Priority goes to schools which did not participate in a speaking session in Term 2. Schools which participated in Term 2 will be placed on waiting list. These sessions are currently for Year 12 students only. Sessions for Year 11 students will run later in the term and information will be posted about these in the coming weeks. 

The Tanken Centre is again offering 40 minute online group sessions to assist Year 12 students with their speaking practice. Sessions will take place during school hours using Zoom. Students will be divided into 3 breakout rooms and the Tanken Centre staff and class teacher will spend 10 minutes with a set of questions in each room. Staff will rotate through the rooms to ensure students have the opportunity to practise with 3 different speakers.

After the speaking rotations are complete, the groups will come back together in the main room and students will be given feedback. These sessions are free.
​
Please choose the dates for this session below:
- 24, 28, 30 July
- 3, 5, 11, 14, 20, 21, 25, 27 August
- 8, 10 September.

Please kindly note that these sessions are offered to the NSW public schools only.

If you are interested in booking a session for your students, please contact the Tanken Centre via email, including:
- the course (Beginners or Continuers)
- preferred dates and times (please provide at least 2 options)
- name list of attending students.
 
Bookings will be made on a first-come first-served basis.

There is a high chance that you will not be able to get your first preference. Please put several preferred dates with times. As we expect a large volume of inquiries, please make sure you include the above information in your email. Your session is not confirmed until we send you a confirmation email.
 
Priority goes to schools which have not participated in this session in Term 2. Schools which participated in Term 2 will be placed on waiting list.
 
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
 
Kind regards,
Tanken Centre
nihongo.tanken@det.nsw.edu.au​

Dear teachers of Japanese,
Following the department's advice of 17 July 2020, we will need to cancel all face-to-face excursions to the centre until further notice.
We were advised in June that excursions could proceed in Term 3, however the advice has been updated due to the changing COVID-19 situation.
We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause you, your students and your school.
If you wish to change the excursion date to Term 4, please contact us.
In the meantime, we will continue to offer online sessions and new resources to support your students’ learning.
Kind regards,
Mieko and Taka

We have some good news.The Tanken Centre will re-open for excursions from the beginning of Term 3.
 
Please note that social distancing applies to visiting adults. Please read the guidelines about social distancing.
 
If you have already have a booking or are planning to visit us, please consider all necessary protocols, including the following points:
• exercise good hygiene and cleanliness in all areas
• go directly to the centre, minimising contact with Kirrawee High School students
• minimise contact with general public  – if possible, avoid public transport.
 
If you need to change any existing booking or wish to make a new booking, please contact us via email or phone.

The Tanken Centre has launched a new Facebook group to share centre happenings and Japanese resources sourced or created by the Tanken Centre team – Mieko Shida and Taka Yoshino. Please join for regular updates regarding the centre, resources and ideas.
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​There is already a great housing activity package there to check out and try with your classes. Please join the Tanken Centre Facebook group at this link.

All 3 courses are now fully booked. Thank you very much for your interest. Any requests received will be placed on the waiting list.

As there are number of students on the waiting list, please let us know immediately if any of your students enrolled cannot attend the session.

​Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Kind regards,
Tanken Centre
E: nihongo.tanken@det.nsw.edu.au