i-irasshai - teachers

i-irasshai is a unique educational experience and important cultural addition to your students' study of the Japanese language and/or any number of other subjects (e.g., social studies). i-irasshai focuses primarily on present day culture and life in Japan, while providing some historical background. It is designed as a "here-and-now" learning experience.

Many students can benefit from using i-irasshai. Students learning the Japanese language can have their language skills strengthened. However, successful use of i-irasshai is not dependent on any knowledge of the Japanese language. i-irasshai is adaptable to a myriad of lesson plans that promote cultural learning about modern day Japan. In fact, i-irasshai can provide instructional materials for a wide range of students -- from elementary school through college.

Designed as an immersive cultural journey through Japan, i-irasshai vividly portrays Japanese life and culture. The application requires students to actively make decisions and solve problems so that they learn the culturally relevant responses to real-life Japanese situations (e.g., how to take off one's shoes before entering a home or school). In short, students experience an intensely realistic simulation of life in Japan.

Teachers should first become thoroughly familiar with the content and features of i-irasshai themselves in order to realize its optimal application in particular lesson plans. For the technical aspects, a highly recommended starting point is to click on the "help" icon at the top of this page and read/ test the computer for best performance. Following this, it makes sense to walk through the tutorial (found in one of the first starting windows). This tutorial informs users about the key elements for navigation.

Knowledge of i-irasshai's content can be covered in a number of ways. Please bear in mind that since i-irasshai contains an enormity of information and activities, it is unlikely that anyone could explore all that it offers in a single sitting. The various possibilities for learning about the content are described in the paragraphs that follow below.

In designing lesson plans that use i-irasshai, teachers can make use of features available in the low bandwidth section (i.e., guide book) and/or high bandwidth/CD section. The low bandwidth section is essentially the "guide book" -- an alphabetical listing of all of the information items, activities, videos, and quizzes in i-irasshai. Each of these are click-accessible through the "guide book" index and most have the additional advantage of providing external Web links that allow a much more in-depth study of the topic at hand. The "guide book" is an excellent quick resource for reports and projects. As a "guide book," it is quite valuable, but bear in mind that it does not provide an immersive experience or contain the cultural activities that are embedded in the high bandwidth/CD's contextual presentation of daily life events.

The high bandwidth/CD features interlocking 360° panoramic scenes that contain numerous clickable items ("hotspots"). Each panoramic scene encourages a sense of immersion, especially given the opportunity to explore items within the panorama. Every clicked "hotspot" reveals a new pop-up window complete with additional photo(s), informational text, and links to external Web sites (where even more information can be found). The high bandwidth/CD also features interactive activities, videos, audio, and simple quizzes, all organized logically within the panoramic scenes and through a sequence of events. Thus, when a student attempts to enter the host family's house, shoes must be taken off correctly for entrance to be allowed.

Teachers may wish to allow a discovery or exploratory approach to i-irasshai, to prescribe certain paths or destinations, or take a "treasure hunt " approach. In any case, when using the high bandwidth/CD features, students will be presented with thematic agendas, each accompanied by an associated "to-do" list. Tomo, the assistant (i.e., the "manekineko" or "cat" that is located in the lower right section of the window) offers friendly suggestions and applauds successes for achievement on the "to-do" lists. These lists can serve as a guide (or goal) for students in their journey, or they can be ignored entirely. Depending on the teacher's instructional use of i-irasshai, the teacher may elect to:

Allow students to choose their own agendas based on their own interests
Assign an agenda based on a related lesson plan

Each agenda with its associated "to-do" list is presented in the table below. For convenience, the teacher may wish to print this page.

When all items within an agenda are complete (each item will appear dimmed after completion), a printable certificate appears on the screen. The certificate identifies the agenda undertaken and its date of completion. More than one agenda may be completed in the same session if desired. At any time, a new agenda may be chosen by simply clicking the restart button at the top of the window.

A student may choose from one of following agendas:

agenda number	agenda short title	agenda long title	to-do list
1	Geology (rock and roll)	From snow-capped mountains to the rocks featured in Japanese gardens, geology has both literally and spiritually shaped Japan.	Find a box of rocks in the school.
			Explore the mountains to learn about “plate tectonics.”
			Find out how rocks are used in Japanese gardens.
2	Save the trees!	The crowded city is a popular picture of Japan, but Japan also has lakes, mountains, and beaches. How do Japanese protect the environment?	Learn how your friend helps the environment from her apartment in the city.
			Find an energy-saving way to heat water at your host family's house.
			Visit the ocean.
3	Small country; big ocean	Because it is an island nation, Japan relies on the ocean for a great deal of things. Let’s explore some of the gifts of the sea.	Find the largest arthropod in the world.
			Visit the ocean.
			Visit the port and learn about trade on the high seas.
4	Crowds (excuse me; you're standing on my foot)	Japan is not getting any bigger, but its already large population continues to grow. What’s it like to live among the masses in Japan?	Explore the housing situation in Japan.
			Experience rush hour in the commuter train station.
			Learn about crowds - and blood types
5	Manufacturing an economy	Japan is famous for its industry. Let’s take a look at some of the different areas of manufacture in which Japan has excelled.	Visit your school's computer lab.
			Learn about Japan's automobile industry.
			Relax at your host family's home in front of the VCR.
6	Every day is Earth Day	Let’s learn some everyday ways in which Japanese help protect their environment.	Find an energy-saving way to heat water.
			Discover how shooji doors save energy.
			Learn how your friend helps the environment from her apartment.
7	Flowers? You shouldn't have!	Japanese love flowers. Let’s learn a little something about flowers in Japan.	Visit the garden at your host family's house.
			Create some ikebana at your school.
			Visit a flower shop in the market.
8	Fish; their cultural significance is no fluke	Fish have long been an important part of Japanese tradition. Let’s take a look at some different aspects of fish in Japanese culture.	Find a Children's Day streamer shaped like a fish.
			Visit a Buddhist pond and meditate among the koi.
			Buy some fish at the market.
9	Gill-ty pleasures?	Japan is an island nation, so it’s no wonder Japanese turn to the sea for their protein needs! Let’s take a look at fish in the Japanese diet.	Visit a port.
			Find the tiniest fish you can at the fish market.
			Purchase some unagi at the sushi restaurant.
10	Music - turn it up!	There are many ways to enjoy music in Japan. Let’s learn about some of them.	Get lost in a karaoke box.
			What is hoogaku and yoogaku?
			Visit your school's music class.
11	"I think that I shall never see…"	Japanese have a great deal of respect for nature. Learn about the many ways they revere their trees.	Learn the fine art of bonsai.
			Find a maple tree in a Japanese garden.
			Learn how your friend helps the environment from her apartment in the city.
12	Bamboo-zled?	Bamboo is used for many things in Japan. In this agenda, we will explore just a few of them (you might find others not on your to-do list).	Bamboo can be used in exterior wall construction.
			Find a bamboo curtain in your host family's house.
			Play some kendo in your school gym.
13	Rice to eat; rice to drink	Rice is a staple in the Japanese diet. Let’s learn a little bit about this essential food.	What sort of drink is made from rice?
			Find a rice cooker at your host family's home.
			How is rice used in sushi?
14	Hungry?	If you want to be truly happy, you’ve got to have three meals a day. Let’s go through a day of meals in Japan.	Learn the difference between a Japanese breakfast and a Western one.
			Enjoy some school lunch.
			Get dinner at the sushi restaurant.
15	A multi-media society	Japan’s media is everywhere. Learn how the population stays in touch with these constantly changing times.	Watch some TV at your host family's home.
			Listen to the radio at your host family's home.
			Stop off at a rail station's kiosk.
16	From cradle to grave	The journey of life is celebrated at several critical stages. Let’s live a little!	Visit the Shinto shrine.
			Learn about Children's Day.
			Learn about Japanese funerals.
17	Life after death?	Japanese stay in touch with their family history. When you die in Japan, what sorts of ways will your family keep your memory alive?	Learn about Japanese funerals.
			Learn the rituals performed at Japanese cemeteries.
			Find a stone lantern in the Buddhist temple.
18	The leisurely life	Japanese engage in some daily leisure activities that might be unfamiliar to many Westerners. Let’s unwind in Japanese fashion!	Perform a little karaoke.
			Take a soak in the public baths.
			Find some manga at the train station.
19	The challenge of being a country	Japan’s population faces many challenges. Learn about a few of them, and what Japan is doing about them.	Learn about Japan's housing situation.
			Visit the neighborhood kooban.
			Visit a neighborhood pachinko parlor.
20	H2O4U	How does water play into daily Japanese life?	Visit an onsen in the mountains.
			Visit the pond at the temple.
			Go to the port and learn about shipping in Japan.
21	Necessary vices?	Japan faces some of the same social problems found throughout the world. Let’s take a look at some of the hot issues in Japan.	Learn about smoking in Japan.
			Learn about the rules governing alcohol in Japan.
			Visit the pachinko parlor.
22	Positive values	Find out some of the ways Japanese learn positive values.	Visit your town's kooban.
			Help clean the school.
			Take a gift to your friend's apartment.
23	Get some fresh air!	Let’s explore the world outside.	Escape to the mountains.
			Play in the ocean.
			Visit a Japanese garden.
24	The art of writing	Japanese characters are usually written in calligraphy; a style of writing using brush strokes. Let’s examine calligraphy in Japan.	Explore the history of calligraphy.
			Visit a noodle restaurant, and face "the writing on the wall."
			Locate some scrolls in your host family's home.
25	Words, words, words	There are lots of different things to read in Japan, for many different tastes.	Check out the newspapers at the commuter train station kiosk.
			Examine the comic books at a train station kiosk.
			Find some novels in your host family's house.
26	Respect	R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what it means to the Japanese.	Learn not only how to greet your teachers, but your upperclassmen in school.
			Learn how after-school activities teach respect.
			Learn about tipping at the noodle restaurant in the city.
27	A life of team work	Japan is sometimes said to have a group-minded society. What are some ways in which the group mentality is instilled?	Learn about the school uniform.
			Explore how the group mentality can lower crime.
			Learn about crowds and blood-type.
28	Hot stuff	What’s hot in Japan? Here are a few hot topics for your consideration.	Visit the mountains for an onsen experience.
			Taste some wasabi.
			Find a hot towel at the sushi restaurant.
29	Cool stuff	What’s cool in Japan? Here are a few cool items of note.	Locate the air conditioner in your host family's house.
			Find curtains in the house that have a "cool" feeling.
			Find a cold towel at the sushi restaurant.
30	Everyday traditions	Learn about some of the everyday traditions Japanese uphold.	Find a personal shrine in your host family's house.
			Take a bath in Japan at your host family's house.
			Locate a Daruma at the sushi restaurant.
31	Thirsty?	Explore the significance of Japanese drinks.	Make tea in your host family's house.
			Stop by a Shinto shrine and learn about sake.
			Visit a coffee shop in the market.
32	Have bike, will travel	The bicycle is a common means of transportation in Japan. Let’s see how bicycles are used in everyday life!	Learn how bikes are used to get to school.
			Find out how the police use bicycles, also.
			Explore how mail carriers employ pedal power.
33	Beyond science	Most of us have a few superstitions (do you walk under a ladder?). Let’s examine some Japanese ones.	Locate a Daruma at the sushi restaurant.
			Learn about omamori at a Shinto shrine.
			Learn about the significance of blood-types in Japan.
34	That outfit goes well with your eyes	While Japanese dress in styles familiar to most Westerners, there are important traditional clothes as well. Let’s take a look at some!	Learn about the different types of kimono.
			Discover the components of an acceptable school uniform.
35	Am I being clear?	Let's talk. There are many ways to do this. Let's take a look at communication in Japan.	Use the telephone at your host family's house.
			Send an e-mail.
			Locate a mail box in the city.
36	I get around	There are many ways to get around in Japan. Let's take a look at some of them.	Learn how bikes are used to get to school.
			Locate a pedestrian in the city.
			Buy a shinkansen ticket for the mountains.
37	Take the money and run	Romantics say love makes the world go 'round, but others say it's money. Let's learn about money in Japan.	Visit the city bank.
			Visit the coin box at a Shinto shrine.
			Learn about money at the sushi restaurant.
38	Have a seat (part one)	Taking a seat in Japan can be a significant gesture - where you sit can be important in certain situations.	Learn how the classroom seating order is determined.
			Learn about special seating on trains.
			Discover the proper seating order around a table for a formal occasion.
39	Have a seat (part two)	What's the correct way to sit in Japan? Now that Western furniture is popular, has the basic act of sitting changed?	Find out if Western furniture has changed the way people sit in Japan.
			Locate a zaisu chair.
			Learn the proper way to sit on a floor in Japan.
40	Shinto and the art of automobile maintenance	How should you take care of your car? There are some interesting differences between Western and Eastern car maintenance.	Visit a gas station.
			Go through the car wash…
			Receive a car blessing.
41	Sick again	Not feeling well? Maybe you're coming down with a cold. Let's learn what Japanese do when they're sick.	Locate the school's infirmary.
			Learn what to do about that runny nose.
			Visit a Japanese tea shop at the market.
42	The bells! The bells!	The American writer Edgar Allen Poe was fascinated by bells. So are many Japanese.	Find some wind bells in your host family's garden.
			Learn how to get an immortal's attention.
			Listen to a big bell at the Buddhist temple.
43	Just who do you think you are?	Who are you? This question could keep you up for hours. But when people ask you who you are, you usually tell them your name.	Learn about Japanese names.
			Find a special way to seal an envelope.
			Perform cemetery rituals near the temple.
44	Don't be rude!	Are you helping, or are you being rude? If you ignore another country's culture, then your good intentions may come across as rude!	Take a cab to your friend's apartment in the city.
			Clean up after dinner at your friend's apartment.
			Learn what to do about that runny nose.
45	Scaled-down	Little animals and people can be found throughout Japan - in the form of dolls. Some of these are play things and some are not.	Find the cow in the sushi restaurant.
			Find the cat in the sushi restaurant.
			Learn about the Doll Festival.
46	Read any good books, lately?	Japan promotes books every year with a two-week long book celebration. When was the last time you stuck your nose in a good book?	Learn about the Japanese novel.
			Find out how to read a Japanese textbook.
			Visit the school library.
47	Can you believe your eyes?	In Japan, things are not always what they seem.	Discover fake food in a noodle restaurant window.
			Find a basket of teensy-weensy fish in the fish market.
			Find a table that doubles as a heater in your host family's house.
48	Cleanliness, purity, and spirit	Wash up! Being clean is not only hygienic; it's a virtue.	Find a water basin in the garden of your host family's house.
			Learn about Shinto purification.
			Take a bath at your host family's home.
49	Compact living - space efficiency	Space efficiency is the rule in Japanese households. Let's find out about space demands.	Watch a kotatsu table assemble before your very eyes.
			See a futon come out of the closet and assemble itself.
			Find out about the tight living demands of apartment life.
50	Communication - do we have an understanding?	Let's communicate! The Japanese communicate much the same way Westerners do (through letters, e-mail, and verbal exchanges). However, there are some interesting cultural differences.	Send an e-mail to a friend.
			Find out how to greet your peers at school.
			Mail a post card from Hirooka City.

For the latest updates to this teacher's page, go to http://www.gpb.org/peachstar/i-irasshai/updates/teachers.htm

This Web site was produced under a National Endowment for the Humanities grant awarded to Georgia Public Broadcasting. Site producers were the Interactive Media Technology Center and Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology in partnership with Georgia Public Broadcasting (Peachstar Education Services).

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