Chapter 5  Homestay

Objectives (what you should be able to do in this chapter) and Evaluations:

Click here for the Chapter 5 Kanji
(please refer to the kanji glossary as well.)

Direct lik: https://appserv02.uncw.edu/tealvision/player.aspx?VID=jJvp%2f%2bOlDp4%3d 

Calendar

Vocabulary Glossary Key Word: “calendar” “calendar-dates” “calendar-months” “calendar-week-day” “calendar-year”

Click here to practice

しがつ　よっか                    April 4^th          

ごがつ　じゅうごにち                    May 15^TH        

(たなかさんの) 　たんじょうびは　いつですか。             When is (Mr. Tanaka’s) birthday?

６月２２日にアメリカにかえります。　I go back to America on June 22nd.

らいしゅうの　木曜日にアメリカにかえります。I go back to America next week.

なにどし　うまれ　ですか。　What is your Eastern zodiac (which year of animal were you born in?)
Find out your Eastern Zodiac. Refer more at the references.

Sample Conversation 1: Dining situations

Vocabulary Glossary Key Word: “adjectives-na”

Vocabulary Glossary Key Word “Plain forms of verbs”

Click here to practice “Plain forms of verbs.  ” Re-learn the verbs and find out how to divide verbs into the Class 1, 2, and 3 categories and conjugations.

Grammar :  “likes and dislikes”

Click here to learn the in-group and out-group vocabulary of Family members.

Click here to learn and practice the words to express skills.

Audio Files for Listening and speaking Bettie is meeting her homestay family (HF), Mr. Kawasaki, in Japan and presenting a gift from the U.S.
You: はじめまして. (...)です。 (...) と　よんでください。　よろしくおねがいします。	It is my first time meeting you.  Please call me (...).   Nice to meet you (Please do me a favor of your acquaintance).
HF: はじめまして。  ようこそ　いらしゃいました。　じゃ、行きましょうか。	How do you do. Welcome.  You have come all the way/  Let's go.
(After going into the house and settle down and homestay mother or parents are not too busy preparing a dinner, )
You:  これ、アメリカからの　お土産です。　これは、おとうさんに。ぼうしです。　これは　おかあさんに。　Ｔシャツです。　それから、これは、(..first name +.くん、...first name +ちゃん、or)  子どもさんに。わたしの　好きな　おかしです。　 どうぞ。	This, souvenir from America. This is a cap for the father.  This is a T-shirt for the mother. And then, this is for (the boy (first name), for the girl (first name)) or children.   (this is) my favorite sweets.  Please (accept it). Make sure you wrap all the gifts nicely.  Do not expect Japanese to open your gift right away.  Average Japanese do not open the gift in front of the presenter.
HF: ありがとう。 じゃ、ごはんにしましょうか。	Thank you very much.  Shall we start a meal?
You: おてつだい　しましょうか。	Shall I (can I) help you?
HF:　つかれているでしょう？	You must be tired, I imagine.
You: 　いえ、だいじょうぶです。　てつだいます。	No. I am fine.  I will help (you).
HF:　じゃ、おねがいします。　これを　（テーブルに）もっていって　(ください)。	Well then, please take this ( to the table).
After meal is on the table and everyone sits down (but mother may be still working in the kitchen.)
HF:　おさけは？	(Alcohol) a drink?
You: いいえ、けっこうです。未成年ですから。　水で　けっこうです。	No, thank you. (polite refusal).   Since I am under aged (19 or younger), water is fine.
HF:　水？　ジュースもあるよ。	Water?  We have a juice also.
You: .  じゃ、ジュースを いただきます。or いえ、水で　だいじょうぶです。	Well then, I will have juice.  or No, water is fine.
HF:　 (when everyone gets a drink)  じゃ　、かんぱい　しましょう。　かんぱい。	Let's toast.  Cheers!
You: かんぱい。いただきます。	Cheers!　(I will) eat.　It is said to the host/hostess before starting a meal. Literally means, “I humbly receive/accept.”
HF: おさしみ（生の魚）は　だいじょうぶ　(ですか)。	(can you handle/eat/are you ok with) raw fish?
You: 　はい、だいじょうぶです。　なんでも　食べます。　でも、なっとうは　ちょっと　にがてです。　それから、トマトは　だめです。　アレルギーなんです。	I am fine (with raw fish).  I eat anything. but  I (politely) decline natto (your offer of food since I do not like it much.).  Also, tomato is no good.  I am allergic (to it).
HF: へーえ。	I see.

Note:  In Japan, it is not customary to show people around the house (especially a personal space such as a bedroom).  Guests are usually stay in a living room or a kitchen area where you eat together.  If you need to use toilet, you should say " トイレ　おかりしても（or つかっても）いいですか May  borrow (use)  toilet?" to ask permission.  The Japanese toilet and the bath are separate rooms.   In your case, you are a guest as well as a family member you can use the above phrase or simply say " トイレはどこですか。"　In Japan, traditionally, women work in the kitchen and man waits for meals to be served.  There fore, if you are a female, you can go into the kitchen to help the homestay mother but if you are a male and try to help her, they may insist that you should relax in the living room.  Nowadays that many male family members (especially young generations) help the mother/the cook but it really depends on the family.  My recommendation is at least offer your help saying ”なにか　てつだいましょうか or  おてつだいしましょうか。”

Sample Conversation 2: 　Casual Talking

Vocabulary Glossary Key Word: “verbs”

Grammar Glossary Key Word: “verbs plain forms”

Click here to learn and practice the plain/casual/dictionary forms of verbs.

Click here to learn Na-adjectives.

Click here to learn and practice how to express skills.

Most Japanese homestay families are interested in your country, town, American families, etc.  While you are eating, they may ask about your family.  Let's talk about family members and show some photos of family, friends, and your hometown, university, and more. 

Audio files for Listening and Speaking You are getting a bit more relaxed so your speech style is getting more casual by eliminating ですand using plain/dictionary forms of verbs.
HF:　どうぞ、たくさん　食べて(ください)ね。	Please eat a lot.
You:　おいしそう。 きれい (ですね)  。	(it, they) look delicious.   (It is) pretty.
HF:　これ　食べる？	(will you) eat this?
You: 　はい、いただきます。　おいしい (です).。  おかあさんは　りょうりが　じょうずですね。	Yes. please (I humbly accept).  (This/it is) Delicious. Mother is good at cooking,
After eating a while...
You: 　おなかが　いっぱい　(です)。	I am full (my stomach is full).　　  I cannot eat any more.
HF:　ほんとう？　あんまり　食べてないよ。	Really?  You have not eaten much ( I am sure).
You: 　もう　食べられない　(instead of 食べれません。)　ごちそうさま (でした) 。	I cannot eat any more.  It was a treat/feast (thank you for the meal/the cook).
HF:　ほんとう？　まだ　これも　あるよ。	Is that right?  (there is/ we still have) this.
You: いえ、ほんとうに　おなかが　いっぱい　(です)。　おいしかったです。	No.  (I am) really full.  (It was) delicious.
You may be showing photos of friends, family, your hometown, college town, etc.

Sample Conversation 3: Special Dietary Needs

Note: It is a courtesy to inform other party (in this case, the homestay family, about your diet restrictions.) Let’s try to eat at least once if you do not have a health condition.  Diet or decaffeinated products are not widely available in Japan.  Also, the Japanese people are not accustomed to those who have diet restrictions due to personal or religious belief.  Thus, you are expected to give in to some degree.  If you do not, you may not have anything you can eat at the dinner table or at a restaurant.

Let’s practice talking about your likes and dislikes of food and drinks, using the vocabulary in the vocabulary glossary.

Vocabulary Glossary Key Word:  “food” and “allergy”

Grammar Glossary Key Word:  “likes and dislikes”

Vocabulary Glossary Key Word:  “food” and “allergy”

Break Time ひとやすみ

 What is your personality?:  To speed up the process of getting to know each other quickly, Japanese may ask some funny questions such as your blood type or zodiac. 

Blood types: Japanese may ask your blood types to determine what personal you may posses.  Here is a web site which describe the personalities and blood types.  

Eastern zodiac: Another way of guessing the personality of others is to find out their zodiac.  Here is a web site to know more:

Etiquette around house: 

Utility (Electricity and water) costs are very expensive in Japan so please do not take long shower (keep it minimum use) and turn off lights if you are not using a room, etc.  Especially after the nuclear disaster due to the earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, only one nuclear plant is working in the entire nation.  So the Japanese turned off a lot of neon lights in the cities unfortunately.  Please participate in energy saving in Japan.

How to use Japanese Bathroom and toilet:  I have sent you the manners as a part of the orientation packet before but I will post it soon.

Do not go into parents' bedroom unless they invite you to take a look.  It is a private quarter that Japanese do not want to show to anyone except real family members.  More details are explained above with the sample dialogue.

Sample Conversation 4: Departure

 If you got sick or hurt during the program, please notify me immediately.

Vocabulary Glossary Key Word:  “illness”

（ちょっと）きぶんが　わるいです。    I feel sick ( ちょっと is a hesitation noise here)

（ちょっと）びょうきです。                      I am sick.

（ちょっと）ねつが　あります。              I have a ferver.

いたいです。                          I am in pain.       (Point where it hurts if you do not remember the words for boday parts.)    

Body parts:  Head 頭　あたま;   face 顔　かお;   eye 目　め;  ear  耳　みみ;  nose 鼻　はな;  inside the mouth  口の中　くちのなか;  chest  胸　むね;  belly, stomach  お腹　おなか;  bottom お尻　おしり;   Foot  足　あし;   Hand 手　て;   Sample Sentence: 　あたまが　いたいです。 I have a headache.

Note:  When you are shopping for a beverage at a grocery or a convenience store, please read the ingredients.  Look for the word アルコール.  Some juice-like can of beverage contains アルコール alcohol.   You do not want to drink it when you are not feeling well, thinking it is a soda or a juice.

Assignment 1: Writing sample conversations with homestay family

Vocabulary Glossary Key Word: “families”
Vocabulary Glossary Key Word: “hobbies-leisure”

Write out a possible conversation you might be having with your homestay family (parents and children if there are any) over a dinner table.  You need to include the following topics/situations. 
Dining situation including that you were offered some food you like and dislike (if you have not eaten it yet, even if a food does not look appealing to you, you should at least try once, and then you can refuse it politely.).
Self-introduction (personal information) such as where you are from and description of your hometown, school subjects you study, academic year, etc.
Places you visited in Japan. Places you will visit after the homestay experience (refer to the itinerary on the homepage of this course.).
About your family members and friends (age, occupation, hobby, etc.) and their skills (what they are good at and/or like).
Be sure to bring some photos that shows your family members, friends, your hometown, your university, or some events and holiday activities, etc.  Homestay has decided to welcome you so that you can have a good experience in Japan, and also that they can learn about your country and culture.  Some of them may want to try their English skills with me.   Please prepare at least  these photos for the test to talk about these topics (your family or friends) .

Write and imagine the conversation as much as you can so that this will help you to talk with the homestay families in Japanese.

Intermediates:  In addition to the above, please elaborate your talk about family, which we can see the practices in JPN202.  Try to use the grammar we learned especially  "relative clauses," "potential forms," and 　－ています (progressive action) to say, for example, among my family member, the person who can speak Japanese is only me. I have been studying Japanese for two years.家族の中で日本語ができる人は、私だけです。 私は日本語を２年間勉強しています(or 2年前から勉強しています）。Among my family, the person who can speak Japanese is only me.  I have been studying Japanese for two years.　(I have been studying Japanese since two years ago.)

Note:  Homestay parents will use the casual/direct forms to you.  You need to be conscientious about which styles you will use in the conversation according to whom you are talking to. 

Assignment 2:  Writing a Thank You Card

Get a post card of places where you visited in Japan.  Here are some phrases to write “Thank you” card in Japanese.　 You must show me before send it to the homestay for corrections. Get my help if you want to write something else.

Beginners:

If you are writing a card to a homestay.

If you are writing a card to a professor hosting us at a Japanese campus, here is the sample:

Intermediates:

If you are writing a card to a homestay.

If you are writing a card to a professor hosting us at a Japanese campus, here is the sample:

Desire ーたい、ほしい　etc.

Change of state -narimasu　ーなります

Assignment 3: Writing a journal (See the calendar for the start date and due dates) 

Writing a journal in Japanese is a good way to practice the language.  Also, most likely no one in your family (unless you have a Japanese family) can read your journal.   A Japanese student sometimes exchange a journal with a close friend or a boy/girl friend.  It is called 交換日記（こうかんにっき）.

Since you do not exchange your journal with anyone, your audience is yourself so write in casual tone (plain forms of verbs) throughout the journal.  That also means you can eliminate です at the end of sentence of noun and adjective predicates.  

Please start writing a journal in Japanese as indicated in the course calendar. The purpose of this assignment is to write and write and write ! in Japanese.  I will not make any corrections.  I will only look at how much you wrote. The first due  is the first morning in Japan (at the welcome breakfast).  Thereafter, I will ask you to show me on the last day of the program. Since a journal is sometimes personal, If you write a big cross (X) over your writing, I will not read it.  I will just glance at it to see if you wrote it.