Gairaigo

Gairaigo refers to words and expressions that have entered into the common Japanese vocabulary from foreign languages such as English.  All students know and use these kinds of words on a daily basis, but many of them do not think about where they came from or how they are pronounced in their original form.

Everyday words such as "ice cream", "soccer", and "computer" are often difficult for younger learners to identify and use in real English, so it can be very effective to help familiarize them with both the proper pronunciation and usage, especially as these are often high-frequency words.

A fun and memorable way to practice gairaigo words can be seen in this video, from Romandad100 on YouTube.  He has a lot of great ideas and videos for teaching English, so please check them out!

An iPad and electronic keyboard are not necessarily needed to do this activity, as I use laminated pictures instead.  It may not be as flashy, but the rhythm and drama of "ehhh?!" is still a lot of fun.  My favorite point of this activity is that in the second half, the students can take on the role of the teacher, and tell me the correct Japanese pronunciation of words that English has borrowed, such as "karaoke" and "Godzilla".

After the activity, I always point out to the students that Japanese is not the only language that borrows from others.  Many languages are interconnected by people and culture, so every day, even without knowing it, we use words from all around the world!