Japanese

Japanese at Sydenham Primary School

Language • Culture • Confidence

Building confident communicators through Japanese learning

Students build confidence in Japanese through engaging, real-world communication, creativity, and cultural experiences. Learning another language strengthens memory, problem-solving, and communication skills, while also developing discipline, respect, and responsibility—helping shape well-rounded, globally minded citizens.

Hiragana—the Japanese phonetic writing system—is fully introduced by the end of Grade 6, giving students a strong foundation and a head start for Year 7. Katakana and Kanji are introduced progressively from Prep to Grade 6. (Japanese uses three writing systems: Hiragana for basic sounds and sentence structure, Katakana for foreign words and names, and Kanji characters to represent meaning.)

At Sydenham Primary School, students experience a vibrant and interactive Japanese program that brings language and culture to life. In Prep–Grade 2, students learn greetings, numbers, and simple sentences while beginning to recognise Japanese sounds and writing. In Grades 3–4, students create their own sentences and apply their learning in real-world contexts such as shopping and role-play. In Grades 5–6, students consolidate their learning through creative projects, performances, and cultural exploration, while strengthening their reading and writing across Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.

Through speaking, performing, and creating, students grow in confidence and develop a deeper appreciation of Japanese culture and ways of life.