New Horizon - grade 3, unit 4 - An American Rakugoka

[Otaku]

1. Why is this lesson called an "American" rakugo-ka? What's so American about it? Shouldn't it be called "An English Rakugo-ka"? I understand on pg. 45 it discusses a rakugo guy, Bill Crowley, but I don't think just because an American guy is performing this type of Japanese humorous event, that it all of a sudden becomes "American", rather rakugo in English (a.k.a. English rakugo). Also, honestly, in an English textbook, rakugo-ka? When I read the word "rakugo" in class, I kinda wanna mispronounce the word just to emphasis that it's not English...

2. pg 40 is just a mess if you ask me. If you read the English on this page from top to bottom, it goes like this: "Learn How to Use a Fan in Rakugo eating drinking reading Now you know what to do. Why don't you try?" This page kinda reminds me of reading one of those English T-shirts here in Japan...it's readable, but not. And, the totally messed up thing is that this page contains a grammar point that is being taught.

[jessen100]

when i try to misread the word rakugo like someone who didnt know japanese would, i just dont know what to do with it.

[Otaku]

...switch the A's to a short A (cat, fan, etc)

[jessen100]

thanks for the examples of a short a.
i think there are plenty of people who would read that long too.

[Otaku]

lol...i did it. I said it with an short A sound in class. I live on the edge!

[jessen100]

try a stress on the ku next time, like ruh-KOO-go.

i think that sounds funnier.

[mangakk]

Still stucked in "A Mother's Lullaby." Actually just started it. lol

[Paul]

Well if you called it English instead of American then you run the risk of someone thinking that it is British.

IMHO it should be written as an American doing rakugo or rakugo in English.

[Otaku]

I was thinking "Rakugo in English", too. It dawned on me after I wrote my original post that "American" meant アメリカン人, not アメリカの. Still, at the risk of confusing everyone, I think a rewording of this chapter might be best. Better yet, throw it in the garbage and start all over again.

[Otaku]

oh! oh! oh! What's even more confusing, is on the next page (pg 41), "English Rakugo" is written twice...

[Paul]

Otaku.....

[TENGU]

Otaku you seem to have so many ideas for revisions and rewrites for these text books, have you thought about presenting them to MEXT?

[Otaku]

I'm disappointed in you Tengu. I thought you knew more about the English system over here. Since WWII, MEXT hasn't made any of the textbooks. Doh!

And, if someone did care enough to want to know what the people on the ground thought about the English materials they made, a simple google search would turn up this forum.

[crustpunker]

Ya know, I never thought about that. Who does in fact make the texts? Where would one direct suggestions if so inclined? Is it some kind of shadowy MIB organization type of thing? I would love to see how the process of making one of these texts goes from inception to final product. I bet there are nearly no native speakers involved to say the least....

[Otaku]

There is a criteria MEXT sets forth to private textbook companies in order for a textbook to become MEXT-approved. Unless it is approved by MEXT, the JHS textbook can't be used in public JHS. I have never found the criteria list for the English textbooks, but I would LOVE to read over them.

Some people reference this page for those criteria, but I believe there are a different, much more hidden, set that I haven't seen yet. http://www.mext.go.jp/english/shotou/030301.htm

[crustpunker]

interesting read! However, I see no names or organization credited for the compiling of this criteria aye? (in typical Japanese fashion) Do you venture that those involved in making the texts that eventually go through an approval process by MEXT are part of a company that work exclusively on these kinds of textbooks or that this work is done by third party contracts? It is rather confusing to me.

[Paul]

I have a friend who is a part owner of a textbook sales company here in Japan. Next time I see him I will ask him what he knows or doesnt know about this.

What I always found rather unique to here is that in the district I am in the textbooks run in 5 year cycles with a different company's textbooks being used pretty much each time.

[Otaku]

Also, I just emailed Tokyo-Shoseki (New Horizon's company) and MEXT requesting a copy of the criteria. I doubt I'll get a response back, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Paul, I think all textbooks run a 5 year cycle. But a different company's textbook being used each time? That's kinda strange...

[Paul]

Paul, I think all textbooks run a 5 year cycle. But a different company's textbook being used each time? That's kinda strange...

Well from what I have seen the district I am currently in uses the New Horizon Textbooks, prior to that they used Columbus for 10 years BUT they changed the textbook after 5 to a "new" an better upgraded version.

The approved textbooks are passed around to each school, all subject areas btw not just English, and the teachers make their choices and make their comments as well, then the teachers get together for a district meeting to discuss their choices and make their pick pretty much based upon what the majority has chosen. At least that is what my JTE told me.

Then they have another group of teachers that gets together and make their own local version notebook to follow along with the text as well.

I would venture a guess and say that there is maybe (cough cough cough) some back room discussions about which text from which company is going to be used where and when too.......... Have to keep the economy rolling along too right?