On 15 and 16 November, Primary Japanese Language Teacher Noriko Yamanaka recently attended the National Symposium on Japanese Language Education at UTS. The symposium brought together approximately 200 Japanese educators from across Australia and Japan to exchange innovative ideas and practices in Japanese language education.
Noriko showcased her decade-long collaboration with former Head of Primary Music Michele Ellis during her presentation. Together, they have developed unique Japanese song resources inspired by the Orff Schulwerk approach to Music education, and they are currently working on publishing a Japanese songbook.
Attendees at Noriko’s presentation learned four seasonal Japanese songs—Koinobori, Tanabata, Otsukimi and Oshougatsu. Through engaging activities incorporating chanting, singing and movement, participants gained creative ideas to bring Japanese songs to their own language classrooms.
The presentation also highlighted how the Orff Schulwerk methodology enhances vocabulary retention and fosters creativity through collaborative partner and group activities. By sharing ideas, students build a strong sense of community, while also exploring Japanese language structures and cultural concepts in an enjoyable and memorable way.
In January, Noriko will share her expertise at the 22nd Australian National Council of Orff Schulwerk (ANCOS) Conference in Perth. This will mark her third time presenting at the prestigious ANCOS summer conference.
Congratulations to Noriko Yamanaka on her outstanding contributions to Japanese language and music education!
About Noriko Yamanaka
With over 25 years of experience teaching Japanese, Noriko Yamanaka is a passionate educator dedicated to inspiring students of all ages. For the past 18 years, she has focused on teaching young children, discovering the Orff Schulwerk teaching approach as a powerful tool for unlocking creativity and potential.
Noriko has completed Levels 1–3 of the Orff training and continues to deepen her knowledge through workshops and international courses, including the Salzburg Orff Summer International Course. Her collaboration with Michele Ellis has resulted in a range of educational tools that have been successfully integrated into school events and projects.