iiTomo Japanese Language Learning Resources

The second edition of iiTomo Senior will be available from Term 3 2024.

The iiTomo Senior 2nd Edition Student Book is a hybrid textbook and workbook, with a variety of updated texts for viewing, reading, listening, kanji and multimodal practice. The topic texts present grammar and vocabulary in context along with writing and speaking practice and support.

Each chapter also provides revised supportive grammar explanations with check-in tasks and a cumulative grammar practice page. Updated exam-style questions, skill-building guidance and annotated samples for written and oral exams wrap it all up for efficient exam preparation.

Throughout the book students practise their intercultural, inquiry, reflection, multimodal and viewing skills while building on meaningful and personalised language and cultural skills in context.

iiTomo Senior 2nd Edition Student Book overview:

• A hybrid textbook and workbook for learners of Japanese in Years 11 and 12
• Aligned to state senior curricula and exams requirements
• Updated texts for viewing, reading, listening and multimodal practice
• Speaking and writing practice and support in situ
• Revised supportive grammar explanations accompanied with check-in tasks and chapter cumulative grammar tasks page
• Updated exam-style texts and questions
• Skill-building and exam preparation guidance throughout
• Additional oral examination sample questions and model answers
• Annotated exam writing samples and preparation guidance

The second edition of iiTomo Senior will be available from Term 3 2024.

With the iiTomo Senior 2nd Edition Student eBook + Assessment, students can access the student book and audio, take notes and save bookmarks – anywhere, anytime, online and offline.

The new edition digital resources include a bonus state-specific exam preparation chapter, additional grammar animations for more support, new digital grammar, reading and listening activities, as well as updated vocabulary lists, audio, and grammar and kanji worksheets, providing more ways for students to engage with their learning of Japanese and prepare for their exams. All student books come with an eBook access code.

iiTomo Senior 2nd Edition Student eBook + Assessment overview:

• Access all Student Book pages and audio online and offline
• Add notes, save bookmarks and more
• New bonus state-specific exam preparation chapters
• Grammar explainer animations (including new ones!)
• New digital tracked prior learning and reflection, grammar, viewing and reading, listening and speaking activities with instant feedback in the Assessment section
• Updated vocabulary lists, audio and worksheets

The second edition of iiTomo Senior will be available from Term 3 2024.

The iiTomo Senior 2nd Edition Teacher eBook + Assessment with audio download provides teachers with access to all student eBook content including the new edition bonus state-specific exam preparation chapters, as well as updated answers, audio scripts and downloadable audio files.

The second edition teacher resources also include new state-specific practice exams with audio and their relevant marking guides and audio scripts, providing more ways for teachers to engage and prepare students for exam success.

It further supports teachers with updated curriculum mapping, new scope and sequence documents and other teaching guidance documentation.

Teachers also have access to the teacher assessment tasks allocation and dashboard to help them formatively assess students learning and progress, and assign work.

They will also find a wealth of additional material for reading, writing and listening assessment skill building and practice.

iiTomo Senior 2nd Edition Teacher eBook + Assessment with audio download overview:

• All Student eBook content, including the new edition bonus state-specific exam preparation chapters
• Updated answers, audio scripts and downloadable audio files
• New state-specific practice exams with audio, relevant marking guides and audio scripts
• Additional material to support assessment in reading and listening
• Updated curriculum mapping and teaching guidance documentation
• New state-specific scope and sequence documents
• Teacher Assessment dashboard to allocate tasks and formally assess class and student learning to inform teaching and remediation needs

iiTomo 1–4, 2nd Edition student books integrate the intercultural language learning approach at their core and have been revised based on teacher and student feedback. They now better-support students with their learning of Japanese and their development of language, intercultural, creative and critical thinking skills. They include:

• updated prompts (including viewing, intercultural and higher order thinking)
• updated, current visuals
• relevant real-life contexts and texts
• revised, more supportive grammar sections
• extension opportunities and extra support for personalised learning
• chapter vocabulary lists and updated projects.

The eBook is the electronic version of the student book and provides students with a range of materials that can be used on any device, including:

• animations for grammar explanations and hiragana, katakana and kanji stroke order
• interactive games
• all student book audio, activity book audio and worksheets audio
• pronunciation modelling videos
• drama-style videos that bring the language, culture and gestures to life
• editable worksheets
• character writing grid templates
• complete editable chapter vocabulary lists.

The activity books cater for a variety of learning styles, with updated engaging activities that enrich key skills by:

• following the student book progression
• offering differentiated learning opportunities
• supporting autonomous learning with student progress tracking
• providing audio files for students from the relevant eBook.

The teacher resources help ease lesson prep and planning with a range of supporting assets to help you bring your students to success. You’ll find:

• a print teacher guide including:
  • complete mapping of the iiTomo resources and assets
  • supportive teaching notes
  • activity ideas.
• a teacher-specific eBook with a range of additional resources including:
  • all student eBook content
  • downloadable audio files
  • editable chapter tests
  • curriculum grids
  • projectable activity book answers.

Yoko Nishimura-Parke has been actively involved in language education for more than 30 years as a high school teacher and senior education officer at the NSW Department of Education. She has extensive experience with syllabus writing, material development, HSC examination and supporting language teachers with their language proficiency, pedagogy and technology skills. She’s been involved as an author in both iiTomo and the Mirai series, and now as part of the lead author team on iiTomo Senior. Yoko is also an appointed writer for The Japan Forum, Tokyo. Her teaching ideas are regularly distributed internationally.

Nathan Lane has been teaching Japanese in Victorian secondary schools for more than 18 years and has presented at state, national and international language conferences. He took part in the assets writing for the first edition of iiTomo 1-4. He is currently the Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning at St Mary MacKillop College and President of the Japanese Language Teachers’ Association of Victoria Inc. (JLTAV). In 2017, Nathan was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Modern Language Teachers’ Association of Victoria Inc. (MLTAV) in recognition of his exceptional and outstanding contribution to languages teaching in Victoria. Nathan is part of the lead author team on iiTomo Senior.

Mami Izuishi, one of the co-authors of iiTomo 1, iiTomo 2 and iiTomo Senior, has been teaching Japanese at secondary schools in NSW for more than 25 years. Her experience in curriculum development includes being a member of the syllabus-writing team for the Japanese Heritage course (now Japanese in Context) and its sample examination, as well as being a member of the course-writing team for Japanese Extension. She has been actively involved in the HSC examination for more than 20 years as both an oral examiner and a marker.

Emma Lowry has taught Japanese in Queensland independent secondary schools for the past 12 years and is an advocate for authentic learning opportunities outside the classroom. She has experience as Head of Department for Japanese and currently holds a key leadership position as Associate Dean (Students). Emma also has experience in curriculum development and design, and has been a member of the QCAA’s District Review Panel.

Junko Nichols is a teacher of Japanese and English as a Foreign Language at pre-primary, primary, secondary and tertiary levels. She has taught in Japan, China, England and Australia over the past 25 years. Junko has also been teaching the CLIL approach with the University of Melbourne since 2013. She previously taught at a Japanese immersion program at Central Queensland University and has been involved in language teaching and language teacher training at a variety of schools, using a range of methodologies and approaches.

Kelly Harrison has been teaching Japanese in Queensland since 2011, after completing a BA/BEd at the University of Queensland, including a year abroad at the University of Kitakyushu. Recently, she was involved in the development of the new QCAA senior Languages syllabi. Kelly has a keen interest in CLIL and implemented a Japanese Media Studies program at her school in Brisbane. She has also presented on the topic of CLIL at a number of teaching conferences around Australia.

Naoko Florence Abe has extensive years of teaching experience in the Years 7 to 12 NSW Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate Programmes. Additionally, she has significant experience in educational leadership through her roles as a Coordinator of Languages, year coordinator and as a teacher mentor. She also works in NSW Curriculum development, as an HSC examiner and as an IB examiner and workshop leader. She is an active member of the Japanese Teachers’ Association of NSW.

Cathleen Jin has been actively involved in Japanese education in New South Wales for more than 20 years. This includes a long career in secondary schools as a 7-12 teacher and Head of Languages. She has also been President of the Japanese Teachers’ Association of NSW, a senior marker for the HSC and has presented various AIS and DET workshops. Cathleen is currently part of the senior leadership team at her school as Director of Professional Learning and conducts lectures at UNSW for pre-service language teachers.

Rachel Francis has been actively involved in Japanese education in South Australia and Victoria for more than 25 years. This includes a long career in secondary schools as a 7-12 teacher. Rachel was also the initiator of the acceleration model of teaching languages in South Australia with the introduction of the current SACE model in 2011.

Shoko Vujic is an experienced teacher, who has been teaching Japanese in Australia for seven years. She also has a background in TESOL and has taught Japanese both for the HSC in New South Wales and the International Baccalaureate. Shoko has also spent time as both a marker and examiner for the HSC

Anne de Kretser has been involved in Japanese language education for more than 30 years. She’s worked as a secondary teacher of Japanese, a teacher educator, a Japanese language consultant, a Japanese language curriculum writer, and professional learning provider. Anne has conducted research on Japanese language education in Australian schools and works across Australia with teachers of Japanese through professional learning seminars.

Liz Sugimoto is an experienced teacher of Japanese who has taught at both selective and comprehensive schools over the last 30 years. She’s also been involved in various planning and implementation projects with the NSW Department of Education and the Board of Studies (now NESA), and has extensive experience with setting, marking and assessing HSC exams at both the Continuers and Extension level. Liz is also a past president of the Japanese Teachers’ Association of NSW and has been a committee member for many years.

Mai Kajimoto has been teaching Japanese in primary and secondary schools in Queensland for the past 10 years. She’s also been a Japanese district review panel member for the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) since August 2013. In 2016, Mai was selected as a member of the QCAA Japanese scrutiny panel tasked with developing assessments and associated resources for a trial of the new external senior assessment system being introduced into Queensland schools.