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Japanese Etiquette & Values

Twelfth graders close their Japanese journey by learning etiquette (れいぎ, reigi) and the values behind it — respect, consideration, and harmony. They sort respectful customs (bowing, removing shoes, quiet on the train) from things to avoid — the finishing touch for a thoughtful visitor.

Grade 12Etiquette & Values55 minutes1 class periodACTFL / World LanguagesExplicit teaching4 StandardsACTFL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Know Japanese etiquette.
  • ✓Tell respectful from rude.
  • ✓Sort the customs.
  • ✓Be a thoughtful guest.
Essential Question

Good manners open every door in Japan. What customs show respect — and what should a thoughtful visitor avoid?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Sort It · Interactive

Respectful or To-Avoid?

Project this and sort each custom into Respectful or To-Avoid in Japan.

🙇 Sort each — respectful or to-avoid?Try it
✅ Respectful
⚠️ To Avoid
Tap a custom, then tap a box.
The Lesson · Language Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Speak · Reflect)

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — Manners Matter

6 min

Good manners open every door in Japan — what shows respect, and what to avoid?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a bow.
  • Ask why it matters.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Think.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Etiquette & Values

13 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Respectful or To-Avoid?
  • Sort each one.
  • Note the values behind them.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort.
  • Say.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

15 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a respectful custom.
  • Name one to avoid.
  • Explain the value.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name it.
  • Name it.
  • Explain.
4

Speak — Speak

15 min

Students speak.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Demonstrate a bow.
  • Explain a custom.
  • Share with a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Bow.
  • Explain.
  • Share.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a respectful custom.
  • Name one to avoid.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Name one.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (Advanced).

ACTFL
Cultures 2.1

Explore etiquette & values.

ACTFL
Communities 5.1

Interact respectfully.

ACTFL
Comparisons 4.2

Compare customs across cultures.

ACTFL
Communication 1.1

Interpersonal: interact politely.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Custom picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ is ___.”
  • Demonstrate customs.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with bowing & shoes off.
  • Sort one at a time.
  • Use pictures.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Research a custom’s origin.
  • Compare to your culture.
  • Make an etiquette guide.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🙇Custom cards
  • 💻Respectful or To-Avoid?
  • 🖼️Etiquette images
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

れいぎ (reigi)etiquetteおじぎ (ojigi)bowingそんちょう (sonchō)respectはし (hashi)chopsticksしずか (shizuka)quietくつ (kutsu)shoesマナー (manā)mannersぶんか (bunka)culture
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Name one respectful custom in Japan.
Bowing, removing your shoes indoors, or saying “itadakimasu” before eating.
QUESTION 2
Name one thing to avoid in Japan.
Sticking chopsticks upright in rice, or talking loudly on the phone on the train.
QUESTION 3
What values does Japanese etiquette reflect?
Respect, consideration, and harmony.

Reflect: etiquette & values.

Have students name two respectful Japanese customs and the values behind them. A printable Japanese etiquette sheet is in the World Languages library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Japanese Etiquette & ValuesFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Japanese Etiquette & ValuesQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Japanese Etiquette & ValuesPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: おじぎ (ojigi), くつ (kutsu), しずか (shizuka), そんちょう (sonchō), はし (hashi), ぶんか (bunka), れいぎ (reigi), マナー (manā)
  1. bowing
  2. chopsticks
  3. shoes
  4. manners
  5. culture
  6. respect
  7. quiet
  8. etiquette

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Name one respectful custom in Japan.
  2. Name one thing to avoid in Japan.
  3. What values does Japanese etiquette reflect?
Answer key — Part A: 1) おじぎ (ojigi) · 2) はし (hashi) · 3) くつ (kutsu) · 4) マナー (manā) · 5) ぶんか (bunka) · 6) そんちょう (sonchō) · 7) しずか (shizuka) · 8) れいぎ (reigi)
Part B: 1) Bowing, removing your shoes indoors, or saying “itadakimasu” before eating. 2) Sticking chopsticks upright in rice, or talking loudly on the phone on the train. 3) Respect, consideration, and harmony.