What's Omotenashi?
Author：Yoko Nishimura-Parke
Topic／Goals：Communication、Comparison、Exchange、Perspective、Self, Family, and Friends、Social Environment、Social Life
2018.05
Students will read the interview article of Ms Yoshido, a communication stylist, and learn about the Japanese spirit of omotenashi. Students also reflect on their own culture of hospitality and think about the feelings and spirit behind these actions.
| Objectives | • Explore the culture of omotenashi. |
|---|---|
| Target | Senior high school level or higher |
| Japanese Level | Advanced |
What to prepare
- Handout(abridged article, Vocabulary list)
Procedure
1. Questions to help students' comprehension
a) What is Ms. Yoshido's field of expertise?
b) What is Ms.Yoshido's definition of おもてなし?
c) What does Ms. Yoshido consider important about おもてなし? Why? Support your answer by referring to the text.
d) What examples of overseas おもてなし did Ms. Yoshido use to explain the difference?
e) What did the students learn from this interview?
2. Discussion points
f) In your culture, how do people perform おもてなし? Give some examples.
g) What feelings do people try to express in extending hospitality to others? Is it similar to the Japanese おもてなし? Or is it different?
3. Creative task
h) Write a blog post (an article/an essay) about your experience of おもてなし or similar situation. Include as many details as you can.
