著者
加藤 美紀 Miki Kato
雑誌
共立国際研究 : 共立女子大学国際学部紀要 = The Kyoritsu journal of international studies
巻号頁・発行日
vol.31, pp.149-163, 2014-03

This paper proposes a reform of Japanese language education, especially for the field called Kambun. The term Kambun literally means Chinese writing, but it traditionally has a particular meaning in Japan. Classical Chinese literature was the most important culture artifact for Japanese until the 19th century and was read with a unique translation method called Kundoku. In Japan, Kambun usually means original classical Chinese literature, writings which were written in ancient Chinese by Japanese, and texts translated by the Kundoku method. The problem is that we have not found the best way of teaching Kambun for today's students. Instead of Chinese culture, Western culture came to occupy the most important position after the Meiji Restoration in Japan. We have to establish a new way of Kambun education fitting the new era. This paper examines today's Kambun education and makes two proposals for reforms as below; 1. Not to use the original text written in ancient Chinese as teaching material. 2. To exploit Kambun education to teach Japanese language characters and their history. These proposals would surely improve not only Kambun teaching, but also Japanese language education.
著者
加藤 美紀 Miki Kato
雑誌
共立国際研究 : 共立女子大学国際学部紀要 = The Kyoritsu journal of international studies
巻号頁・発行日
vol.32, pp.153-167, 2015-03

This paper discusses how to create effective Kambun education in the Japanese elementary school. The school course guidelines which are drawn up by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology were revised in 2008. One of the remarkable changes in the revision is that classical literature education is stressed. In 2011, elementary schools introduced new content, that is Kobun(classical Japanese literature)and Kambun(classical Chinese literature which is read by a particular translation method called Kundoku). The revision says that the main focus of the classical literature education is reading aloud and feeling the rhythm of the classical sentences. However, it is not clear that what the rhythm is and what students can learn. This paper examines the guidelines and suggests that effective Kambun learning should take a new approach to language education, instead of simply reading aloud.