Preparing for my visit to Japan!

I have now read two Japanese manga books. Surprisingly, they are not as bad as I thought. Now, I have to start watching the Anime videos. Ugh!

JFMF (Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund) requires that you create a plan to share your learning and the cultural experience when you return. I explained how our students, especially our struggling readers, devour the Japanese manga books, but are missing the cultural clues and information in the book. If you are not familiar with manga books they are "graphic novels" or similar to our comic books. Many of them have some type of super hero that are fighting the dark forces or evils of the world.

I was surprised to read one that was somewhat of a realistic story about a girl and her parents who divorce and marry another couple and they all live in one house. Interesting concept!

Now the Anime videos are from manga books. The only problem is that the videos are making it to the US before the manga books.My "plan" is to be able to apply my cultural experience to the books and the Anime and share this with my students and colleagues.

Here is a list of popular manga books at Lanier's library:
Bebirth
Rave Master
Fullmetal Alchemist
Bleach
Fruits Basket*
Marmalde Boy*

*more for girls

For examples of Anime- do a search in youtube. I still need to do my research in that area, let me know if you find something interesting. My hope is to have an afterschool Anime club next school year after I return from Japan.