a good tool to teach Japanese to non-Japanese children?

Answer 1

Japanese animations and games. I know people who have learned to read Japanese just so they can play video games available only in Japanese.

Answer 2

Are you familiar with "Total Physical Response", aka TPR, designed and researched by James Asher? It's a wonderful technique that allows students to go through a period of silence while they develop comprehension skills. It's fun to lead and fun to do. Google TPR for examples and more information.

Briefly, it is taught in a similar way to the game "Simon Says". The teacher gives a command, in the target language, and models it for the students. For example, if I were teaching English I might say "stand up" and I would move from a seated position to a standing position. Then I might follow with "sit down" and I would sit down. I would indicate students to emulate what I was doing so that as I said "stand up" and I stood up, they would also stand up. If I said "touch your arm", I'd touch my arm, and the students would touch their arms, etc. I think you can see where this is going.

Eventually the students would develop sufficient understanding that you would not need to model formerly learned expressions. Eventually, students could play the teacher. Further development of the technique leads to speaking, reading and writing, as students advance. As they develop verb and noun vocabulary, commands are made more intricate, combining two, adding adverbs (walk slowly, walk quickly), and so on.

There are a number of books which go through lessons, step by step. Bertie Segal has developed books in many languages, including Japanese. The steps are set out for with lesson plans, reviews, etc.

The main advantage of this technique is that students learn the language in a natural way, the way most young children learn their first language--through commands. It is similar to immersion in that they are not formerly learning grammar and vocabulary, but rather seem to absorb the language without stress. The main disadvantage is that it takes time and may become boring. That's where visuals, games, and other ways of using and presenting the language come in.

Please note that TPR can be used with language learners at any age, but may need to be modified for older students.

Hope this helped. Good luck.

Answer 3

Hiragana find-a-word puzzles and Anime. Chibi Maruko-chan is easy to understand.

Answer 4

holidays in japan, or buy videos in Japan and let the kids watch them, woorking for my kid who has to learn i little German.