JapanEasyReads

JapanEasyReads Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from JapanEasyReads, Benalla.

Monique Francis | Japanese Language Teacher
Founder & Author JapanEasyReads

Acquisition Driven Instruction | Comprehensible Input

Helping teachers make Japanese reading accessible and engaging for beginners.

⬇️ Hub: Resources • Community • Support

Year 3s reading independently and confidently. This made me so happy 😁Thank you Gall 先生🌸
27/08/2026

Year 3s reading independently and confidently.

This made me so happy 😁

Thank you Gall 先生🌸

23/08/2026

Beginners need LOTS of repetition for language to stick. 🔁

But repetition doesn’t mean boring!

Here's a simple way to spice up how we deliver the input and keep beginner language classes engaging.

And there's not a vocab list in sight! ✨

20/08/2026

When we tap into our students' interests FIRST it has a big impact on student motivation.

When we use simple, high frequency language to chat about it, our beginners can attach meaning to the text.

Connection and conversation FIRST for the win!

“Why are you actually here? Write it down.”It was a punchy start.What followed was some sobering data from ACARA’s lates...
16/08/2026

“Why are you actually here? Write it down.”

It was a punchy start.

What followed was some sobering data from ACARA’s latest national reporting: Year 12 language enrolments continue to fall.

Janet Schneider’s question to the rich, multicultural mix of language teachers at the MLTA-ACT conference yesterday went straight to the heart of the issue:

If we want to change those declining numbers and keep students in our language classes, something needs to change.

We need to sit with the uncomfortable truth and ask ourselves:

Are we teaching the students in front of us?
What can we change in our classrooms?
What can we change about our approach to assessment?

These questions provided the perfect segue into my presentation and the grounding question at its heart:

Are we teaching students to perform language for the next assessment…
…or are we helping them acquire language?

Because if our goal is language acquisition, then we need to think carefully about the conditions we create for that acquisition to happen.

When our lessons are intentionally designed around the Self-Determination Theory principles of Autonomy, Competence and Relatedness, we create classrooms where students feel motivated to participate, supported to succeed, and empowered to take an active role in their own learning.

The goal is bigger than performing well in the next assessment.

So, “Why am I here?”

I’m optimistic.
I believe we can do this.
And I want to be part of the change.

Super excited to be invited by the MLTA-ACT committee to present at the Canberra mini conference this weekend! 🌸And even...
12/08/2026

Super excited to be invited by the MLTA-ACT committee to present at the Canberra mini conference this weekend! 🌸

And even more delighted to be alongside these inspirational women, Janet Schneider and Sally Wang.

My workshop digs into how meaningful, comprehensible input and the power of story can really connect with and empower students in their language learning.

I’ll also be exploring this through the lens of Self-Determination Theory and unpack the question: how can we support students’ autonomy, competence and relatedness to create language learning experiences where students feel motivated, capable and genuinely connected to what they are learning?

Really looking forward to meeting the dedicated language teachers attending on Saturday, sharing ideas and learning together!

05/08/2026

Is Day One in your Japanese beginner class a bit of a hot mess?

Some are excited.
But....
Some are nervous. And some feel completely overwhelmed.

It may be because they’re being asked to take in too much, too soon.

A successful first lesson isn’t about teaching everything. It’s really about giving students just enough language they can actually understand and a confidence boost that keeps them thinking 'Japanese isn't hard!'

Follow for more practical Japanese teaching ideas 🌸

03/08/2026

Do we really need to teach Hiragana first? 🤔

Or is there another way to approach literacy in Japanese?

How can we best support beginners in building confidence and competence as readers?

My take...

When we focus on using language that students already understand, and when there is a genuine purpose for using that language, we help beginners build a really strong foundation for literacy.

Reading isn't about decoding symbols.

It's all about making meaning. So when learners already know the language behind the text, reading becomes a process of connecting symbols to meaning. Not simply matching sounds to characters.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. How do you approach teaching reading to beginners?

Do you prioritise script first, or build literacy through meaningful language experiences? 👇

28/07/2026

In this reel, I walk through the flow of my first lesson. From the lesson overview and student check-in to co-creating our very first class story in Japanese.

Story co-creation is one of my favourite ways to get students using the language from Day 1.

Together, we build a simple story around a few high-frequency language structures, adding student ideas along the way to create novelty, ownership, and lots of meaningful repetition.

Do you use stories in your language classes? 🌸

The past few weeks have been pretty challenging for me personally. The mini hiatus from life outside of family has been ...
23/07/2026

The past few weeks have been pretty challenging for me personally. The mini hiatus from life outside of family has been nourishing and an essential part of the grieving process.

'To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven.'

This verse was shared at my brother Chris' funeral and I am reminded of it as I move back into the busyness of 'life'.

This week I have been teaching Japanese in Melbourne. Having grown up by the coast and now living inland, it was the perfect chance to get my ocean fix. Nothing grounds me quite like the sea. Definitely my happy place. ☀️

This week back in the classroom has been a fantastic chance for me to check in with the students in the JapanEasyReads Early Literacy Project and see their reading progress first hand. It has been really validating to see the impact that rich comprehensible input and a strong literacy focus have had on students' reading confidence and competence.

If you are a Japanese language teacher and are interested in an inclusive, acquisition driven approach to language teaching, check out the JapanEasyReads Hub. It’s a shared space for resources, connection, and support.

I'll pop the link in the captions. 🌸

Address

Benalla, VIC
3672

Website

, , , https

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when JapanEasyReads posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to JapanEasyReads:

Shortcuts

Share