Some Considerations on lessons by Literature Circles in a Junior High Japanese Language Arts Classroom : In the case of an unit with Hermann Hesse’s Jugendgedenken

In this paper, possibilities of the Literature Circles practice in Japanese junior high language classes were explored. By considering on lessons of Hermann Hesse’s Jugendgedenken in a Grade 8 Japanese Language Arts classroom using the idea of Literature Circles, we found such lessons had effects to enhance students’ appetite for learning and reading abilities. And we also suggested that the Literature Circles methodology would be effective to developing students’ abilities for comprehending texts as learning materials, then we suggested many Japanese classrooms should adapt Literature Circles more actively