Japanese: JA500

Yoko MIMAKI (International Student Center)

Objective
   This course is designed for post-advanced students to develop advanced speaking, reading, and writing skills in Japanese. It also aims at developing fluency in using advanced structures and grammatical items typically used in authentic Japanese materials. The selection of the topics is also intended to deepen students�f understanding of the issues in current Japanese society and global issues.

Course Description
   A topic of students�finterest is selected in each two or three weeks.
   Students are exposed to authentic reading materials that deal with special interests among educated native speakers of Japanese, and in so doing build knowledge of advanced structures and grammatical item typically used in that kind of materials. Students are also given opportunities to read extensively from newspapers, magazines and journals, and are expected to write summaries of the articles in order to develop advanced functional reading skills in Japanese.
   Students are also required to write an essay on a topic, expressing their opinion about it and occasionally conducting and summarizing some survey research.
   Students are required to present opinion and discuss the topic in moderate length and depth. Voluntary Japanese visitors are sometimes invited to join the discussion.

Textbooks
   Materials will be provided in the classes.

Lecture Guideline and Attendance Policy
   Lectures will be given 3 times a week, 90 minutes each, for 15 weeks. Regular attendance to all classes is required. Being absent for one third or more of the classes will be considered as withdrawal from the course.

Grading
   Class attendance, participation and performance 30%
   Quiz, assignment, essay and presentation 20%
   Final essay and presentation 40%