JAPANESE: JA500

Yoko MIMAKI et al. (Center for International Education and Exchange)

Objective
   This course is designed for advanced students to further develop advanced speaking, reading, and writing skills in Japanese. The specific objectives of JA500 are:

1. to develop fluency in using advanced structures and grammatical items typically used in authentic Japanese materials.
2. to deepen students' understanding of the issues in current Japanese society and global issues.
3. to express their own opinions about the issue logically in Japanese both in written and spoken language.

Requirement / Prerequisite
   JA400 (intermediate Japanese) or the equivalent

Course Content

1. The lectures on Thursday are intended to give advanced level skills on reading, writing, communication and grammar, and also to deepen the knowledge on variations of Japanese such as styles, gender and dialects.
2. Students are expected to write an essay on a topic, expressing their opinion about the issue and occasionally conducting and summarizing some survey research, and to present opinion and discuss the topic logically in moderate length and depth.
3. Through the sessions, students are encouraged to read materials that deal with special interests among educated native speakers of Japanese, and in so doing build knowledge of advanced structures and grammatical items typically used in that kind of materials.
4. Voluntary Japanese visitors are invited to join the discussion.
5. Each student will be requested to conduct an independent project at the end of the semester. A presentation day will be set for this project.
6. Regular kanji quizzes will be given to develop reading and writing skills.

Textbook and Reference
   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 submission of assignments 30%
   Kanji quiz, tests, and performance of presentation and essays 30%
   Final presentation and essay 40%