Japanese JA300

Koichi NISHIGUCHI (Center for International Education and Exchange)

Course Objective
   This course is designed for intermediate students to develop their four language skills further building on the foundation of their Japanese abilities which they have acquired. The specific objectives of JA300 are:
   (1) to expand ability for daily communication and informal research communication in both spoken and written Japanese
   (2) to become fluent in using the language structures both of spoken and written Japanese
   (3) to be able to orally deliver conceptual information/knowledge and express opinions
   (4) to gain functional fluency in comprehending and writing texts constructed with new combinations of learned structures, using hiragana, katakana and approximately 600 and more kanjis
   (5) to develop skills for getting information about the Japanese language and promoting language acquisition through communication with native Japanese speakers in informal setting

Requirement / Prerequisite
   JA200 (elementary Japanese) or the equivalent

Course Content
   Several topics or themes among the following ones will be chosen as the topics or themes of the course.
   (1) my country, my university
   (2) scenic and historic spots, tourist spots, festivals, etc.
   (3) four seasons and yearly events
   (4) foods and diet
   (5) customs and habits
   (6) end of the year and the New Year
   (7) my future (job/profession, marriage, family, etc.)
   (8) leisure time activities and hobbies (sports, music, cooking, fashion, movies, etc.)
   (9) happy event, trouble, etc.
   (10) trips, vacation, etc.
   (11) Tokyo and Osaka
   (12) pop culture (manga, anime, TV games, pop idols, costume play, etc.)
   (13) Nihongo (loan words, onomatopoeia, politeness expressions, Osaka dialect, etc.)
   (14) aspects of Japan (economy, society, education, technology, etc.)
   (15) gender issues
   (16) environment and ecological movement

Textbooks

1. A Review Text - A New Approach to Elementary Japanese (To be given in the class.)
2. 『Kanji - N5 to N2 of JLPT』 (Center for International Education and Exchange) (To be purchsed in the class.)
3. Scenario of 『Always Sanchoomeno Yuuhi』 (to be given in the class.)
      "Diary of the Characters" of 『Always Sanchoomeno Yuuhi』 (to be given in the class.)
      * Students will view 『Always Sanchoomeno Yuuhi』 in class.

Grading Policy
   One lecture and two sessions (90 minutes each) will be given in a week 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 40%
   Quiz, assignment, essay and presentation 20%
   Final written Exam. 20%
   Final oral exam. 20%