Japanese JA400

Koji NAMBA (Center for International Education and Exchange)

Course Objective
   This course is designed for advanced students to develop their communicative fluency in all four language skills further building on the foundation of their Japanese skills which they have acquired. The specific objectives of JA400 are:
   (1) to understand familiar topics in Japanese society and discuss them with classmates and Japanese people
   (2) to describe similar situations in their home societies in Japanese
   (3) to conduct informal research activities in Japanese

Requirement / Prerequisite
   JA300 (lower intermediate Japanese) or the equivalent

Course Content
  

1. In each three weeks, a topic of familiar issues (ex. education, communication, etc.) in current Japanese society and in their home societies is presented. Students will develop their Japanese fluency by reading the articles, writing essays, discussing on the topic, sometimes conducting small survey, as well as having chance to deepen their knowledge on the topic and widen their view.
2. Japanese visitors will join the classes and students will have interviews, discussions, and debates on various topic of the week.
3. Regular kanji quizzes will be given to develop reading and writing skills.
4. 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.

Textbooks
   To be decided.

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 30%
   Quiz, assignment, essay and presentation 30%
   Final essay and presentation 40%