Courses

Japanese (japn)

Elementary Modern Japanese I, II, III.
JAPN 10100-10200-10300.
This is the first year of a three-year program designed to provide students with a thorough grounding in modern Japanese. Grammar, idiomatic expressions, and vocabulary are learned through oral work, reading, and writing in and out of class. Daily practice in speaking, listening, reading, and writing is crucial. Students should plan to continue their language study through at least the second-year level to make their skills practical. The class meets for five fifty-minute periods a week.
PQ: Must be taken for a letter grade. No auditors permitted.

Intermediate Modern Japanese I, II, III.
JAPN 20100-20200-20300.
The emphasis on spoken language in the first half of the course gradually shifts toward reading and writing in the latter half. The course is conducted mostly in Japanese and meets for five fifty-minute periods a week.
PQ: JAPN 10300 or equivalent, and consent of instructor. Must be taken for a letter grade. No auditors permitted.

Intermediate Modern Japanese through "Japanimation" II, III.
JAPN 21200-21300.
This course focuses on learning spoken Japanese that is aimed at native speakers. The goals are getting accustomed to that sort of authentic Japanese and being able to speak with a high degree of fluency. To keep a balance, writing and reading materials are provided. Watching videos and practicing speaking are the keys to success in this course.
PQ: JAPN 20100 or consent of instructor.

Third-Year Advanced Modern Japanese
JAPN 30100-30200-30300
The third year marks the end of the basic modern language study. The purpose of the course is to help students learn to understand authentic written and spoken materials with reasonable ease. The texts are all authentic materials with some study aids. All work in Japanese.
PQ: JAPN 20300 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. Must be taken for a letter grade.

Fourth-Year Modern Japanese I, II, III.
JAPN 40500-40600-407000.
This course is designed to improve Japanese reading, speaking, writing and listening ability to the advanced high level as measured by the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Proficiency Guidelines. Weekly assignments will require students to tackle modern Japanese texts of varying length and difficulty. Organized around a range of thought-provoking themes (from brain death and organ transplants to Japanese values on work and religion), reading assignments will include academic theses in psychology and anthropology, literary texts, and popular journalism. After completing the readings, students will be encouraged to discuss each topic in class. Videos/DVDs will be used to improve listening comprehension skills. There will also be writing assignments.
Notes: PQ: Open to both undergraduates and graduates.