Japanese

This course is part of the "Japanese as a Foreign Language Program." It provides an opportunity to learn reading, writing, and usage of vocabulary and kanji in the latter half of intermediate-level Japanese. The course includes lectures on reading, writing, vocabulary usage, research, as well as individual and group presentations. There will be weekly check assignments on vocabulary and kanji. Prerequisite: “J4: JAPANESE” or equivalent.

This course requires two years of prior Japanese language study. The course explores Japanese with the goal of improving comprehensive skills toward advanced level. Students examine various themes such as proper grammatical structures, kanji, vocabulary, and situations described through readings. Through discussion and presentation about various themes, students develop a proficiency that enables them to communicate with native speakers actively on common daily topics. 

<Level V>
Target Students: Those who have partially completed intermediate level studies.
Course Goals: To develop understanding and command of the 200 important intermediate sentence patterns for further improvement of the four skills of reading, listening, speaking, and writing. To master the 6,000 basic words and 1,000 to 1,200 basic Chinese characters.

<General 1-5>
Goal: To develop balanced, intermediate-level proficiency in reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
Contents: Learning the 100 important intermediate sentence patterns and vocabulary and improving reading comprehension with an upper intermediate level textbook. Developing command of intermediate Japanese through short sentence composition exercises. Mastering the points learned at the intermediate level to proceed to the advanced level smoothly. Increasing vocabulary by learning both the words introduced in the textbook as well as additional related words.
Improving the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing by understanding the textbook and exchanging opinions on it.

This class is designed for students with no prior knowledge of Chinese characters and wish to start learning kanji and/or to establish solid foundation for learning kanji. The class covers kanji components, how to use and write kanji, and basic kanji words. At the completion of the course, students will be able to comprehend basic kanji in context. 

This course is for students who have basic knowledge of Japanese and Kanji (traditional /simplified characters).  Students learn about the characteristics of Japanese Kanji while using the knowledge of Kanji they already have. The course aims for students to be able to read elementary to intermediate level of Japanese Kanji and to be able to distinguish between Japanese kanji and traditional / simplified characters.

This is an omnibus-style course on Japanese culture, featuring lectures and demonstrations on tea ceremony and traditional Japanese musical instruments (Heike biwa, shamisen, sokyoku/Ikuta school).

The tea ceremony is a comprehensive art form in Japan. This course seeks to understand the Japanese spirit behind the tea ceremony, for practice in everyday life.

This course also provides the opportunity for students to experience the charm of Japanese musical instruments and to compose a waka poem.

Is Classical Literature foolish?

Not at all. Love for others is the same today as it was in the past, in the East and in the West. The feeling of cherishing one’s family and friends is the same as the feeling of being moved by the beauty of nature in all four seasons. This course introduces the joys, sorrows, and impressions of the people of the past, while imagining the minds of the ancients, and incorporating classic literary works such as waka poems, stories, and essays. This course also confirms that that spirit has not changed, by introducing appropriate contemporary songs.　

<Level V>
Target Students: Those who have partially completed intermediate level studies.
Course Goals: To develop understanding and command of the 200 important intermediate sentence patterns for further improvement of the four skills of reading, listening, speaking, and writing. To master the 6,000 basic words and 1,000 to 1,200 basic Chinese characters.

<Reading Comprehension A>
Goal: To understand slightly complex passages and sentence structures.
Contents: Reading of upper intermediate level passages on current topics, such as newspaper articles.

This course is intended for students who wish to participate in short- or long-term study abroad. The course addresses how students can actively think about their own goals for study abroad and how to prepare for their experience, by examining trends from a micro- and macro-perspective as well as providing examples of international experiences. In addition, through participatory learning, students will deepen their own thoughts about life and cross-cultural adaptation associated with living, whether studying or working, in a foreign country. By the end of the course, students will consider their study abroad experience as part of their career development. The course features experts in overseas study and training as guests speakers. 

This course considers and seeks to understand contemporary Japanese media culture and urban culture mainly from the perspective of sociology and media theory. Specifically, it examines various cultural texts and phenomena along the themes of "time," "space," and "media." The course aims to enable students to develop the basic ability to examine modern culture.