Japanese

This course is designed for students who have learned approximately 100-150 Kanji . The goal of the course is to enable students to write and comprehend a variety of basic kanji in contexts and to understand the meaning of Kanji components. Each lesson covers new 16 kanji and its compounds. 

This course is designed for students who are able to write around 30 basic kanji characters to study around 80 kanji characters and to practice reading and writing sentences using these characters.
The course is designed for students who have already learned approximately 30 elementary kanji.
The aim of this course is to aid students in reading and writing a further 80 elementary kanji (Lesson 7-12 of the the textbook, Elementary Japanese for Academic Purposes Vol.1), as well as associated vocabulary and expressions.

This course is designed for international students who are learning Japanese for the first time. The goal is to learn simple Japanese expressions (vocabulary, grammar, conversation) that will be useful in university life, to be able to express what you want to say in simple Japanese,  and to learn about Japanese language culture. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to carry out simple conversations in everyday situations.

This course is for students with at least one year of prior study of Japanese. The goal of this course is for students to acquire well-balanced basic proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and to develop an understanding and command of basic grammar and its usage. Students practice listening comprehension and pronunciation using videotapes and CDs. They learn conversational expressions and phrases necessary in daily life, fundamentals of written expression, and how to read and write short passages on topics familiar to them using previously learned sentence patterns and vocabulary. By the end of term, students master 1500 basic words and 300 basic kanji.

Using intermediate-level grammar and vocabulary, students are trained to develop basic skills in oral expression. In the first half of the semester, students engage in activities such as role-playing and other activities to talk while communicating with others. In the second half of the semester, students give presentations and other activities to express their ideas and thoughts.

Target Students: Those who have partially completed elementary level studies.

Course Goals: To master the grammatical expressions learnt at the elementary level, as well as to develop understanding and command of upper elementary and intermediate level grammar and to improve the four skills of reading, listening, speaking and writing. To master the 2,000 basic words and 500 basic Chinese characters.

Contents: Mastering the elementary level grammar and developing understanding and command of grammar using an upper elementary level textbook, followed by introduction of basic sentence patterns of the intermediate level using an intermediate level textbook. Improving the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing through various class activities designed for developing each skill. Mastering the 2,000 basic words and 500 basic Chinese characters.

This is a beginning elementary Japanese course. The purpose of this course is to develop basic knowledge of spoken Japanese to effectively communicate in everyday situations. Students acquire essential grammar, basic vocabulary, Hiragana, Katakana, and a total of 55 kanji. Although emphasis is placed on pronunciation, speaking, and listening, attention is also given to reading and writing. In addition, the course introduces general knowledge of the Japanese people and their culture.

Two teachers, Takagishi and Paie, teach this course in an omnibus format.　
　
In Takagishi's classes, "Japanese culture around me," "pop culture," and "language" are the main pillars. "Festivals and events in Kyoto" as "Japanese culture around me", "The founding spirit of Doshisha" while tracing the life of Jo Niijima, the founder of Doshisha, "Japanese kimono culture" to learn about the history and patterns of kimono ” is discussed. "Pop culture" deals with "Japanese manga/anime" that considers Japan's manga and anime culture, and "Japan's popular songs" that traces the history of popular songs from the postwar era to the present. By studying the Kansai dialect and young people's language, which are used in the city and on campus as "languages," students will notice the differences from the standard language; learn about the mechanism of young people's words and the way of thinking of young people in Japan. By learning the various aspects of Japanese culture mentioned above, the course aims to deepen understanding of modern Japanese culture.　
 

In Paie's classes, the class revolves around Shinto and Zen Buddhism, which are the background of the Japanese way of thinking and spirituality and learn them as one of the entrances to those cultures. The course instructs on the Shinto religion – its origin, relationship with Japanese lifestyle, and tradition of festivals as its characteristics. In addition, the course connects Shinto and the martial arts, teaching Sumo and Aikido as Shinto martial arts. Next, the class provides an overview of Japanese Zen Buddhism and its culture: the history and thought of Zen words and Zen paintings. Students will be exposed to a zen experience with a priest from Rinzai, and learn the characteristics of Japanese culture through these experiences.

Target Students: Those who have partially completed elementary level studies.

Course Goals: To master the grammatical expressions learnt at the elementary level, as well as to develop understanding and command of upper elementary and intermediate level grammar and to improve the four skills of reading, listening, speaking and writing. To master the 2,000 basic words and 500 basic Chinese characters.

Contents: Mastering the elementary level grammar and developing understanding and command of grammar using an upper elementary level textbook, followed by introduction of basic sentence patterns of the intermediate level using an intermediate level textbook. Improving the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing through various class activities designed for developing each skill. Mastering the 2,000 basic words and 500 basic Chinese characters.

This course is for international students who have passed the Japanese Placement Test I-II level. It reviews elementary Japanese necessary for business and teaches honorifics and manners as a member of society in Japan. The course provides conversation practice, role-play, and email writing; students can expect to work together in pairs.