Japanese

A distinctive feature of Japanese cultural tradition is an aesthetic that favors the subtle, the condensed, the pure, and the ephemeral. This contrasts with the West, which finds beauty ideals in things that are large, rich, powerful, and rationally ordered. From bonsai to figurine, it is said that this characteristic has been passed down through repeated exchanges with China in ancient times and with the West in modern times.　

This course considers the factors behind Japan's unique sense of beauty, centered on plastic arts, and what the results were, through comparison with those of the West and China. Taking advantage of the geographical advantage of studying in Kyoto, which has nurtured Japanese aesthetic traditions and produced excellent art, the course also includes a tour.　

This course explores the meanings of encountering “the Other” by reviewing existing theories and research in intercultural communication. It also examines how encountering someone/something "foreign" builds, shapes, and transforms relationships and communication in our everyday life. Each student should ponder what kind of relationship he/she would like to make in this globalized society that we experience every day. In order to stimulate classroom discussion and promote student-centered active learning, we adopt some innovative instructional methodologies and strategies (e.g., collaborative learning and writing, group presentation, flip teaching, etc.).

<Level IV>
Target Students: Those who have completed and mastered elementary level studies.
Course Goals: To develop understanding and command of the 100 important intermediate sentence patterns for further improvement of the four skills of reading, listening, speaking, and writing. To master the 4,000 basic words and 800 basic Chinese characters.
<Reading Comprehension B>
Goal: To understand slightly complex passages and sentence structures.
Contents: Reading of simple stories, essays and poetry.

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 designed for students who have completed intermediate-level Japanese language courses or the equivalent. Upon completion of the course, students are expected to compose sentences using more advanced grammar patterns.

This course is designed for students who have some experience learning Japanese. The course aims to enhance listening and speaking skills through teaching and practice of vocabulary and expressions needed for everyday conversation. 

This course is designed for pre-advanced students to explore sentence structures, vocabulary, and kanji via newspaper articles and a textbook. After reading articles, students discuss topics related to the text and write an essay which is revised numerous times as to grasp the Japanese style of essay-writing. Students explicate the articles read in class, dissecting various grammar-points and creating example sentences and sharing them with the class. The various topics covered in the textbook provides students means to expand their Japanese abilities and enables them to think critically about such topics with newfound abilities. 

This course is designed for students learning Japanese for the first time. The course focuses on the acquisition of grammar and sentence patterns based on the textbook Elementary Japanese for Academic Purposes Vol.1 (Lesson 1 to 6). Students must understand hiragana before taking this course.

This course is designed for students learning Japanese for the first time. The course focuses on the acquisition of grammar and sentence patterns based on the textbook Elementary Japanese for Academic Purposes Vol.1 (Lesson 1 to 6). Students must understand hiragana before taking this course.

This course deals with the basics of mathematical finance. The goals are to understand Option Trading and Portfolio Theory.

Prerequisite: Calculus I, II, Linear Algebra I, II, Sets and Topology I, and Probability Theory.