Japanese

The kimono is one of the symbols of Japanese tradition and culture, and various traditional cultures are protected through the kimono.　
　
This course first looks at the history of the kimono, a traditional Japanese costume. The sensibility of admiring the four seasons was born from the dyeing and weaving materials that are produced all over the country due to the climate of Japan. Next, through the practice of wearing the yukata and kimono, the course instructs on the meaning of their structure and the way they are worn, as well as the significance of unique colors and patterns of Japan. The course teaches Kyoto culture by visiting Kyoto Yuzen and Nishijin textile workshops and experiencing Kyoto customs. Ultimately, the course aims to provide a learning experience of the movement and aesthetic sense of the Japanese through the kimono that Japan is proud of.　

This course is for students who are participating in the "Japanese as a Foreign Language Program." It teaches reading, writing, and usage of vocabulary and kanji in the first half of intermediate-level Japanese.  Prerequisite: “J3:JAPANESE” or equivalent.

The course provides lectures on reading, writing, and usage of vocabulary and kanji. Students are expected to participate in research and give individual or group presentations to increase their knowledge of kanji vocabulary and to promote their learning. There will be weekly check assignments on vocabulary and kanji.

Focusing on the function words of the former Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) level 1, this course explains the functional expressions that advanced learners should acquire. The title of the course is "Introduction to Grammar," but explaining Japanese grammar to Japanese learners is not conducive for practical use. "Sentence pattern" likely refers to one pattern, so that one can remember the whole sentence pattern. In the weekly course, it is not possible to practice using the expressions that have been learned, so this course points out the mistakes that learners tend to make when using the expressions and teaches them how to use similar expressions. In the spring semester, functional words will be introduced and explained according to pattern.

<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.
<General 1-5>
Goal: To develop balanced, intermediate-level proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Contents: Learning the 100 most important intermediate sentence patterns and vocabulary and improving reading comprehension with an intermediate level textbook. Developing command of intermediate Japanese through short sentence composition exercises. 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 is an intermediate elementary Japanese language course. It is a continuation of Japanese I at ICU. It provides a firm foundation of communicative skills in both spoken and written Japanese. Upon completion of this course students should have a mastery of additional basic grammatical structures, vocabulary, and 102 additional kanji with new readings.

This advanced intermediate Japanese language course is a continuation of Japanese V and is the equivalent level of UC fifth year language study. It prepares students for advanced-level courses by establishing a solid base for students to fully utilize Japanese in academic as well as social contexts. Students learn skills necessary for academic life, such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing. New kanji are introduced, as well as new vocabulary expressions and grammatical structures.

This course is designed to cultivate the basic skills of intermediate-level kanji and vocabulary. Students learn a variety of vocabulary by theme and study the characteristics of kanji, utilizing them to learn new kanji and words. The focus is placed on understanding the meaning of the vocabulary in sentences and accurately understanding the meaning of sentences. Achievable goals for the course include acquisition of N3 level kanji and vocabulary and skills to be discern the reading and meaning of new kanji.

While deepening exchanges between Japanese students and international students, this lecture provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship between Japan, China, and other Asian countries from both historical and contemporary perspectives. It aims to provide an understanding of global society in the 21st century. Among them, as clues for thinking about how two countries face each other; real-life culture shock experiences; misunderstandings due to expressions in Japanese, Chinese, and other foreign languages, and social and cultural differences.  This course aims to think of international relations based on misunderstandings and grassroots forces that are not the logic of international politics, but ta the individual level, such as what can a person living between Japan and China do?  The main format of spring semester classes is expected to be (1) group discussion, (2) group work for research assignments, and (3) group activities for reading. The language used is a combination of Chinese and Japanese, and the Chinese level of Japanese students does not matter. The main topics for the spring semester are cultural diversity and recognition of others.

Students will acquire knowledge of Japanese economics and business and of the Japanese terms used in these fields by reading articles and watching TV programs suitable for advanced-level learners.

Studying history does not mean merely memorizing historical trivia or accumulating knowledge as an intellectual competition. It means gaining an understanding of the past by learning how to scrutinize historical documents.

This course explores the Edo period, Japan’s early modern era. Many cultural and social phenomena emerged during this period and remain relevant today. At the same time, many aspects of early modern Japan, including its politics, society, and people's values and behaviors, are profoundly different from those of the modern era. This course examines a selection of sources to gain an understanding of Edo-period Japan. In addition, it also discusses recent scholarly trends in the field of early modern Japanese history.