Doshisha University

Target Students: Those who would like to improve Japanese proficiency in business.
Goal: To learn Japanese expressions and manners useful for problem solving in Japan.
Contents: Utterance exercises and role-plays to learn honorifics as well as acquisition of basic business manners and etiquette in Japan.

This course provides the opportunity to study and practice sentence patterns, vocabulary, and listening comprehension in the first half of the intermediate level, which corresponds to the N3 level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). Therefore the goal of the course is for students to acquire the Japanese proficiency the need to pass the N3 level of the JLPT.

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. 

The purpose of this course is to acquire intermediate-level grammar, letters, and vocabulary (JLPT N2-N3 level). In the class, while giving some weight to the N2 level, explanations and exercises on general intermediate level grammar, letters and vocabulary are provided.
The course aims to deepen your knowledge and understanding of intermediate-level Japanese, focusing on grammar, letters, vocabulary, etc., reaching a level at which you can pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) level N2.

<Level VII>

Target Students: Those who have completed and mastered intermediate-level studies.

Course Goals: To master the 200 important intermediate sentence patterns and develop understanding and command of the 100 important advanced sentence patterns for further improvement of the four skills of reading, listening, speaking, and writing. To master the 10,000 basic words and 2,000 basic Chinese characters.

<General 1-5>

Goal: To develop a balanced, advanced level of proficiency in reading, listening, speaking, and writing.

Contents: Mastery of intermediate sentence patterns and introduction of 100 important advanced sentence patterns, using Doshisha University’s original textbook and support materials. For students to be able to use all the expressions in an appropriate manner, exercises will be of typical situations where each expression is used, without categorizing them into grammar or vocabulary issues. Vocabulary building with an emphasis on collocation. Improving the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing through summarizing, reading, and listening comprehension of the materials; role-play using expressions learned in class, and composition exercises.

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 introduces key concepts affecting national education systems in the contemporary era of globalization. Since modern education systems were built by independent nation-states in the 19th and 20th centuries, the institutions that were created have come under severe strain by economic, social, technological, and demographic forces unleashed by 21st-century globalization. Governments everywhere are under pressure to prepare students for this new era.  Students will be required to conduct their own research into aspects of globalization as they affect education in two or more nation-states. Each week, students will discuss a text about the topic of the week. One student will lead the discussion with a presentation, and then further materials and ideas will be presented to the students to challenge them to think as deeply as possible about the issues raised.

This semester-long course introduces the Zen culture of Kyoto to Japanese and foreign students of Doshisha University.  It especially focuses on the main teachings, philosophical values, aesthetics, practices, and applications for daily life. By doing specific activities, writing assignments and oral presentations, students increase their knowledge and the meaning of what they have learned from their interactions and shared experiences.  The course compares between the different branches of Japanese Zen, and the Zen manifestations in other countries to strengthen final debates and discussions as well as to aid in the formation of group research projects for final evaluation.

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.