Japanese

This course is designed for absolute beginners or those just beginning their journey in Japanese and want to develop practical communication skills through face-to-face instruction and practice. Students engage in interactive speaking and listening activities in class, focusing on essential conversational skills such as greetings, self-introductions, and asking and answering questions. Through practical exercises and authentic interactions, learners gain confidence in using Japanese in real-life situations while deepening their understanding and appreciation of the Japanese language and culture. Students interested in strengthening their foundation in beginner-level vocabulary and grammar are encouraged to also enroll in the 1-credit self-paced online course, LANG1212: Japanese Vocabulary and Grammar Essentials I. Graded P or F.

This online course is designed for students beginning their journey in Japanese, with a focus on building a solid and comprehensive foundation in vocabulary and grammar structures. Students explore the fundamentals of the Japanese writing and sound system while deepening their understanding of beginner-level grammar and vocabulary. The flexible format allows students to progress at their own pace through engaging video lectures, interactive chatbot exercises, online quizzes, and a final in-person exam. Students gain a strong grasp of Japanese sentence structures and essential grammar rules but also develop a robust vocabulary that enables them to construct simple sentences, understand basic texts, and engage in elementary-level communication with confidence. Students are encouraged to also enroll in the 2-credit LANG 1211: Communicative Japanese for Beginners I to reinforce their learning through face-to-face conversational practice and real-life scenarios. Graded P or F.

This class is designed for students to learn basic Japanese (CEFL, A1 level), focusing on Japanese language necessary for living in Japan. The class aims to help students to: 1) Communicate using basic words and expressions; 2) Convey information about themselves, their experiences, and simple comments in conversation; and 3) Understand basic Japanese syntax, vocabulary, and pronunciation, and gain familiarity with Japanese notation.

This course is a continuation of Ritmál II. Students gain greater proficiency in Kanji and Katakana, as well as improving reading and writing skills in Japanese.

This class is designed for students with advanced Japanese proficiency to identify the author's perspective based on the tone of academic texts in Economics. The course provides opportunities for students to develop academic writing and oral communication skills for logically constructing academic arguments. Participants select their own research topic; present seminar-style; prepare summaries and presentation slides, and deliver mini-presentations. 

This course provides opportunities for students to learn Japanese vocabulary, grammar and conversation that are useful in university life. Participants are expected to express what they want to say in basic Japanese; learn about Japanese language culture and values, and expand their world through learning Japanese language. This class offers blended learning: a self-directed learning (SDL) session in which students are required to learn individually using online materials (equivalent to one 100 min period/ week), and a real time session (Zoom) in a classroom with other students (one 100-min period/ week).  

This course is a continuation of Málnotkun (Language Use) II. Students who took Málnotkun I and II can take Málnotkun III to continue their study. The main focus in Japanese Language III is going over the beginners level grammar not covered in previous courses, as well as increasing the students' vocabulary. There are regular quizzes, and students are expected to do considerable amount of preparation and homework. Regular attendance is crucial to follow the course.

This course explores the world of Japanese Science Fiction primarily from a literary point of view but also includes pop cultural media such as anime and manga which oftentimes employ the same narratives and imaginaries and have significantly contributed to Japanese Sci-Fi’s world renown. Tracing back the origins of Japanese Sci-Fi to ancient myths and early 20th century pioneers, the course then delves into the rich Sci-Fi scene that developed after the Postwar era, featuring Japan’s 'three greatest Sci-Fi writers' and their lasting impact.  

The course also focuses on groundbreaking Sci-Fi works from Japanese pop culture, contrasting popular formats such as light novels and web novels with Sci-Fi elements in canonized authors' works, and explores the multifaceted relationship between Japanese Sci-Fi and technological innovation. Moreover, the course analyzes Western sources of inspirations that have impacted Japanese Sci-Fi while critically examining Western, cyberpunk stereotypes of Japan as a futuristic nation. 

This course is designed for students with advanced Japanese fluency to learn Japanese terms used in economics. The class discusses materials selected from books, magazines, and newspapers to expand one's vocabulary in the field of economics and gain a broad knowledge of current events related to the Japanese economy. 

This course explores the poetic techniques of classical Japanese literature, especially waka poetry, where expressions of natural beauty across the four seasons are often closely linked with human emotions such as love. Through reading and interpreting classical texts centered on waka, including the Kokin Wakashū, Hyakunin Isshu, and Uta Nikki, the class gains insight into these literary traditions.

The course begins with the fundamentals of classical literature, so no prior knowledge is required.