Japanese

This course is for students who have basic knowledge of Japanese and Kanji (traditional /simplified characters).  Students learn about the characteristics of Japanese Kanji while using the knowledge of Kanji they already have. The course aims for students to be able to read elementary to intermediate level of Japanese Kanji and to be able to distinguish between Japanese kanji and traditional / simplified characters.

This course centers around literary translation workshops in which students will be asked to provide constructive feedback to peer work as well as take turns facilitating the workshops.

By the end of the course, students will have produced:
1) a dozen or so translations of selected excerpts (approx. 400 words) from reading assignments (short stories, essays, etc.):
2) written responses to a number of reading assignments:

Given the workload, emphasis on attendance/participation, and class format, this advanced course is recommended for students who:
1) have previously taken writing and/or literature courses at the university level;
2) are capable of handling reading assignments of significant length in English and Japanese;
3) enjoy actively participating in and leading group work and class discussions;
4) are able to work in an organized manner (including submitting weekly assignments beforehand online)

English will be the primary language of instruction/communication in the classroom. However, students will be expected to be able to handle literary texts in both English and Japanese.

Is Classical Literature foolish?

Not at all. Love for others is the same today as it was in the past, in the East and in the West. The feeling of cherishing one’s family and friends is the same as the feeling of being moved by the beauty of nature in all four seasons. This course introduces the joys, sorrows, and impressions of the people of the past, while imagining the minds of the ancients, and incorporating classic literary works such as waka poems, stories, and essays. This course also confirms that that spirit has not changed, by introducing appropriate contemporary songs.　

<Level V>
Target Students: Those who have partially completed intermediate level studies.
Course Goals: To develop understanding and command of the 200 important intermediate sentence patterns for further improvement of the four skills of reading, listening, speaking, and writing. To master the 6,000 basic words and 1,000 to 1,200 basic Chinese characters.

<Reading Comprehension A>
Goal: To understand slightly complex passages and sentence structures.
Contents: Reading of upper intermediate level passages on current topics, such as newspaper articles.

<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.

<Oral Expression B>
Goal: To develop oral expression skills for dialogues such as discussion or debates.
Contents: Conducting discussions and debates on various themes.

This Japanese language course is designed for students who have completed Japanese III at ICU and have mastered basic skills. It is comparable to third and beginning fourth year at UC. The course continues the development of skills in listening, reading, and writing. By the end of the course, students should be able to communicate in intermediate Japanese incorporating fundamental knowledge of Japanese culture.

This course is designed for students at the advanced levels to acquire comprehensive Japanese language proficiency. The purpose of the course is to increase student knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, and kanji and to improve their reading and writing ability through close-reading of textbooks. In addition, students will develop speech techniques necessary to participate in discussions and to explain content that they have understood.

<Level V>
Target Students: Those who have partially completed intermediate level studies.
Course Goals: To develop understanding and command of the 200 important intermediate sentence patterns for further improvement of the four skills of reading, listening, speaking, and writing. To master the 6,000 basic words and 1,000 to 1,200 basic Chinese characters.

<Written Expression A>
Goal: To be able to write well-formed passages of approximately 800 words in length.
Contents: Writing letters and simple essays on topics familiar to students.

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. 

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.