Japanese

This course is designed for students learning Japanese for the first time. The course aims to familiarize students with Japanese characters and acquire basic reading and writing skills. The course design is based on sentence structures and grammatical patterns learned in Elementary Japanese for Academic Purposes Vol. 1 (Lesson 1 to 6). It is recommended to take “Essential Japanese 1M-1 & 1M-2” together with this course.

This course reviews and masters elementary Japanese grammar and sentence patterns and develops a well-balanced lower intermediate level proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students learn the 50 most important sentence patterns of the intermediate level, master 3000 basic words and 600 to 750 kanji. They read short written passages on various topics that consist of sentence patterns, grammar and new vocabulary, make speeches on topics familiar to them, and write well-organized passages.

This course is aimed at students who have completed the beginner level. It provides a comprehensive study of the first half of the intermediate level of Japanese language: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Through in-depth reading of textbooks, the course increases one's knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, and kanji, while improving their reading comprehension, writing, and expression abilities. Similarly, the course improves one's oral expression skills to explain and discuss what they have understood. 

Textbook: "Minna no Nihongo Intermediate I."

The course provides a study of Japanese sentence patterns, Japanese conversation skills, and cultivates Japanese reading ability. Students learn Japanese listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, which can be expressed through storytelling and song lyrics. This course covers chapters 20-26. Topics include: (Chapter 20) Consequential sentence such as the correspondence of other verbs, the state that continues after the action ends, etc. (Chapter 21) Reason sentence structures such as expressing regret, dissatisfaction, mentioning a topic, etc. (Chapter 22) "Ability" sentences: possible verbs such as an ability or possibility under a certain situation, etc. (Chapter 23) Conditional sentences and intentional form such as a will, determination, plan, etc. (Chapter 24) Speculative sentences such as Inference, goal and purpose of action, and resulting state of change, etc. (Chapter 25) Command sentences via command form which command, prohibit, or convey statement of meaning (Chapter 26) Describe the movement in terms of the speaker's "point of arrival" or "point of departure."

A course for beginners with no previous knowledge of Japanese, designed to introduce the Japanese Language and culture. The course is not suitable for students with previous knowledge of Japanese. Students develop basic reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. They acquire knowledge of basic grammatical structures and a vocabulary of approximately 400 high-frequency words and phrases and the two basic character sets. 

This course is designed for students who have already learned the first half of elementary- level grammar. It focuses on the acquisition of grammar and sentence patterns based on the textbook, "Elementary Japanese for Academic Purposes Vol.2" (Lesson 13 to 18).

Textbook: Elementary Japanese for Academic Purposes Vol. 2 (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Press).