Japanese

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." 

This course develops a well-balanced, intermediate level proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It introduces 100 important intermediate level sentence patterns through close reading of texts. Students master approximately 4000 basic words and 500 intermediate kanji. Students expand their vocabulary and their understanding of grammar and sentence patterns through the reading of texts and short composition practices. Note: Intermediate Japanese language levels at the host university are comparable to UC upper-division language courses.

This course provides an introduction to visual analysis of popular culture media in postwar Japan, specifically film, television, manga, and anime. As the course approaches each medium, the course uses film theory and formal analysis to discuss them. In analyzing issues specific to each of these media and across genres, the course discussion is framed by some key questions: How do form and genre affect content? How do texts address specific audiences, such as teenagers, boys, or girls? What is the role of fan culture?

This class is for beginners. The course includes practicing daily expressions used while shopping and at the train station, while utilizing proper grammar and memorization of conversation patterns through role play. The goal of this course is to be able to conduct daily conversation. 

This basic Japanese course chooses a different theme concerning Japanese culture and society to discuss each week. Students are split into groups to engage in activities, discussion, and group work concerning the selected topic. The goal of the class is for students to widen their perspectives and deepen their knowledge regarding various issues related to Japan and Japanese society. The program offers various theme courses and students may take multiple sections.