Japanese Program Website

Japanese Course Descriptions:

378.101-102  Slow-Paced Beginning Japanese
A two-semester introductory course for students who want to study Japanese at a slower pace attending three classes rather than five classes per week. Goals of the course are mastery of pronunciation while acquiring basic vocabulary and a foundation in structural patterns of the language. Students work first with romanization, then are introduced into the native Kana syllabary in the first semester, and increase their familiarity with the Japanese orthographics further in the second semester. Oral-aural drill in class and work in the language laboratory are important in the course. (Note: Those who wish to continue beyond these two semesters must enroll in Beginning Japanese 378.116 the following Spring. Also, those students who need to fulfill their language requirement of third-year Japanese by the end of their junior year, or who want to take the Advanced Japanese course in their senior year, should take 378.115-116 instead.) 3 credits

378.115-116  Beginning Japanese
A two-semester introductory course in Japanese.  Goals of the course are mastery of pronunciation, basic grammar, and basic vocabulary.  The native kana syllabary as well as romanization will be taught early in the course, and Chinese characters, or Kanji, will be introduced in the second semester.  In addition to written exercises and tests, oral-aural drill in class and work in the language laboratory are important.  May not be taken S/U.  4.5 credits

378.215-216  Intermediate Japanese  (H)
Consolidation of the foundation that students have laid in their first year of study and continued drill and practice in the spoken language, enabling them to engage in spontaneous, short conversations on familiar topics.  Students will increase their knowledge of more complex patterns of the language and develop reading skills with edited texts written in native Japanese script.  By the end of the second semester, students will have a working knowledge of about 400 Kanji.  4.5 credits

378.311-312  Japanese Conversation (H)
Advanced training in spoken Japanese for students who have completed Intermediate Japanese or have equivalent knowledge/fluency.  Communicative activities such as task-oriented acts, role plays, and group discussions will assist in the development of good interactive skills including how to support opinions.  Students will also enhance their listening skills using recorded interviews, reports, TV broadcasts, etc.  2.5 credits.

378.315-316  Upper Intermediate Japanese  (H)
Continuation of Intermediate Japanese. Students will further develop skills to communicate in Japanese in various cultural contexts, and strengthen their understanding of Japanese culture and society. While there will be continued emphasis on oral skills, students will expand their knowledge of kanji, grammar, and vocabulary necessary to express and understand a wider range of ideas in written format. Students will improve their oral skills though classroom activities and supplementary audio-visual materials.  Lab required.  3.5 credits.

378.415-416  Advanced Japanese  (H)
Offered for students who have completed 378.315-316 or the equivalent.  Students will further develop reading skills in modern Japanese through exposure to a variety of authentic reading materials from expository prose to simple technical materials written for the general reader.  Part of the course materials will be selected based on individual students' needs and interests, so students will be able to develop a good foundation for becoming advanced readers in their chosen fields.  Lab required.  3.5 credits