Courses:

This course covers JSL (Japanese: the Spoken Language, Part 1, by Eleanor H. Jorden with Mari Noda) Lessons 1 through 6, providing opportunities to acquire basic skills for conversation, reading and writing. The program emphasizes ACTIVE command of Japanese, not passive knowledge. Your goal is not simply to study the grammar and vocabulary, but to acquire the ability to use Japanese accurately and appropriately with increasing spontaneity. You will learn Hiragana and Katakana (the Japanese phonetic symbols), then approximately 50 Kanji (Sino-Japanese characters) in this course.

• Japanese: the Spoken Language, Part 1, by Eleanor H. Jorden with Mari Noda, Yale University Press, 1987.
• Kana-Kanji Version of Japanese: the Spoken Language.

In this course there are two types of class sessions, FACT and ACT. In FACT classes, information necessary for using the language, such as grammar, vocabulary, and socio-cultural information, will be provided primarily in English. You must read the textbook carefully, studying the Structural Patterns ('SPs'), the Miscellaneous Notes ('MN'), the Breakdowns (new vocabulary items), and the Core Conversations ('CCs'), as your preparation for FACT classes. Make sure that you know the metalinguistic terms used in the text as we refer to them in class.

ACT classes, which are conducted entirely in Japanese, will concentrate on speaking activities that require you to use the language. One of the things expected in ACT classes is that you ACT OUT the assigned Core Conversations ('CCs') accurately and fluently. Note that your grade for this course is largely dependent on your DAILY PERFORMANCE. Good daily performance scores can be achieved when you have learned and practiced the assigned CCs and Drills before coming to class, and demonstrate that you can use them in other contexts given in the class session. You should not rely only on reading the texts when you prepare for class; you need to use the accompanying tapes and learn the sounds, paying attention to the pronunciation and the intonation. Come to class well-prepared, as the pace and the level of a particular session are influenced by your readiness.

• Make a good habit of working with the audio tapes at the beginning of the semester. Keep in mind that communication is two-way: if you want to be able to 'speak' in Japanese, you have to be able to 'listen to and understand' what others say to you. Don't underestimate the importance of the amount of time you use with tapes for your listening comprehension skills.
• Due to time limitations, we cannot spend so much time on in-class reading/writing practice. You are expected to set aside some time outside class to practice reading and writing on your own. You should make use of the Kana-Kanji Version text and the online materials.

One of the things you are expected to do in ACT classes is that you ACT OUT the assigned Core Conversations ('CCs'). Based on your performance of CCs and other activities involving the assigned CCs and Drills, you will be given a daily performance score:

10 = excellent performance; native-like fluency
9 = very good/strong performance with some minor mistakes
8 = fair performance with some mistake or weakness
7 = prepared, but weak in major areas
6 = present, but evidently unprepared
0 = absent

There are two oral interview exams and one hourly exam. A Vocabulary Quiz is given in each FACT class, and a 20-to-25-minute Lesson Quiz is given at the end of each lesson except for Lesson 6. There are also a few Kana and Kanji quizzes.

Evaluation Method

Daily Grade (CC performance and drills) 35% *
Lesson Quizzes 25% **
Oral Interviews 15%
Hourly Exam 10%
Kana and Vocabulary Quizzes 10% ***
Class Participation 5%


* The four lowest daily grades will be dropped at the end of the term.
** The lowest LQ score will be dropped at the end of the term.
*** The four lowest quiz scores will be dropped at the end of the term.

• No make-up quizzes or exams are given in this course.

Attendance Policy

i. Because of the cumulative nature of language learning, it is essential that you attend all sessions and keep up with the course work on a daily basis. Please follow the online Weekly Schedule and come to class well-prepared.

ii. You must regularly attend the class section in which you are registered, unless you have made official arrangements with the instructors at the beginning of the semester. If you have to attend a section other than your regular section on a particular day, you must notify the instructors at least one day in advance.

iii. Only in the case of an emergency will you be allowed to participate in class activities and quizzes in a different section without the aforementioned one-day-in-advance permission from the instructors. Oversleeping is NOT regarded as an emergency.

Notes

1. You should try your best never to fall behind. Any student who feels he/she is behind is encouraged to see an instructor and discuss the situation with her before it is too late.
2. Students are expected to come to class in time. Coming in late not only results in missed performances and quizzes that may not be made up for, but also distracts other students.
3. The Humanities Concentration for Japanese is Japanese I-IV or II-IV.