Japanese

Instructors: Sandy Kim
                       Jennifer Pedersen

E-mail: sandy.kim@arapahoe.edu

There are approximately 130 million speakers of Japanese worldwide --- 128 million in Japan, 1.3 million in Brazil, 670,000 in the US, and 80,000 in Peru. The Japanese language is an intriguing mixture of linguistic elements --- multiple systems of written symbols linked to different socio-cultural functions, several levels of politeness forms, and a rich sound system intimately connected to the poetic-dramatic-literary arts.

Japan’s political-economic system is “bureaucratic capitalism”, with a multiparty parliamentary government, an eclectic borrowing from various Western influences, reconstructed in the Japanese idiom. Currently holding the record for longest life-span in the world, women at 83.6 years and men at 77 years, Japan is at a crossroads in the 21st century. The Japanese people are facing demographic, social, economic, political, and environmental challenges, even as high technology and popular culture are keenly sought-after exports to the global market. The public in general, and citizens’ groups in particular, are actively aware of and participating in the global community --- regional and local cultural and linguistic diversity is preserved in family, community, and national traditions and festivals. In a land of ancient wooden architecture and sculptured gardens, the high-rise modernity of megapolis Tokyo and sophisticated robotic technology, there is a common goal of long-term cultural and community sustainability and economic vitality.

Prerequisite: None. This is a beginner course

Texts and Required Materials

• Text: Nakama 1: Japanese Communication, Culture, Context. by Makino, Hatasa, & Hatasa (Houghton Mifflin)
• Workbook/Laboratory Manual - Part 1 with Student Practice CD.
• Set of 3 CDs to accompany the Lab Manual (to purchase from Media Center)

Course Description:
This course begins a sequence in the development of functional proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing Japanese, as well as cultural awareness.

Course Objectives:
This course is designed to give students the opportunity to acquire basic skills to communicate effectively in all 5 skill areas of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural competency. Emphasis is on appropriate situational usage and demonstration of proficiency in task-activities for everyday conversation, learning pronunciation and basic vocabulary, Kana syllabaries, and elementary sentence structures. Elementary Kanji are gradually introduced for recognition in each lesson, in context through vocabulary and appropriate usage.

Student Competencies:
Upon completion of this course, the student at the novice level should be able to:

1. Comprehensibly reproduce the pronunciation and intonation of the Japanese language.
2. Understand basic oral statements, instructions, and questions.
3. Apply vocabulary and learned phrases in simple oral expressions.
4. Use vocabulary and grammar in basic elementary interchanges
5. Employ comprehensible grammar in writing simple statements.
6. Read and comprehend basic information.
7. Identify geographical locations where Japanese language is spoken.
8. Demonstrate an awareness of appropriate cultural behaviors in everyday situations.
9. Recognize and produce legible hiragana and katakana characters.

Prerequisite: JPN 111 (Japanese I), or instructor permission

Required Texts and Materials:

• Text: Nakama 1: Japanese Communication, Culture, Context. by Makino, Hatasa, & Hatasa (Houghton Mifflin)
• Workbook/Laboratory Manual - Part 1 with Student Practice CD.
• Set of 3 CDs to accompany Lab Manual (to purchase from Media Center)

Course Description:
JPN 112 is the second semester of Japanese and continues JPN 111 in the development of functional proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing Japanese, as well as cultural awareness.

Course Objectives:

1. To provide the student with the opportunity to acquire additional knowledge of Japanese grammar, vocabulary and syntax.
2. To provide the student with continued practice in basic aural, oral, reading and writing skills.
3. To provide the student with continued practice in translations (English/Japanese – Japanese/English)
4. To provide the student with continued opportunity to learn about the Japanese culture and society.

Student Competencies:
Upon completion of this course, the student at the novice-high level should be able to:

1. Demonstrate improved pronunciation and intonation of the Japanese language.
2. Comprehend and respond to oral directions and questions.
3. Verbalize simple personal ideas using correct pronunciation and grammar.
4. Comprehend simple, brief written selections.
5. Write simple, guided compositions based on everyday situations, using correct grammar.
6. Recognize and write legible kana and kanji characters.
7. Demonstrate an awareness of appropriate cultural behaviors in everyday situations.
8. Demonstrate an awareness of some contributions of the Japanese culture to the culture of the United States.

Prerequisite: JPN 112 (Japanese II), or instructor permission

Required Texts and Materials:

• Text: Nakama 2: Japanese Communication, Culture, Context by Makino, Hatasa, & Hatasa (Houghton Mifflin)
• Workbook/Laboratory Manual - Part 2 with Student Practice CD.
• Set of 3 CDs to accompany the Lab Manual (to purchase from Media.

Course Description:
JPN 211 is the first intermediate level of Japanese language. It continues JPN 111, and 112 in the development of increased functional proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing Japanese, as well as cultural proficiency.

Course Objectives:
This course provides students with the opportunity to improve their conversational, listening, reading, writing, and culturally appropriate skills through a diversity of contexts. Emphasis is on appropriate situational usage in everyday conversation; more complex sentence patterns, new vocabulary, and Kanji compounds are introduced through a practical activity and task approach.

Student Competencies:
Upon completion of this course the student at the intermediate low level should be able to:

1. Use receptive listening skills to obtain meaning from conversations spoken on everyday topics
2. Initiate, comprehend, and maintain meaningful communication in predictable and familiar situations
3. Apply receptive reading skills for the comprehension of selected texts, including literary selections
4. Apply critical and logical skills in the creation of written texts, such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, through written assignments that stress communication for specific audiences (formal/ familiar)
5. Compare, contrast, and reflect on some attitudes and values of Japanese culture and American culture in relation to geographical, historical, cultural and linguistic aspects
6. Practice strategic skills to communicate meaningfully and appropriately with a selected audience in oral an written form
7. Demonstrate ability to select and apply appropriate technology to solve problems or compile information in the study of Japanese language and culture

Prerequisite: JPN 211 ( Japanese III) , or instructor permission

Course Description:
This is the second level of intermediate Japanese language. It continues Japanese I, II and III in the development of increased functional proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing the Japanese language, as well as cultural proficiency.

Course Objectives:
This course provides students with the opportunity to improve their conversational, listening, reading, writing, and culturally appropriate skills through a diversity of contexts. Emphasis is on appropriate situational usage in everyday conversation; more complex sentence patterns, new vocabulary, and Kanji compounds are expanded through a practical activity and task approach.

Student Competencies:
Upon completion of this course, student at the intermediate high level should be able to:

1. Use receptive skills to obtain meaning from conversations spoken on everyday topics.
2. Initiate, comprehend, and maintain meaningful communication in predictable and familiar situations
3. Apply receptive reading skills for the comprehension of selected texts, including literary selections.
4. Apply critical and logical skills in the creation of written texts, such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, through written assignments that stress communication for specific audiences (formal / familiar).
5. Compare, contrast, and reflect on some attitudes and values of Japanese culture and American culture in relation to geographical, historical, cultural and linguistic aspects.
6. Practice strategic skills to communicate meaningfully and appropriately with a selected audience in oral and written form.
7. Demonstrate the ability to select and apply appropriate technology to solve problems or compile information in the study of the Japanese language and culture.

Special Topics courses provide the students with the opportunity to explore topics of special interest. Check the semester schedule for specific offering.

Check the Schedule of Classes for special topics offering.

Course Descriptions

Flag of Japan

Imperial Seal of Japan

The Great Buddha