Academic Catalog

JAPN 1: ELEMENTARY JAPANESE I

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2022
Units: 5
Hours: 5 lecture per week (60 total per quarter)
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Introduce oneself, greet, ask and answer simple questions related to daily familiar topics.
  • Recognize oral and written messages, and produce sentences, orally and in writing, on the daily familiar topics.

Description

Oral and written practice in the minimum competencies in language functions: vocabulary essential to basic communicative situations, grammar necessary for carrying out functions, signals for carrying out communicative tasks, and cultural skills in specific situations. Introduction to Hiragana, Katakana and about 80 Kanji.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Recognize and use terms of amenities in simple conversation about everyday life activities within the range of learned vocabulary patterns and idioms.
  2. Compare aspects of Japanese culture with those of the U.S., and participate in culture-oriented tasks.
  3. Recognize and reproduce all Hiragana, Katakana and 75 Chinese characters (Kanji).
  4. Differentiate in-group and out-group and use formal and casual expressions.
  5. Recognize oral and written messages, and produce sentences, orally and in writing, in the daily familiar topics.
  6. Speak with reasonably accurate pronunciation and speech patterns, and show awareness of a native sense of language rhythm.

Course Content

  1. Recognize and use terms of amenities in simple conversation about everyday life activities within the range of learned vocabulary patterns and idioms
    1. Time: hours, a.m./p.m., dates, year, numbers, and counters
    2. Asking and answering questions, and giving directions
    3. Talking about daily activities
    4. Shopping and ordering meals
  2. Compare aspects of Japanese culture with those of the U.S., and participate in culture-oriented tasks
    1. Greetings and addressing people according to the vertical relations
    2. Signaling to end a conversation
    3. Dealing with problems in restaurants
    4. Getting someone to repeat something one did not catch
    5. Confirming information
    6. Gaining time to collect one's thoughts
  3. Recognize and reproduce all Hiragana, Katakana and 75 Chinese characters (Kanji)
    1. Use all three writing systems to write simple sentences
  4. Differentiate in-group and out-group and use formal and casual expressions
    1. Formal and informal introductions
    2. Distinguishing formal and casual styles
  5. Recognize oral and written messages, and produce sentences, orally and in writing, in the daily familiar topics
    1. Copula desu/ja arimasen/ deshita/ja arimasen deshita
    2. Particles: wa and mo (discourse), no (modifying and possession indicating), ga (subject-marker), o (object-marker), ni and e (direction-marker), de (location-marker of action), ni (location-marker of existence), de (indicating tools and means), to (companion-marker), kara (indicating reasons/causes), nara (confirming specification), ya, toka, and to (conjunctive)
    3. Verbs in the distal form masu/ masen/mashita/masen desita: motion verbs, action verbs, and existence verbs
    4. Question words: donata/dare (who), nan/nani (what), itsu (when), and doko (where)
    5. Demonstrative prefixes ko/so/a/do
  6. Speak with reasonably accurate pronunciation and speech patterns, and show awareness of a native sense of language rhythm
    1. Recognize different pitches
    2. Recognize different intonation patterns
    3. Speak with accurate pronunciation and natural rhythm

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

When taught virtually: ongoing access to computer with JavaScript-enabled internet browsing software, media plug-ins, and relevant computer applications.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Periodic oral and written examinations
Classroom preparation and participation in classroom discussions
Oral testing activities
Written assignments
Exams and quizzes
Final examination
Online listening, reading and writing assignments

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture
Face-to-face questions and answers
Group work and activities
Pair work and activities
Small group conversation practice with in-class tutors
Feedback on oral presentations
Feedback on writing exercises

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Banno, Eri, et al.. GENKI: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese, Vol. 1, 3rd ed. (ISBN 9784789017305). 2020.

Banno, Eri, et al.. GENKI: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese, Workbook, Vol. 1, 3rd ed. (ISBN 9784789017312). 2020.

Handouts and other authentic materials, such as TV programs, commercials and news broadcasts

GENKI 3rd edition Self Study Room: https://genki3.japantimes.co.jp/en/student/

GENKI Self Study Room: http://genki.japantimes.co.jp/self

Audio apps and software (downloadable at the Japan Times website)

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Reading the grammar points and model dialogues in the textbook and the workbook.
  2. Reading online resource materials to prepare for in-class discussions.
  3. Reading online articles on current and historical issues involving Japan to prepare for in-class discussions.
  4. Essay writing and compositions.

Discipline(s)

Foreign Languages