2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Japanese language and culture courses
Japanese 4 A
- Academic unit or major
- Japanese language and culture courses
- Instructor(s)
- Reiko Sato
- Class Format
- Exercise
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- A
- Course Code
- LAJ.J104
- Number of credits
- 010
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course aims to learn how to apply Japanese expressions and language skills which are useful when you attend a lecture at a university, following Japanese 3. Students will engage in activities that deal with and critically assess a variety of information. Students will improve their ability to express their opinions and ideas. Students will learn many useful skills to help them speak and write Japanese more effectively. In addition, students will deepen their understanding of various aspects of the world through the use of materials on society, technology, and culture topics.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will develop the ability to accurately understand authentic texts and think critically about them. Students will be able to confidently and fluently speak and discuss Japanese in any situation. Students will develop skills such as building vocabulary, gathering ideas, researching, summarizing, and organizing ideas logically.
*In GSEP class, students will learn the basic of Japanese grammar and vocabulary for everyday situations and also some information about Japanese culture and society.
Keywords
presentation, discussion, written style Japanese, idiomatic Japanese
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
We will ask students to discuss each topic in a small group. The class will start with a lecture, followed by pair work. Students will make a presentation of the discussion outcome.
*In GSEP class especially, through a variety of communicative activities, students will
practice communicating in ordinary conversation and will learn how to express their own ideas using Japanese in a small group.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Orientation, Choose a subject area that interests you. | Consider formatting an easy-to-understand presentation handout. Read the material and summarize its contents. |
| Class 2 | Collect suitable materials for your presentation. | Collect suitable materials for your presentation. |
| Class 3 | Learn how to create a presentation handout. | Consider formatting an easy-to-understand presentation handout. Make presentation handouts. |
| Class 4 | Make a well-structured paragraph. | Consider how you construct a paragraph in which you clearly convey information and your opinion. |
| Class 5 | Find and arrange proper speech styles. | Find and arrange proper speech styles. |
| Class 6 | Predicting the future of society | Using the materials collected so far, predict what the future society will look like. |
| Class 7 | Make a presentation and feedback. | Make a presentation and feedback. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Not specified.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Not specified.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Assessment will be conducted based on quizzes 20%, presentations 50%, and a report 30%.
*Assessment will be conducted based on quizzes 60%, writing activities 20%, and a presentation 20%.
Related courses
- LAJ.J201 ： Japanese 5
- LAJ.J202 ： Japanese 6
- LAJ.J203 ： Japanese 7
- LAJ.J204 ： Japanese 8
Prerequisites
Only the first year international student can take this course.
Other
GSEP students must take a class indicated GSEP.