2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Japanese language and culture courses
Basic Japanese 1 3QF
- Academic unit or major
- Japanese language and culture courses
- Instructor(s)
- Aiko Sasaki / Mika Ebara
- Class Format
- Exercise
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- 3QF
- Course Code
- LAJ.J411
- Number of credits
- 010
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course is aimed at first-time learners of the Japanese language (Beginner 1). Students will learn:
- the basic of Japanese grammar and vocabulary for everyday situations;
- information about Japanese culture and society.
Students will also learn Japanese characters, Hiragana and Katakana. Through a variety of communicative activities, students will be able to communicate in ordinary conversation, and will learn how to express their own ideas using basic Japanese.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- understand basic Japanese structure, grammar and vocabulary, and use them on a daily basis;
- speak in Japanese about daily activities including time and place, and express opinions and comments using simple sentences;
- read and write Hiragana and Katakana.
Keywords
Japanese, basic level, beginner, conversation, communication, hiragana, katakana
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Students will acquire basic knowledge of Japanese language structures and grammar to promote their language proficiency.
The instructor will provide the in-class feedback during group work and group presentation sessions sharing texts.
The instructor will ensure students’ learning through weekly in-class and after-class assignments, group discussion, and whole group share.
Students are expected to read the course schedule and look up the new terms to prepare for the class. At the end of every class, students are given assignments and are expected to turn it in in the next class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Lesson 1: Self introduction, greetings, Hiragana introduction | This class will cover the following language focuses: N1 wa N2 desu N1 no N2 |
| Class 2 | Lesson 2: Asking names, nationalities, major, etc., asking prices | N wa nan/dochira/ikura desu ka / N1 mo N2 desu |
| Class 3 | Lesson 3: Words for daily goods, food, etc. | Kore/Sore/Are wa N desu / Kono N1 wa N2(person) no (N3)desu / N1 desu ka, N2 desu ka. |
| Class 4 | Lesson 4: Talking about daily activities | N o V-masu/V-masen(negative) N1 to N2 |
| Class 5 | Lesson 5: Telling the time, describing a daily / Weekly schedule / Hiragana: double consonants, long vowels, contracted sound | _ji _hun desu / _ji ni V-masu / N kara N made |
| Class 6 | Lesson 6: Talking about one's activities in past / Review (L1-L5) / Hiragana review | V-mashita/V-masen deshita (V past tense) / N (place) e V-masu |
| Class 7 | Lesson 7: Making suggestions and inviting / Hiragana quiz | V-masen ka (suggestion) / V-masho |
| Class 8 | Lesson 8 and 9: Talking about the existence or location of people and things | (position) ni N ga imasu/arimasu |
| Class 9 | Lesson 10: Talking about the purpose of coming to Japan / Review (L6~L10) | N (place) e N/V ni V-masu (purpose of movement) / N (person) ni N o agemasu/moraimasu(giving and receiving) |
| Class 10 | Lesson 11: Talking about things and place using adjectives / Katakana review | N wa i-Adjective/na-Adjective / desu (non-past/ affirmative) |
| Class 11 | Lesson 12: Talking about things and place using adjectives / Katakana quiz | N wa i-Adjective kunai desu (negative) / N wa n-Adjective dewa arimasen (negative) |
| Class 12 | Lesson 13 and 14: Talking about what you want to do, expressing preferences and skillfulness | N ga hoshii desu (desire, wish) / N o V-tai desu / N ga suki desu. (preference) |
| Class 13 | Lesson 15: Comparing things, agreeing and disagreeing / Review (L11~L15) | N1 wa N2 yori i-Adj/na-Adj desu (comparative degree) |
| Class 14 | Review and Examination (Lesson 1-15) | Review |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes each for preparing for and reviewing each class (including the time spent for assignments) by referring to textbooks and other course materials.
Textbook(s)
Yamazaki Yoshiko, Doi Mitsuru Basic Japanese for Students Hakase1 3A Corporation ISBN-13: 978-4883194056
Reference books, course materials, etc.
None
Evaluation methods and criteria
1) Assignment 13%, 2) Quiz 27%, 3) Final Examination 60%
In order to take the final exam, students are required to have a minimum attendance of 60%.
Related courses
- LAJ.J412 ： Basic Japanese 2
Prerequisites
For students who have never learned Japanese or have not reached "Basic Japanese 2"(LAJ.J412) level.
Other
You must reserve your place in the class in advance using Japanese class online system (https://js.ila.titech.ac.jp/~web). You will not be allowed to attend the class without reservation.