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Japanese Language Courses

Japanese Language

JAPANESE 111-1,2,3 – Japanese I

Overview of class
Japanese I (JAPANESE 111-1, 2, and 3) is a yearlong course that covers the first half of college-level elementary Japanese.  In Japanese I, students will build a solid foundation for Japanese language learning while developing the four skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing.  Students will also learn various aspects of Japanese culture and society through in-class activities and written assignments.  Careful and thorough review and preparation for each class session are required.

 Registration Requirements
Except for JAPANESE 111-1, students must pass the preceding course with C- or above, or must be placed into the course by the departmental placement test.

Learning Objectives
The year-end goal of Japanese I is to bring students’ overall Japanese proficiency to the Intermediate-Low level defined by the American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency guidelines.  Upon completing the course, students can greet, introduce themselves, describe their families and friends, describe their familiar places, and discuss their daily routines, experiences, and opinions. 

Teaching Method 
This course is conducted mostly in Japanese, and class hours are spent mainly on oral proficiency development.  Written assignments are given for reading and writing proficiency development.

Evaluation Method 
Class participation and performance; assignments; quizzes; oral, listening, and written examinations.

Class Materials (Required) 
Oka, M. et al.  (2021).  TOBIRA 1: Beginning Japanese.  Tokyo: Kuroshio Publishers.  ISBN 978-4-87424-870-6.

Oka, M. et al.  (2022).  TOBIRA 1: Beginning Japanese Workbook 1 – Hiragana/Katakana, Kanji, Reading, Writing.  Tokyo: Kuroshio Publishers.  ISBN: 978-4-87424-910-9.

Oka, M. et al.  (2023).  TOBIRA 1: Beginning Japanese Workbook 2 – Vocabulary, Grammar, Listening.  Tokyo: Kuroshio Publishers.  ISBN: 978-4-87424-950-5

Class Materials (Suggested)
Endo-Hudson, M. (1994). English Grammar for Students of Japanese. Ann Arbor: The Olivia and Hill Press. ISBN: 0-934034-16-8; Makino, S. & Tsutsui M. (1989). Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar. Tokyo: The Japan Times. ISBN 4-7890-0454-6; Kodansha. (2012). Kodansha's Essential Kanji Dictionary. Tokyo: Kodansha. ISBN: 978-1568363974.

 

JAPANESE 121-1,2,3 – Japanese II

Overview of class
Japanese II (JAPANESE 121-1, 2 and 3) is a yearlong course that continues elementary Japanese following Japanese I (JAPANESE 111) and prepares students for intermediate Japanese (JAPANESE 211). Students further develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills while exploring aspects of Japanese culture and society through readings, written work, and in-class discussions.

The course emphasizes describing personal experiences, daily life, and social topics with increasing accuracy and sophistication. Students practice defining words and retelling a story they have heard or read while expanding vocabulary and grammatical structures. Consistent preparation and active participation are expected.  Through ongoing oral and written feedback, students build linguistic accuracy and learner autonomy.

Registration Requirements
Completion of the prerequisite course with a grade of C- or above, or placement by departmental test.

Learning Objectives 
By the end of the course, students aim to reach ACTFL Intermediate-Mid level (CEFR A2-B1.1).  Students will be able to handle a range of everyday conversational situations and comprehend moderately complex texts with some fluency. 

Teaching Method
Classes are conducted primarily in Japanese and focus on interpersonal communication.  Students are expected to read grammar explanation in the textbook, watch a corresponding video clip, practice required vocabulary and complete an assignment as class preparation.  Reading, listening and writing skills are developed through assignments completed outside of class. 

Evaluation Method
Class engagement, oral and written examinations, essays/reports and a short presentation.

Class Materials (Required)
Oka, M. et al. (2022). TOBIRA II: Beginning Japanese. Tokyo: Kuroshio Publishers. ISBN 978-4-87424-900-0.

Oka, M. et al. (2023).  TOBIRA II: Beginning Japanese Workbook 1: Kanji|Reading|Writing. Tokyo: Kuroshio Publishers. ISBN 978-4-87424-960-4

Oka, M. et al. (2024) TOBIRA II: Beginning Japanese Workbook 2
-Vocabulary, Grammar, Listening. Tokyo: Kuroshio Publishers.  ISBN 978-4-87424-9819

Class Materials (Suggested)
Hudson, M. E. (1994) English Grammar for Students of Japanese. Ann Arbor: The Olivia and Hill Press. ISBN 978-0934034166. 

JAPANESE 211-1,2,3 – Japanese III

Overview of class
Japanese III (JAPANESE 211-1, 2, 3) is a year-long, college-level intermediate course and the sequel to Japanese II (JAPANESE 121-1, 2, 3).  In Japanese III, students will continue developing the four skills -- speaking, listening, reading, and writing – while exploring various aspects of Japanese culture and society through reading materials, TV dramas, class discussions and interview projects.  Formal writing styles are introduced, and students will learn to distinguish between formal and casual speech and writing styles.  The year-end proficiency goal for 211 is Intermediate-High, as defined by the American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency guidelines. 

Registration Requirements
Students must have completed the preceding course with C- or above, or must be placed into the course through the departmental placement test.

Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of the year-long course, the students will be able to:

1) Handle daily situations comfortably and appropriately,

2) Describe and narrate daily events and personal experiences in an organized manner,

3) Summarize the main points of short presentations or stories,

4) Utilize casual and formal styles in both speech and writing,

5) Attain a working knowledge of kanji frequently used in the media,

6) Communicate with native speakers on familiar topics in informal settings,  

7) Deepen their understanding of customs, culture, and social phenomena of contemporary Japan, and

8) Learn strategies to become autonomous learners.

Teaching Method
Discussion.  This course is conducted in Japanese.

Evaluation Method
Class participation and performance, assignments, quizzes, oral and written examinations, projects.

Class Materials (Required)
JAPANESE 211-1
Oka, M. et al. (2025).  Tobira 1: Intermediate Japanese. Tokyo: Kuroshio Publishers. ISBN: 978-4-8011-1018-2

JAPANESE 211-2
Oka, M. et al. (2025).  Tobira 1: Intermediate Japanese. Tokyo: Kuroshio Publishers. ISBN: 978-4-8011-1018-2

Oka, M. et al. (2026).  Tobira 2: Intermediate Japanese. Tokyo: Kuroshio Publishers.  To be published in September 2026.

JAPANESE 211-3
Oka, M. et al. (2026).  Tobira 2: Intermediate Japanese. Tokyo: Kuroshio Publishers.  To be published in September 2026.

Class Materials (Optional)
Kano et al (2015).  [新版] Basic Kanji Book Vol. 2.  Tokyo: Bonjinsha.  ISBN: 978-4-89358-883-8


JAPANESE 310-0* – TBA

Overview of class

JAPANESE 312-1 – Japanese IV: Contemporary Japanese Literary Works for Reading and Discussion

Overview of class
In this course, students will enhance their language skills by exploring and discussing Japanese literary materials.  While literature courses in Japanese studies often emphasize historical contexts and specific analytical frameworks for the texts, this course focuses on students’ own engagement with and linguistic analysis of written works.  The course materials will include poems, essays, manga, short stories, and novels.  Supplementary movies may also be provided depending on availability.

Registration Requirements:
Students must have completed JAPANESE 211-3 with C- or above, or must be placed into the class through the departmental placement test.

Learning Objectives
1) Enhance language proficiency in reading and speaking to the Advanced-Low, as defined by the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines,

2) Explore various literary genres to identify their stylistic elements and themes,

3) Develop critical thinking skills by analyzing texts from multiple perspectives, and

4) Become an autonomous learner by examining strategies to achieve proficiency independently.

Teaching Method:
Discussion.  This course is conducted in Japanese.

Evaluation Method:
Class participation and performance, assignments, projects, oral and written exams.

Class Materials (Required):
All materials will be provided via Canvas.

JAPANESE 313 – Japanese IV: Japanese Newspaper Reading and News Listening

Overview of class
JAPANESE 313-1 focuses on reading and analyzing select news articles.  The course develops students’ news reading comprehension through systematic vocabulary building (kanji compounds, antonyms, collocations and idioms) and discussion.  Students practice new vocabulary through in-class discussions based on assigned readings and current news, and build listening comprehension skills using authentic and semi-authentic news materials.  This course does not include instruction in writing skills.  Students are expected to have intermediate-level writing proficiency (equivalent to the end of JAPANESE 211-3).

Registration Requirements
Completion of JAPANESE 211-3 with a grade of C- or above, or department test.

Learning Objectives
This advanced-level Japanese IV course aims to move students toward Advanced-Low (ACTFL) or B1.2 (CEFR) proficiency.  By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Teaching Method
Classes are conducted entirely in Japanese and emphasize reading comprehension and discussion.  Listening practice is assigned as homework.  Students are expected to read required articles on their own in preparation for in-class discussions.

Evaluation Method
Class participation and engagement; oral and written exams.

Class Materials (Required)
Course materials provided via Canvas
Access to online resources in the University Library’s Research Guide for Japanese Studies

JAPANESE 320-0 – TBA

Overview of class

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