Japanese Studies Program @ York UniversityAS/JP2000 6.0 INTERMEDIATE MODERN STANDARD JAPANESE[cat# A: P54P01 B: J01B01 ] Web eClassGENERAL GUIDELINES: 2024-2025COURSEThis course is to provide intermediate level language instruction for those who have completed the first year Japanese AP/JP1000 6.0 (or AS/JP1000 6.0) at York University, an equivalent course at other institutions, or those who have acquired comparable knowledge of the Japanese language elsewhere [e.g. high school credit course]. Eligible students can perform simple communicative tasks in the four-skill areas (speaking, listening, reading and writing) with basic [mainly simple sentence based] grammar, basic vocabulary, various sociolinguistic aspects, approximately 120 Kanji and two Kana systems, and good knowledge of Japanese culture and society. The main focus of this course is on the communicative
aspects of language use. The modular approach enhances the four skill
areas - situation and task oriented conversation,
strategy-centred comprehension [listening and
reading] and structure-based writing are
involved with emphasis on complex sentence
structures. The grammatical component will be developed
particularly with regards to three major processes for
creation of complex sentences: use of subordinate
clauses, relative clauses, and complementation.
Listening comprehension will be enhanced by viewing
video tapes. The topics and situations of conversation
will be centred around daily university life. Synergy, Empathy,
Communicative and Narrative Approach are the
guiding principles for language instructions. The course
is fully web-based: no textbook is used, all the
instructional materials are available on the web,
including self-study interactive materials, tests are
on-line via Moodle, and entire classes are
video-streamed for real-time participation (distance
education format) and review. Upon completion of this course, with the help of
dictionaries, students should be able to function in
daily extended conversational situations such as
self-introduction, finding out necessary information,
making an appointment, explaining future plans, and
negotiating, understand short TV programs, read and
write short paragraphs on simple topics. PREREQUISITE A grade of "B" in AP/JP1000 6.0 (or AS/JP1000 6.0) or an equivalent background is strongly recommended to enrol in this course. Students who have not taken AP/JP1000 6.0 (or AS/JP1000 6.0) but have studied Japanese elsewhere must write the placement test before registration. [Call (416)736-5016] PACE & COVERAGE The course is semi-intensive in nature and moves quite fast: six hours per lesson. Fourteen lessons in the Lecture Notes will be completed. Approximately 480 Kanji will be covered including the 120 introduced in AP/JP1000 6.0 (or AS/JP1000 6.0). TESTS, ASSIGNMENTS & QUIZZES Three on-line written tests via Moodle are
scheduled, which are based on lessons of the Lecture
Notes and the corresponding reading and writing
lessons. The on-site essay with Moodle will be
based on the web presentation. Oral and written
assignments, including a short web presentation, will
be given regularly according to the schedule. Short Kanji
quizzes will be administered regularly as well. Note: No make-ups except in case of emergency
such as severe illness [supported by a medical
certificate], automobile accidents, death in the family
[a letter is required from an appropriate person], and
other similar situations. Any failure in online Internet
connection must be substantiated with a photo that
indicates the incident. If you miss a test or quiz
without any reasonable explanation, you will receive a
grade of zero. Written assignments must be handed in by
the due day. No late assignments will be accepted except
in case of emergency stated above. If you come in too
late for the test or quiz, you may be asked by the
instructor to leave. Should students miss a test, oral
assignment, or homework due to inevitable circumstances
(e.g., medical emergency), they are required to notify
their instructor within 24
hours and provide her with written proof
(e.g., doctor’s note), in order for them to be
rescheduled.These policies are observed stringently. LECTURES & TUTORIALS For every lesson of the Lecture Notes a short seminar-type lecture will be given in reference to the important grammatical items and the relevant information. Then the dialogues and writing will be introduced. In these lectures, some socio-linguistic, pragmatic, and cross-cultural information will be provided to facilitate those who may visit Japan in the near future. Lecture Notes, Intermediate Conversation, and Intermediate Writing are available on the Japanese web page to help students understand various important and difficult items. They are regularly augmented by new information, up-to-date explanations and examples, and practical, usable items. Occasionally video tapes will be shown to enhance comprehension of the points at issue. Attendance is mandatory and is checked every time. Students are expected to engage in active communicative interactions with their own narratives in tutorials. The following are useful rules: * Make sure that you are well prepared for the class
every time. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS Please print out the Lecture Notes from the Japanese web site. EVALUATION Please refer to the grading scheme given on the
separate sheet. An overall grade of "B" is
strongly recommended to advance to AP/JP3000
6.0 . Tests
: 30% WARNING & SANCTION Students who have missed class three consecutive times without any reasonable explanation to the instructor, and those whose absence is frequent may receive a warning, and if attendance does not improve immediately, further action may be taken by the course director. Academic dishonesty such as cheating and plagiarism will be penalized severely according to university regulations. Those who are accepted to this course provisionally may receive a recommendation from the instructor as to whether s/he should continue the course or not. IN-CLASS POLICIES * Any form of abuse, physical, psychological, or verbal, will not be tolerated.* 'Political Correctness' should be adhered to as a guiding principle. * Private talking should be kept minimal. * Cellular phones and pagers must be turned off except for emergency situations. * Only drinks (water and soft drinks) are allowed, no eating or chewing gum. CONSULTATION & ADVISING As for general questions and problems please feel free
to consult your instructor. Please observe office
hours; otherwise make an appointment.
Time-consuming questions and individual questions should
be addressed during office hours. E-mail inquiries
should be kept minimal. Do not expect your instructor to
respond to your inquiries on the weekend. ENROLLMENT
DEADLINE Last date to enroll with permission of course instructor: October 16, 2024 (applicable only to those who have attended the class regularly) WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE Your interim grade will be provided by the beginning of
February 2025. LANGUAGE STUDY Language study involves not only passive aspects [memorization, recitation, drills, pattern practice and so forth] but also active and creative aspects [analysis and comprehension of what is said or written, synthesis of what is learned, and communicative application of the language in actual situations]. In this course communicative aspects are strongly emphasized so that students will be able to function in actual conversation. Therefore, tutorials will not be conducted in such a way that the instructor gives lectures and drills and the students respond to him/her, but instead the students are encouraged to interact with both the instructor and other students in the class in actual communication [active participation]. Those who are not familiar with this kind of individualistic, heuristic, and creative language study will need to change their views and learning strategies very fast. HOW TO STUDY There is no one way to study language that is good for every one; every person has a different learning style and strategy. Try out various ways and find the best method and system for you as soon as possible. The following are some suggestions. * Good preparation and review are very important.
Always read the explanation of the textbook and the Lecture
Notes in order to familiarize yourself with the * Try to use what you have learned in the class and
elsewhere in your own way. Repeating the utterances
presented on the web alone is not sufficient. Think * In recitation and drills always be aware of what
you are saying with what kind of feeling and for what
purpose. Automatic recitation without knowing * Do not try to review everything at once. You will not
have time to go back to review all the lessons covered.
A steady accumulation of the knowledge and use * Make use of weekends for review. When you review,
focus on the items difficult to understand, and make
sure you understand all the important items * Study with your friends in your class and if you
should miss a class, make sure you get all the
information from the video-streamed classes. Oral * Take advantage of IT and the available facilities and
software to enhance language acquisition. Work on the
self-study materials on the web whenever and EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES * Informal get-together may be organized by
volunteer students [you included] who are studying
Japanese at York University FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES * Monbu-Kagaku-shoo
Scholarships are available for third and
fourth year students sponsored by the Japanese
Government. CALL [Computer-Assisted Language Learning] / TEL
[Technology Enhanced Learning] MLC provides PC lab sessions. All these sessions are on
a walk-in and first-come-first-served basis. E-mail account Every student must activate his/her E-mail account as
soon as possible. eClass (Moodle) Web Sites https://buna.yorku.ca/GRADING SCHEME
(Please note that the grading scheme is different from
the standard one for York University.)
Your final grade will be given based on the above grading scheme. A grade of "B" or above is strongly recommended to advance to the next level, although "C" is the minimum requirement. Please note that the grading percentages are set higher
than in the standard grading scheme because 10% of the
total grade is allocated for class/lab attendance and
participation. Noriko Yabuki-Soh/Kumiko Inutsuka |