Enduring Understanding

 

This course has the objective of bringing the student to the intermediate level of Japanese. Conversation is further stressed by using topics from typical Japanese daily life. Formal and colloquial Japanese are learned together in the same lesson. The writing follows the grammar pattern where sentences are more complex. The course continues in the study of ca.60 more Kanji. Comparative culture is stressed for a deeper understanding of the Japanese culture. By the end of the course students should be able to express themselves more freely in the target language being capable to address their own opinions.

 

 

Assessments

 

Students are graded by their assignments and responses during conversation and drills. Assigned homework is graded. Grades are composed each quarter by tests at the end of each unit (chapter), kanji (character) quizzes, listening, reading comprehension and conversation participation and responses. Students are required at this level to create more independently in the language and writing assignments are also part of their grades. Grades are composed by the sum of all assignments, quizzes and tests as well as participation in oral conversation.

 

 

Additional Resources Needed


Required Textbooks:

  • Adventures in Japanese 2 Textbook (2007) 3rd Edition Peterson & Hirano-Omizo
    Paperback ISBN 978-088727-428-2
    Hardcover ISBN 978-0-88727-578-4
  • Adventures in Japanese 2 Workbook 2nd edition 3rd Edition Peterson & Steverson
    ISBN 978-0-88727-429-9

    All can be found at cheng-tsui.com

Required Technology:

  • Computer that meets the minimum system requirements listed on the Live Classroom page
  • Internet connection (Broadband preferred)
  • Headset with microphone combination
  • E-mail account (recommended)
  • Printer
  • Scanner or access to a fax machine (Your school should have this available for you
  • DVD Player (in PC or consumer player)
  • Web camera for computer (recommended
  • Writing tablet (recommended)- (Genius Mouse Pen 8x6 - $50; Bamboo [Small] Pen tablet with pen only - $70 - from Amazon.com)

 

Content Topics

 

Unit 1

Introduce cultural context, compare cultural points of view, comparative form, comparative with negative answer, superlative, prefix for words indicating politeness, conversation: opinions about stores and products, New kanji

 

Unit 2

Grammar: transitive and intransitive verbs, potential form; Exercises and conversation drills: sports – intransitive verbs, coming to class, bring something to class Grammar: Noun Modifier, use of noun modifier and contrastive sentence, use of verbs go, come, return and bring

 

Unit 3

Japanese culture: folk tales; Grammar: meanings of “finished” + verb, Listening and reading comprehension, indirect quotation; Conversation topics: speaker’s regret and completed work, What do you think? “I will be the sun”

 

Unit 4

Grammar: If, when, whenever (connection of sentences), comparison of two actions Listening comprehension: following directions; Conversation topic: give directions, how far, how long does it take; Reading comprehension

 

Unit 5

Culture: Japanese food; Conversation topic: Dish recipe description Lesson 14-1: “Do you know how to make sukiyaki?”, reaction to what happened to somebody, plans for the future, weather, to exceed, to do something in excess; Vocabulary: drills and conversation, cooking terminology

 

Unit 6

Culture: Women’s role in Japanese society
Conversation: description of people

 

Unit 7

Conversation and drills: “I do such things as watching TV and listening to music.”things you (or someone else) do on the weekends, gift giving, Mother’s Day; Grammar: list of two or more verbs, conditional form, giver and receiver verbs in Japanese; Listening comprehension; Writing: Plans for the future; Free conversation: personality and past events

 

       

       

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