JAP 110
Japanese I
Summer Term 2025 |
Instructor: Staff |
Total sessions: 25 Sessions |
Office Hours: TBA |
Session Length: 145 Minutes |
Classroom: TBA |
Credits: 3 Units |
Class Length: 7 Weeks |
Language: English&Japanese |
Course Overview:
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of the Japanese language. It is designed to develop basic skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, while also providing insights into Japanese culture. By the end of the course, students will be able to engage in simple conversations, read and write basic Japanese characters, and understand fundamental
grammatical structures.
Required Material:
Genki I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese (E. Banno et al., Japan Times, 2011).
Supplementary Resources: Selected articles, videos, and audio materials to be provided via the course platform.
Learning Objectives:
1. Learn basic Japanese grammar structures and vocabulary.
2. Develop the ability to read and write hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji (approximately 50 characters).
3. Gain confidence in listening and speaking through common daily conversations.
4. Understand Japanese culture, customs, and communication norms.
Course Outline: Week 1:
Lecture 1-4: Introduction to Japanese Language and Basic Phrases
Lecture 1: Overview of Japanese Language & Culture
o Introduction to the structure of the Japanese language
o Understanding the cultural context and basic social etiquette
Lecture 2: Hiragana - Vowels & Consonants
o Introduction to the Hiragana alphabet (vowels: あ, い, う, え, お)
o Practice writing and recognizing Hiragana characters
Lecture 3: Basic Greetings
o Common greetings: "Hello," "Goodbye," "How are you?"
o Introduction to polite speech levels using “desu” (です)
Lecture 4: Basic Self-introduction
o Structure of a simple self-introduction: Name, nationality, and occupation
o Practice speaking about yourself using "desu" (です)
Assignment 1
More specific requirements (e.g., topic, formatting requirements, deadlines, etc.) will be provided in the course.
Week 2:
Lecture 5-8: Mastering Hiragana, Katakana Basics, and Simple Sentences
Lecture 5: Review of Hiragana and Basic Phrases
o Reinforce Hiragana characters learned and practice with classmates
o Role-playing common greeting situations
Lecture 6: Introduction to Katakana
o Learn Katakana characters (for foreign loan words)
Lecture 7: Simple Sentence Structure
o Constructing simple sentences using "desu" (です) and "ka" (か) for questions
o Basic vocabulary for nouns: "this," "that," "where."
Lecture 8: Asking Basic Questions
o Learn how to ask questions such as "What is this?" and "Where is [place]?"
o Use of "ka" (か) at the end of a sentence to form a question
Week 3:
Lecture 9-12: Numbers, Days of the Week, and Verb Introduction
Lecture 9: Katakana Review & Basic Dialogue Practice
o Practice reading and writing foreign words using Katakana
o Role-playing conversations using basic phrases and questions
Lecture 10: Numbers (1-10) and Counting
o Learn numbers 1-10 in Japanese and practice simple counting
o Practice using numbers in context (e.g., age, time).
Lecture 11: Days of the Week and Basic Time Expressions
o Vocabulary for the days of the week and basic time expressions
o Practice asking and telling the time
Lecture 12: Introduction to Verbs - "Tabemasu" (食べます)
o Learn basic verbs in the polite form: "to eat," "to drink," "to go."
o Practice simple sentences using verbs: "I eat [food]."
Midterm Exam: multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions (Contains topics in Lecture 1-12)
Week 4:
Lecture 13-15: Basic Adjectives and Expanding Sentences
Lecture 13: Review of Numbers, Days, and Verbs
o Consolidate knowledge of numbers, days, and common verbs
o Simple conversation practice with classmates
Lecture 14: Verb Conjugation (Polite Form)
o Introduction to conjugation of regular verbs in polite form (ます-form)
o Practice forming sentences in the affirmative and negative forms
Lecture 15: Introduction to Basic Adjectives
o Learn common adjectives for size, color, and shape: "big," "small," "red," "beautiful."
o Practice using adjectives in sentences: "This is [adjective]."
Assignment 2
More specific requirements (e.g., topic, formatting requirements, deadlines, etc.) will be provided in the course.
Week 5:
Lecture 16-18: Kanji and Asking for Directions
Lecture 16: Combining Nouns, Verbs, and Adjectives
o Expanding sentences: combining nouns, adjectives, and verbs
o Practice describing people and things
Lecture 17: Introduction to Kanji (Numbers and Simple Characters)
o Learn basic Kanji characters: 一 (one), 二 (two), 三 (three)
Lecture 18: Asking for Directions
o Learn vocabulary related to places: "station," "restaurant," "store."
o Practice asking for and giving directions using phrases like "Where is [place]?"
Week 6:
Lecture 19-22: Advanced Sentence Structures in Daily Interactions
Lecture 19: Kanji and Adjective Review
o Review Kanji characters learned and practice in context
o Reinforce adjective usage in descriptive sentences
Lecture 20: Talking About Preferences (Likes/Dislikes)
o Learn vocabulary for hobbies and interests
o Practice asking and answering about likes/dislikes: "Do you like [activity]?"
Lecture 21: Expressing Polite Requests
o Learn how to make polite requests using "onegaishimasu" (お願いします)
o Practice asking for help and making polite requests
Lecture 22: More Verb Conjugation - Expressing Actions
o Learn verbs related to movement: "to go," "to come," "to return."
o Practice conjugating these verbs and using them in sentences.
Week 7:
Lecture 23-25: Final Review, and more
Lecture 23: Talking About Daily Activities and Routine
o Learn vocabulary for daily activities and time expressions (e.g., wake up, sleep, every day, sometimes)
o Practice constructing sentences about routines using verbs and time phrases.
Lecture 24: Practical Sentence Applications
o Practice reading and writing simple words
Lecture 25: Final Practice and Wrap-Up
o Review of key concepts, basic sentence structures and vocabulary
Final Exam: multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions (Contains topics in All Lectures)
Grading Assessment:
Assignment 1 |
15% |
Assignment 2 |
15% |
Weekly vocabulary quizzes |
5% |
Midterm |
25% |
Final exam |
30% |
Seminar Participation |
10% |
Total |
100% |
Assignments:
Students are required to write two writing practice during the semester, each ranging between 500-800 words. The assignments should demonstrate analytical thinking, clear organization, and proper use of evidence to support arguments. Both assignments will be graded on grammar accuracy, vocabulary usage, sentence structure, coherence, and the use of kanji where applicable. Feedback will be provided to improve your skills for future writing tasks.
Weekly quizzes:
The weekly vocabulary quizzes held every Friday, will consist exclusively of multiple-choice questions designed to assess your understanding and retention of key vocabulary introduced in that week’s lectures and materials. Each test will take approximately 10 minutes and evaluate your ability to correctly identify word meanings, recognize their usage in context, and associate
Japanese terms with their English equivalents. These quizzes collectively account for 5% of your final grade, with results provided the following Monday to support continuous learning and
improvement.
Attendance:
Students are required to attend a weekly seminar led by TA to focus on the week's topic and deepen understanding. Seminar time assigned by TA. Seminar attendance counts toward the final grade.
Exams:
The examinations in this course consist of multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions. The final exam is cumulative.
Final Evaluation:
Letter Grade |
Percentage (%) |
Letter Grade |
Percentage |
A+ |
≥95 |
C+ |
64-67 |
A |
89-94 |
C |
60-64 |
A- |
84-88 |
C- |
56-59 |
B+ |
79-83 |
D+ |
54-56 |
B |
73-78 |
D |
50-53 |
B- |
68-72 |
F |
≤50 |
General Policies:
Academic integrity
Academic integrity is the cornerstone of academia and requires students and researchers to
maintain honesty, fairness, trust and responsibility in all academic activities. It includes not only avoiding dishonest behaviors such as plagiarism, cheating, and falsifying data, but also requires taking responsibility for one's own academic actions and ensuring that all work is done
independently and accurately cites the research of others. Violations of academic integrity can result in severe academic penalties, such as zero grades, suspension or even expulsion, and can cause serious damage to an individual's reputation and future career. Upholding academic
integrity is therefore essential to promoting a fair academic environment and facilitating the authentic dissemination of knowledge.
Accessible Resources Policy
The policy ensures that all students, especially those with disabilities, are able to participate equally in school learning and activities. The school provides a wide range of accessibility resources including, but not limited to, specialized classrooms, hearing aids, Braille textbooks, assistive technology, and flexible testing arrangements. Students are required to apply to the school in advance and provide appropriate medical or psychological evaluations so that an
individualized support plan can be developed for them. This policy is designed to remove barriers in the academic environment and to ensure that every student has access to equitable learning opportunities.
Withdrawal Policy
Students may choose to withdraw from a course within a specified period of time, and may not be able to do so after the expiration date. When withdrawing from a course, students are required to fill out a withdrawal form with a reason, which will be reviewed and processed on a case-by- case basis. Withdrawal from a course may not affect the student's academic performance. If a student withdraws from a course with incomplete requirements, a “W” may be assigned instead of a grade, depending on the course.
