Introduction to
Japanese Language & Culture
Hiroko
Sato
Office
: 213 Rayzor Hall
Office
hours : Mon.
& Wed. 2 - 3
p.m. and
by appointment
Voice mail : x 2258
E-mail : <hsato@rice.edu>
I. Books
1) Situational Functional
Japanese Vol 1 :
Notes, Tukuba Language Group Bonjinsha
Co., Lt
2)
Situational Functional Japanese Vol
1: Drills,Tukuba
Language Group, Bonjinsha Co., Ltd
II. Multimedia: Audio cassette-tapes and Video
tapes : digitized and linked
(http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~lrc)
Both cassette-tapes for structure and conversation drills and videotapes for core conversation, [SFJ Vol.I Notes & Drills] are digitized and linked.
Listening to the tapes for drills is required for homework --see details at http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~hsato/JAPA.html
The conversation video will help you understand in what context the conversation might take place. The user code will be given in class
to access the LRC password protected materials.
III. Goals
The primary goal is to enable you to acquire a basic ability to communicate with the native speakers of Japanese in Japanese with reasonable
ease and to acquire a working knowledge of the basic grammatical structures and vocabulary of modern Japanese through communications.
At the elementary level emphasis is placed on learning verbal/adjectival conjugations and compound form necessary for daily communication.
This goal is to be achieved primarily through aural - oral drills and controlled conversation exercises in which you are encouraged to express
your own thoughts, feelings and observations on life around you with the vocabulary and structure patterns you learn. Listening to the tapes
for each drill section of the textbook is required. The second goal is to acquire basic competence in the writing system (on-line).
Kana, namely, Hiragana and Katakana, and kanji will be taught in this semester. Cultures will be introduced throughout the semester for students
to get prepared for the culture project in spring.
IV. Course requirement
1) On-line homework assignments after each lesson. Visit Homework URL for the assignments and due dates. Other assignments will be announced in class.
Each homework will be graded.Quizzes on new vocabularies for each lesson, usually given when each chapter is completed; c.f. Schedule.
Kanzi assignments are turned in electrically.
2) Language lab work with digital media is tied with homework assignments: listening to the digitized audio tapes is required before the class for which it is assigned.
You will need the drill textbook for both structure and conversation drills and for reading the dialogues. All other exercises are to be done with the text closed.
In addition, listening to the digitized audio tapes for homework assignment is required. All of these should be at least one hour or more per week
for Language Lab requirement.
3) Tell Me More : Exercise CD-Rom(digitized) for Oral practice and sound recognition. Your exercise is required to turn in upon request during the semester.
4) Tutorial session: one hour per week for oral practice in Japanese with a native drill master using "Situational Functional Japanese Vol 1 Drills" is required.
To schedule your tutorial, visit URL for the day and time to secure your space and email the instructor your choice of the tutorial (first come, first served basis).
5) Three, one-hour mid-term exams (written), in class - see Schedule for the date
6) One oral proficiency interview - outside class
7) One group project on a topic announced in class
V. Course Evaluation
1) Daily classroom attendance, participation, and performance----40 %
It is your responsibility to come to class prepared. The benefits of active participation include 1) that you get immediate feedback as to whether
or not you mastered the material (if not, you find out what you still need to work on 2) that the class will be lively and enjoyable for everyone.
Your classroom performance on practice activities will be evaluated a couple of times in each lesson based on the following criteria :
skills in communication, accuracy, fluency, and pronunciation. Regular attendance will be taken for granted in order to improve your skills in Japanese.
If you have to miss classes due to absolutely necessary reasons, you should call or email the instructor. In case of absence on performance evaluation,
your performance will be marked as "0" unless you have a valid reason. Five of "personal absence without instructor's permission" will result in automatic
less letter grade. Starting with the 6th, each absence will result in loosing one increment e.g. an A with 5 absence will result in A- .
Everyone will make mistakes - don't be shy about that. Your mistakes in Japanese are welcome for learning from it.
2) Language lab work for homework and assignments (kanzi and kana)----20 %
Homework and assignments will be given when each lesson is completed. Assignments are to turn in on-line immediately after class on the due date,
no late work will be accepted. Assignments should be written in Japanese. Any assignments turned in after 2:00 p.m. on the due date and written
in a language other than Japanese, unless otherwise instructed to do so, will have 10 % of the full score value deducted. Quizzes on new vocabularies,
grammar and/or kanji for each new chapter in the textbook will be given usually during the last 5-10 minutes of the last day of each lesson. No make-up quizzes will be given
unless you have a valid reason.
3) Weekly tutorial session : attendance & participation ----20 %
You will be requested to sign up for your attendance record in each tutorial. Please obtain your tutor's e-mail address in person to communicate for immergency.
4) Quizzes and exams ---- 20 %
A mid-term exam will be given when every other two chapters are completed (see the schedule for the date).
The tests are proficiency-based, comprehensive test to make assessment for proficiency in Japanese. Outcome of drill practice on grammar
in each lesson including writing/reading in kana/kanji will be evaluated by these proficiency-based tests. An oral proficiency test would assess
if your oral proficiency in Japanese is at least at the novice-mid level. A sign-up sheet will be given to schedule an OPI, oral proficiency
interview with the instructor. Each student will meet with the instructor outside class for an interview in Japanese.
The interview will last less than half an hour and will be voice-recorded for assessment.
VI
Grading Scale
90 –100 “A” and by one increment to “A-“ & “A+“
80 – 89 “B” and by one increment to “B-“ & “B+“
70 – 79 “C” and by one increment to “C-“ & “C+“
60 – 69 "D” and by one increment to “D-“ & “D+“
below 60 “F”
Statement Regarding Disability : Any student with a documented disability and in need of academic or other adjustments
should speak with me during the first two weeks of class. All discussions will remain confidential.
Students with disabilities should also contact Disability Support Services (phone:713-348-5841, email:adarice@rice.edu)
in the Ley Student Center Room122.
updated 6/16/2009
by H.Sato