Introduction to Japanese Course Syllabus

Course Length: Fall Semester Prerequisite: N/A Class Description This course will provide an introduction to the Japanese language for students who have no prior knowledge of the language. Lessons will focus on work within the textbook to improve listening, speaking, reading and writing the Japanese language. Students will also participate in introspective analysis of English to improve acquisition of Japanese.1 In addition, each week the class will investigate a specific aspect of Japanese culture and society and will reflect on the similarities and differences with western culture. There will be extensive in class instruction on and practice of the two Japanese phonetic alphabets (Hiragana and Katakana). There will also be an introduction to Kanji (pictograph characters) during the first semester. Student Learning Objectives 1. Students can read and write Japanese Hiragana and Katakana, and begin to recognize some Kanji 2. Students use Japanese to convey information, using appropriate Japanese grammar, on a variety of topics: introductions, hobbies, home, family, daily routines, food/restaurants, and shopping 3. Students can understand the cultural differences and similarities between Japanese and Western society and culture ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------References Butskamm, W. (2003). We only learn language once. The role of the mother tongue in fl classrooms: death of a dogma. Learning Journal, Winter 2003 (No. 28), 29-39. Retrieved from http://www.fremdsprachendidaktik.rwth-aachen.de/Ww/programmatisches/pachl.html Class Meeting Time: 5th period Teacher: Patrick Thornton patrick.thornton@snc.edu (920) 609-9466

This utilizes the concept students making metalinguistic connections put forth by William Butskamm (2003)

Introduction to Japanese Course Syllabus

Course Length: Fall Semester Prerequisite: N/A Class Description This course will provide an introduction to the Japanese language for students who have no prior knowledge of the language. Lessons will focus on work within the textbook to improve listening, speaking, reading and writing the Japanese language. Students will also participate in introspective analysis of English to improve acquisition of Japanese (Butkamm, 2003) In addition, each week the class will investigate a specific aspect of Japanese culture and society and will reflect on the similarities and differences with western culture. There will be extensive in class instruction on and practice of the two Japanese phonetic alphabets (Hiragana and Katakana). There will also be an introduction to Kanji (pictograph characters) during the first semester. Student Learning Objectives 1. Students can read and write Japanese Hiragana and Katakana, and begin to recognize some Kanji 2. Students use Japanese to convey information, using appropriate Japanese grammar, on a variety of topics: introductions, hobbies, home, family, daily routines, food/restaurants, and shopping 3. Students can understand the cultural differences and similarities between Japanese and Western society and culture ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------References Butskamm, W. (2003). We only learn language once. The role of the mother tongue in fl classrooms: death of a dogma. Learning Journal, Winter 2003 (No. 28), 29-39. Retrieved from http://www.fremdsprachendidaktik.rwth-aachen.de/Ww/programmatisches/pachl.html Class Meeting Time: 5th period Teacher: Patrick Thornton patrick.thornton@snc.edu (920) 609-9466