JAPANESE 2311
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE CENTRAL
Semester: Fall 2012
Instructor: Ling Bello
Section:
Office hours: by appointment
Time : T TR 4:00-5:30
Place : FAC 308
Textbook:
“Yookoso” Continuing with Contemporary Japanese
Media Edition McGraw-Hill
Third Edition by Yasu-Hiko Tohsaku,2006 ISBN:-13: 978-0-07-240816-4
Workbook:
Workbook/Laboratory Manual to accompany “Yookoso!” Continuing with
Contenporary Japanese
Third Edition by Hamasaki, Ito, Kataoka, Morioka, Tohsaku, 2006
Language Lab: Online
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In Japanese 2311, you are exposed to more vocabulary, language patterns and grammar in informal and
formal Japanese in order to facilitate you to speak and understand all forms of Japanese language in
business and other social settings.
In addition to about 200 Kanji characters in Level 1, you are also exposed to about 100 more Kanji
characters. This will facilitate you to identify Kanji characters used in the Japanese sentences and lead
you to further understanding of the written Japanese. Throughout this course, you will also continue
learning Japanese customs and cultural differences and similarities as exhibited in practical
communication.
END-OF-SEMESTER PERFORMANCE LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS
You will be able to express topics about your personal life and to describe things around you in both
informal (dictionary) and formal forms. You will understand differences in speech level reflecting
different formalities (and/or a speaker's social status). You will be able to identify 250 Kanji characters,
and read and understand Japanese sentences written in Hiragana and Katakana mixed with total about 250
Kanji characters.
The following descriptions reflect what most students will be able to do by the end of the course. The
terms given in parenthesis are descriptive terms of proficiency in foreign language, based on a
classification developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. (ACTFL
Proficiency Guidelines)
Listening Comprehension
(Novice High->Intermediate Low->Intermediate Mid)
Intermediate-Low
You are able to understand sentence-length utterances that consist of recombination of learned elements
in a limited number of content areas, particularly if strongly supported by the situational context.
Contents refer to basic personal background and needs, social conventions and routine tasks, such as
getting means and receiving simple instructions and directions. Listing tasks pertain primarily to
1
spontaneous face-to-face conversations. Understanding is often uneven; repetition and rewording may be
necessary. Misunderstanding in both main ideals and details arises frequently.
Intermediate-Mid
You are able to understand sentence-length utterances, which consist of recombination of learned
utterances on a variety of topics. Content continues to refer primarily to basic personal background and
needs, social conventions and somewhat more complex tasks, such as lodging, transportation, and
shopping. Additional content areas include some personal interests and activities and a greater diversity
of instructions and directions. Listening tasks not only pertain to spontaneous face-to-face conversations
but also to short routine telephone conversations and some deliberate speech, such as simple
announcements and reports over the media. Understanding continues to be uneven.
Speaking
(Novice High -> Intermediate-Low -> Intermediate-Mid)
Intermediate-Low
You are able to handle successfully a limited number of uncomplicated communicative tasks by creating
with the language in straightforward social situations. Conversation is restricted to some of the concrete
exchanges and predictable topics necessary for survival in the target language culture. These topics relate
to basic personal information covering self and family, some daily activities, and personal preferences, as
well as to some immediate needs such as ordering food and making simple purchases.
Intermediate-Mid
You are able to handle successfully a variety of uncomplicated communicative tasks in straightforward
social situations. Conversation is generally limited to those predictable and concrete exchanges necessary
for survival in the target culture; these include personal information covering self, family, home, daily
activities, interests, and personal preferences, as well as physical and social needs, such as food, shopping,
travel, and lodging.
You will be able to ask and answer questions and participate in simple conversations on topics beyond the
most immediate needs; e.g. personal history and leisure time activities. Utterance length increases
slightly, but speech may continue to be characterized by frequent long pauses, since the smooth
incorporation of even basic
Reading (Novice High -> Intermediate Low -> Intermediate-Mid)
Intermediate-Low
You are able to understand main ideas and/o some facts from the simplest connected texts dealing with
basic personal and social needs. Such texts are linguistically non-complex and have a clear underlying
internal structure, for example chronological sequencing. Examples include messages with social
purposes or information such as public announcements and short straightforward instructions dealing with
public life.
Intermediate-Mid
You are able to read consistently with increased understanding simple connected texts dealing with a
variety of basic and social needs. Such texts are still linguistically noncomplex and have a clear
2
underlying internal structure. They impart basic information about which the reader has to make minimal
suppositions and to which the reader brings personal interest and/or knowledge. Examples may include
short, straightforward descriptions of persons, places, and things written for a wide audience.
Writing (Novice High -> Intermediate Low -> Intermediate-Mid)
Intermediate-Low
You are able to meet some limited practical writing needs. Can create statements and formulate questions
based on familiar material by recombining learned vocabulary and structures. Vocabulary is limited to
common objects and routine activities, adequate to express elementary needs.
Intermediate-Mid
You are able to meet a number of practical writing needs. You will be able to write short, simple letters.
Content involves personal preferences, daily routine, everyday events, and other topics grounded in
personal experience. Can express present time or at least one other time frame or aspect consistently, e.g.
non-past, habitual, imperfect. You will be able to show evidence of control of the syntax or noncomplex
sentences and basic inflectional morphology, such as declensions and conjugation. Writing tends to be a
loose collection of sentences or sentence fragments on a given topic and provides little evidence of
conscious organization. You will be able to understand by natives used to the writing of non-natives.
CULTURAL AWARENESS
Acquire general knowledge about the Japanese language and culture, to include knowledge about:
a.
Japanese language structure and pronunciation.
b.
Different levels of formalities
c.
Customs, attitudes and assumptions of Japanese people detected in practical
communication.
REASONALBLE ACCOMODATIONS
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc) who
needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office, SJAC 102,
(713) 718-6164, at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is only authorized to provide accommodations
requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
MAKEUP POLICY
1.
2.
3.
4.
Students are responsible for material covered during their absence. It is the responsibility of the
student to consult with the instructor about work missed and make-up assignments. Exchanging
phone numbers with one or two other students for times when you miss a single class is a good
idea.
Homework: Must be turned in by due date for credit. Consult instructor in case of illness.
Quizzes: No makeup unless you do so prior to the next class meeting following the quiz.
Missing one quiz will not count against you. Missing several will count.
One major test during the semester may be made up if you have a legitimate reason for your
absence. Contact your instructor as soon as you return to class or, preferably, by telephone
beforehand.
3
5.
Major exams: If you are ill, it is your responsibility to notify the instructor in advance, if possible,
and to ask about a make-up.
ATTENDANCE
Class will begin at the scheduled time.
Attendance is essential and daily records will be kept. In accordance with HCCS official policy, a student
may be dropped for excessive absences after missing more than two weeks of class (10 hours). Consult
with the instructor in case of serious illness or business reasons for absence. Students will lose points on
participation grade for every class missed over two weeks. Absences will be counted from the first class
day of the semester, no matter when the student registers or first attends.
CELL PHONES AND BEEPERS
Please turn off all cell phones and beepers before class. Their use disrupts the class.
Policy on Academic Dishonesty
Students are expected to do their own work, unless an assignment is made specifically as a group
assignment. Plagiarism (handing in another person's work as your own), or cheating will result in a grade
of F for the assignment, quiz, or test in question. For a second offense, the student may receive a grade of
F for the course.
COURSE GRADE
25%
Final examination
25%
Tests (Written & oral)
10%
quizzes (lab)
40%
Homework (workbook); active class participation (attendance, tardiness, effort)
It is necessary to pass the final exam to pass the course.
HCCS Grading System:
90-100%
=
A
80-89%
=
B
70-79%
=
C
60-69%
=
D
59 & below
=
F
SEMESTER CALENDAR
First Class
Tuesday, August 28
Test #1 Chapter 1A, 1B
Tuesday, October 2
Test #2 Chapter 1*
Thursday, November 8
Test #4 Chapter 1C
Tuesday, November 20
Test #5 Chapter 2A
Thursday, November 29
FINAL EXAM
Thursday, December 11 4:00-5:30
4