JAPN 1310 – Elementary Japanese I (22230)
Spring 2016: MWF 11:00 – 11:50 AM, Irby 316
http://japaneseclasspage.wordpress.com
John Schneiderwind
406 Irby Hall
jschneiderwind@uca.edu
(501) 450-5627
Office Hours: T/Tr, 1:30-3:30
Course Description: This course is designed to offer an elementary introduction to the Japanese language
in its written and spoken forms. There will considerable focus on grammar, writing, reading, and
pronunciation as well as emphasis on cultural appropriateness when the need arises. In-class drilling and
conversation practice will be ample, but your commitment to mastering the foundations of Japanese will
not begin and end with the classroom. Instead, you will be required to devote study time at home to
master the basic writing systems, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and phrases.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the course students will have:
1) Mastered the foundational writing systems – hiragana, katakana, and kanji for the covered
chapters.
2) Mastered vocalizing the Japanese phonetical syllabary, and its basic intonation and accent.
3) Mastered the ability to listen to and understand basic Japanese expressions including
classroom instructions, vocabulary, grammar, and simple conversations.
4) Mastered Japanese grammar and vocabulary from the covered chapters
Course Requirements: The Japanese language is unlike other languages you may have encountered in
the past. There is very little that will seem familiar to native English speakers, aside from a few loan
words that have bled into both English and Japanese. Because of this, it is essential that your continued
enrollment in this course reflect a personal commitment to work hard to meet the learning objectives
outlined above. This is not the class to try to “slide by” with a C. I assume you have enrolled in this
course because you have some interest in the language or culture of Japan. I expect, then, that your
interest manifests in a strong personal commitment toward the study and acquisition of Japanese.
As for class rules, be respectful of your classmates and their opinions. In addition, be respectful to my
classroom and to me. That means you are not permitted to read newspapers or use your cell phones
during class time. Breaking this rule shows disrespect to me and the time I have devoted to preparing
class content for your benefit. It is also disruptive to your classmates, but above all else it distracts you
from important information offered in class. Twitter, Facebook, and texting can all wait until class time is
up.
Attendance: Attendance is required. After 4 unexcused absences, you will lose 10% of your final
semester grade for each subsequent unexcused absence. It is in your best interest, then, to attend class for
the benefit of language acquisition and, ultimately, your final grade. If you know you will be absent,
discuss it with me beforehand. If you are ill, I will excuse your absence only with a doctor’s note.
It is your responsibility to find out about assignments and missed work for classes that you miss. A daily
summary of class activities and assignments will be posted on the class website. Make it a habit to check
the site every day for announcements and homework.
Participation: Because this is a language class, participation in class from each student is mandatory,
not optional. We learn to speak Japanese through our attempts to use the language together in class. You
will make mistakes! I expect them! I welcome them! I will no doubt make them too! Mistakes are a
normal process of learning a new language, so do not hesitate to try to use the Japanese you know, learn
from the mistakes you make, and be proud of your achievements when you overcome those mistakes.
Above all, do not be shy or apprehensive about participating. It is the meat and drink of language learning
and we must take the gristle with the lean in order to complete the meal.
Homework: I will assign daily homework that will be due the next class period. Late assignments will
not be accepted, so keep that in mind. The homework will also be posted on the class website, but
remember that attendance is mandatory and the website should only be used as a supplement to class
discussion rather than as a replacement.
Daily Quizzes: At the start of each class period, there will be a short quiz covering the material assigned
during the previous class. The quiz will begin promptly at the beginning of the class period, so do not be
late. There will be no make-up quizzes.
“Flipping” Quizzes: You are expected to make your own flashcards for the hiragana, katakana, and
kanji covered during the course. In addition to your written homework, recognition practice is crucial to
creating a strong foundation upon which to build your understanding of Japanese. Thus, practicing
character recognition at home will greatly benefit your reading ability. There will be three “flipping”
quizzes (one each for hiragana, katakana, and kanji) in which you will come to my office and read
through your flashcards in my presence to check your recognition.
Exams: Each chapter will be accompanied by an in-class exam. There will also be an oral proficiency
exam every two chapters. No make-up exams will be offered.
Extra Credit: I will offer opportunities to earn extra credit throughout the semester, so make use of those
opportunities when they arise in class. I will also award extra credit points for handwriting practice. For 5
pages of extra handwriting practice (using the blank handwriting practice sheets), you will receive one (1)
extra point of extra credit with an upper limit of fifty (50) points (250 extra pages). This is designed to
both help your grade and, more importantly, incentivize you to practice your hiragana, katakana, and
kanji. Repetition is the best way to learn the writing system. Make sure you make a concerted effort to
improve your writing when doing your extra credit including careful attention to stroke order. Sloppy
extra credit sheets will not be counted.
Grading Scale
A
B
C
D
F
90% +
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
0-59%
** You must receive a C or better in the course to enroll in Japanese 1320**
Required Textbooks
It is recommended that you buy the books from the bookstore. I will not excuse late homework because
your book has not yet arrived. Also, make sure no pages are missing from the workbook. Missing pages
are not accepted as an excuse for missing a deadline.
1. Banno, Eri, et al. Genki 1: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese, 2nd edition. The Japan
Times, 2011
2. Banno, Eri, et al. Genki 1: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese Workbook, 2nd edition. The
Japan Times, 2011
3. AJALT. Japanese for Busy People Kana Workbook, Revised 3rd edition. Kodansha International, 2007
Academic Misconduct: The University of Central Arkansas affirms its commitment to academic
integrity and expects all members of the university community to accept shared responsibility for
maintaining academic integrity. Students in this course are subject to the provisions of the university’s
Academic Integrity Policy, approved by the Board of Trustees as Board Policy No. 709 on February 10,
2010, and published in the Student Handbook. Penalties for academic misconduct in this course may
include a failing grade on an assignment, a failing grade in the course, or any other course-related
sanction the instructor determines to be appropriate. Continued enrollment in this course affirms a
student’s acceptance of this university policy.
Building Emergency Plan: An Emergency Procedures Summary (EPS) for the building in which this
class is held will be discussed during the first week of this course. EPS documents for most buildings on
campus are available at http://uca.edu/mysafety/bep/. Every student should be familiar with emergency
procedures for any campus building in which he/she spends time for classes or other purposes.
Title IX Disclosure: If a student discloses an act of sexual harassment, discrimination, assault, or other
sexual misconduct to a faculty member (as it relates to “student-on-student” or “employee-on-student”),
the faculty member cannot maintain complete confidentiality and is required to report the act and may be
required to reveal the names of the parties involved. Any allegations made by a student may or may not
trigger an investigation. Each situation differs and the obligation to conduct an investigation will depend
on those specific set of circumstances. The determination to conduct an investigation will be made by the
Title IX Coordinator. For further information, please visit: https://uca.edu/titleix. *Disclosure of sexual
misconduct by a third party who is not a student and/or employee is also required if the misconduct
occurs when the third party is a participant in a university-sponsored program, event, or activity.
I encourage each of you to familiarize yourself with all policies outlined in your Student Handbook,
particularly those surrounding Academics and Sexual Harassment.
WEEK
1/08
Week 1
(1/11-1/15)
Daily Class Schedule
CONTENT
RESOURCES
TB: 24-27; 290-293
*Syllabus – Questions
WB: 117-123
*Class opening/closing
JBP: 3-7
procedure
“Classroom Japanese” and
“Daily Japanese” Handouts
*Orthography (hiragana)
*Pronunciation
TB: 24-28; 34-37; 290-293
*Basic Greetings
WB: 11-12; 117-123
*Classroom Expressions
JBP: 26-49
*Basic Self-Introductions
KANA/KANJI FOCUS
Hiragana (a – n (あ - ん）
+ dakuten/handakuten
Week 2
(1/20-1/22)
1/18 = MLK Day
Week 3
(1/25-1/29)
Week 4
(2/1-2/5)
Week 5
(2/8-2/12)
Week 6
(2/15-2/19)
Week 7
(2/22-2/26)
Week 8
(2/29-3/4)
Week 9
(3/7-3/11)
Week 10
(3/14-3/18)
*Weather
*Basic Counting
*Telling Time
*Ch. 1 Vocab/Grammar
*Ch. 1 Grammar
*Age/nationality/year/major/
Occupation
*Hiragana Flipping Quiz
*Ch. 1 Grammar
*Ch. 1 Review
*Ch. 1 Test
*Ch. 2 Vocab
*Ch. 2 Grammar
*Intro/Ch. 1 Oral Test
*Ch. 2 Grammar
*Shopping Practice
*Ch. 2 Review
*Ch. 2 Test
*Ch. 3 Vocab
*Ch. 3 Grammar
*Ch. 3 Grammar
*Ch. 3 Review
*Katakana Flipping Quiz
*Ch. 3 Test
*Review Ch. 1-3
*Ch. 2-3 Oral Test
*Ch. 4 Vocabulary
*Ch. 4 Grammar
Spring Break
(3/21-3/25)
Week 11
(3/28-4/1)
Week 12
(4/4-4/8)
Week 13
(4/11-4/15)
Week 14
(4/18-4/20)
Week 15
(4/25-4/29)
TB: Ch. 1
WB: 13-19; 117-123
JBP: 26-49
ひらがな kya – pyo (きゃ
- ぴょ)
TB: Ch. 1
WB: 13-19; 117-123
JBP: 10-49
All ひらがな
TB: Ch. 1
WB: 13-19; 124-128
JBP: 52-66
TB: Ch. 2
WB: 20-26; 124-128
JBP: 67-84
Katakana a – n (ア - ン）
+ dakuten/handakuten
カタカナ kya – vo
TB: Ch. 2
WB: 20-26; 129
ひらがな
カタカナ
かんじ 1-10
TB: Ch. 3
WB: 27-35; 129-130
かんじ 100, 1000, 10000
かんじ Ch. 3
TB: Ch. 3
WB: 27-35; 129-130
かんじ Ch. 3
TB: Ch. 3
WB: 27-35; 129-130
かんじ Ch. 3
TB: Ch. 4
WB: 36-44; 131-132
かんじ Ch. 4
NO CLASS
*Ch. 4 Grammar
*Ch. 4 Review
*Ch. 4 Test
*Ch. 5 Vocab
*Ch. 5 Grammar
*Ch. 5 Grammar
*Ch. 5 Review
*Kanji Flipping Quiz
*Ch. 5 Test
*Review/Game Day
*Ch. 4-5 Oral Test
TB: Ch. 4
WB: 36-44; 131-132
かんじ Ch. 4
TB: Ch. 5
WB: 45-53; 133-134
かんじ Ch. 5
TB: Ch. 5
WB: 45-53; 133-134
かんじ Ch. 5
TB: Ch. 5
WB: 45-53; 133-134
かんじ Ch. 5
Final Exam: Monday, April 25th, 2:00-4:00 PM
**The syllabus and class schedule are subject to change according to class needs!**