Chabot College
Fall 2010
Course Outline for Japanese 50C
JAPANESE CONVERSATION AND CULTURE III
Catalog Description:
JAPN 50C - Japanese Conversation and Culture III
3.00 units
Continuation of skills developed in Japanese 50B. Continues to develop an understanding and application
of conversational Japanese. Pronunciation, vocabulary, sentences and applied grammar will be covered.
Introduces the everyday life and traditional culture of Japanese-speaking people. Following an immersion
instruction format, the class is entirely taught in the target world language of the selected course.
Prerequisite: JAPN 50B (completed with a grade of "C" or higher)
Units
Contact Hours
Week
Term
3.00
Lecture
Laboratory
Clinical
Total
3.00
52.50
0
0.00
52.50
3.00
1.00
0.00
0
Prerequisite Skills:
Before entry into this course, the student should be able to:
1. recognize and apply conversational patterns and vocabulary presented;
2. increase the pronunciation and sentence intonation skills;
3. narrate, describe, and explain not only current but also past activities;
4. carry on a conversation in Japanese on topics studied by applying their knowledge of vocabulary
and idiomatic expressions;
5. demonstrate reading and writing ability of the hiragana, Japanese phonetic characters;
6. demonstrate a deeper understanding and appreciation of the culture, the geography, and the
history of the Japanese-speaking people.
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. recognize and use katakana characters;
2. recognize and use one hundred kanji characters;
3. apply the principles of syntax and grammar introduced at this level in both speech and writing;
4. demonstrate communicative competency by carrying on a conversation in Japanese on topics
studied, such as travel, leisure life, and shopping;
5. translate and interpret with English/Japanese bilingual ability;
6. demonstrate an advanced understanding and appreciation of the traditional culture, the geography,
and the history of the Japanese-speaking people.
Course Content:
LECTURE
1. Introduce the meaning and pronunciation of katakana and kanji characters.
2. Expressing past actions and events using the polite past form of verbs.
3. Converse in Japanese through personal and familiar topics: school life, hobbies, vacation, doctor
visits, experiences studying Japanese, etc.
4. Translate and interpret Japanese words, sentences, paragraphs, and short stories into English.
5. Compare Japanese and American lifestyles in regards to values, social life, school system, child
rearing, celebration of festivals, etc.
LABORATORY
1. Activate lecture content using interactive audio and audiovisual programs on CDs, DVDs, CD
ROMS, target language websites, etc., featuring culturally authentic and contextual guided
speaking, reading, writing activities.
2. Organized laboratory activities including conversation groups.
3. The fundamentals of Japanese writing (hiragana, katakana, and kanji) and pronunciation:
A. Writing and pronunciation of the hiragana characters
B. The Japanese sound system, including voiced consonants, long vowels, and double
consonants, glides, and softening of medial and final “u” and “I” sounds.
C. Continue reading and writing the katakana symbols
D. Continue practicing kanji
Methods of Presentation
1. Simulation by instructor and re-creation of dialogues and improvisation
2. Choral/individual repetition of model speech
3. Use of supplementary materials such as audio and visual.
4. Lecture/Discussion
5. Group Activities
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
1. Typical Assignments
A. Prepare a skit reflecting a social situation in a culturally appropriate manner for example,
greetings and introductions.
B. Read and present a brief newspaper or magazine article.
C. Watch short film clips or listen to audio material and report to the class.
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
A. Quizzes
B. Class Participation
C. Homework
D. Oral Presentation
E. Exams/Tests
F. Final Examination
Textbooks (Typical):
1. AJALT (2006). Japanese for Busy People, Revised, Vol. 2, (Kana version) (3rd/e). Tokyo, New
York, London Kodansha.
2. Yokiko Abe Hatasa, Seiichi Makino, and Kazumi Hatasa (2009). Nakama 1 Introductory Japanese:
Communication, Culture, Context (2nd /e). Boston, New York Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing
Company.
Special Student Materials