MVHS
FA4014-COURSE INFORMATION SHEET-FA4014
Course Title: Japanese AP
Assessment and Grading:
Instructor: Walther, Minako
UC/CSU: Yes
Textbook and other learning resource: Yookoso! An
Invitation to Contemporary Japanese, Yookoso!
Continuing with Contemporary Japanese, Doraemon no
Dokodemo Nihongo, Strive for a 5: AP Japanese Practice
Tests, workbooks, and handouts
What Students Can Expect From This Course
Course Description:
This is an advanced level language course that has been designed to help
students refine and further develop their proficiency in Japanese through authentic
written and audio materials as well as to promote and improve higher level thinking
skills. This includes integration of the four language skills reading, speaking,
listening and writing. Students will need to integrate skills to either create oral
presentations or write essays. The term integrated skills refers to the ability to
integrate reading, listening and writing skills by interpreting and synthesizing
information from two or three different sources to
support and/or defend ideas presented in an essay or oral presentation. The course
is conducted entirely in Japanese. In addition, students will also learn about
important contemporary and historical issues, significant works of literature and
art, cultural aspects of the Japanese cultures, and everyday life. Students who enroll
will also prepare to take the Advanced Placement Exam in Japanese Language and
Culture
Per BP/AR 5121, teachers of the same course are expected to align their grading and assessment practices
in the following areas: (a) the weight of assignments for the various categories of assessment, (b)
homework policies, late/make up policies, opportunities for revision, extra credit and grading scales, (c)
degrees of proficiency. In addition, the policy specifies that “group work is to be considered an essential
part of the learning experience, and that grades earned through group participation are to reflect an
individual student’s achievement on a designated academic standard and to be awarded to individuals rather
than to groups of students. Extra credit is to be given only when it supports student achievement of
academic standards for the course and when it is equitable for all students.
Grading practices are determined by course teams. All
teachers of this course will determine grades as defined below:
1.Grading Components
 World Language standards 90%:
Semester letter grades will be determined by the student’s ability to demonstrate
proficiency in achieving the course’s purpose and objectives. The course grade
will comprise several grading categories, each based on different standards and
skills.
Reading: 22 %
Identifying and summarizing main points and important details.
Making appropriate inferences and predictions.
Writing: 23 %
Writing and/or typing a cohesive and coherent persuasive essay with control of
grammar and syntax.
Communicate via formal and informal written correspondence.
Speaking: 23 %
Initiating, maintaining, and closing a conversation.
Describing, narrating, and presenting information and/or persuasive arguments
with grammatical control and good pronunciation.
Listening : 22%
Identifying and summarizing main points and significant details and making
appropriate inferences and predictions.
 Work habits 10%
Daily homework completion. Assignments on time. Positive Participation on
each standard.
Mountain View High School Mission
To increase the instructional coherence within and between departments while raising the achievement of all students
Attendance:
2.Grading Scale:
90-100% =A
80-89.99%=B
70-79.99%=C
60-69.99%=D
50-59.99%= F
ABSENCES: An “unexcused absence” is an absence in excess of a 30-minute period occurring in a given
class. Students may not exceed 14 unexcused absences across their entire schedule. A full day, unexcused
absence counts as 5, 6 or 7 absences depending on how many classes a student carries toward the total of
14. On the 15th unexcused absence, students may be referred to an alternative educational program/site
pursuant to the District’s involuntary transfer policy (AR/OP 5113).
3.Homework Policy
Homework will be graded for completion and accuracy. Students who don’t have
homework completed may come in at lunch to do the assignment with help from the
teacher. Homework must be made up within two days of the due date.
4.Late Work, missing work and opportunities for revision
Students are expected to turn in work on the due date. The work habits grade will be
affected by late work. Late work or missing work will not be accepted later than one
calendar week after the due date. Make-up work can be done with your teacher at
lunch or after school. Make-up work must be done within one calendar week upon
students’ return. It is the student’s responsibility to make-up all missed work. Because
making and correcting mistakes is also part of the learning process, students are
encouraged to take advantage of the teacher’s revision opportunities.
5.Group work
Refer to BP/AR 5121 as stated above.
6. Extra credit
No Extra Credit is offered.
7.How proficiency is determined/how student work is assessed
Proficiency will be determined by the student’s ability to achieve mastery of the standards.
8.Grade Book Update Policy
The Student Information System will be updated regularly. Please make sure to check your
grade often.
What Is Expected Of The Student
TARDIES: Students may not exceed 19 unexcused tardies across their entire schedule. An unexcused tardy
is an absence from class from when the bell rings until up to 30 minutes of a class period. At the 15th
unexcused tardy, there will be a mandatory parent conference with the student’s Assistant Principal. This
conference will be scheduled to occur the morning after the family is contacted by the school. At the
student/parent conference, consequences for continued tardiness are discussed and the student is assigned to
Saturday School. An attendance contract will also be signed at this meeting. Failure to attend Saturday
School may result in a transfer to an alternative educational program/site.
Classroom Rules:
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Refer to classroom rules and expectations handout
Students can expect weekly quizzes.
Respect teacher and classmates.
No electric devices at all: cell phone, ipod, ipad, etc
No gum, food or drinks (water okay)
No curse words or insults will be tolerated in any language.
Cheating Policy:
The Board expects that students will not cheat, lie, plagiarize or commit other acts of academic dishonesty.
Examples of cheating include: anyone who copies another’s work or turns in someone else’s ideas as his or
her own, collaboration with another student or students could be considered cheating if students are
expected to complete an assignment independently, copying homework, allowing someone else to copy
your work, plagiarism, copying or allowing others to copy from another’s exam, improperly obtaining
and/or using tests, questions, or answer keys, using unauthorized notes/materials or electronic equipment
(calculators, cell phones, etc.), with greater access to the Internet and electronic sources, students need to be
very clear about their responsibilities in using these tools with integrity. Check with your teachers if you are
unsure or unclear about his/her expectations regarding the use of the Internet.
Digital Device Use Expectations:
Devices can only be used in class at the teacher’s discretion and should use them in line with the MVLA
DIGITAL DEVICE agreement and Behavior Policies. If distraction becomes an issue, the teacher will
manage the situation as they would with any other distraction and in line with the relevant policies. While
working in a digital and collaborative environment, students should always conduct themselves as good
digital citizens by adhering to the following:
1. Respect yourself
4. Protect others
Daily Assignments:
Expect homework every night. You should spend approximately a half-hour of
concentrated study doing written assignments as well as reviewing, studying, doing
listening exercises and oral practice. Assignments are posted on the teacher website
and/or written everyday on the classroom board.
2. Protect yourself
3. Respect others.
5. Respect intellectual property
6. Protect intellectual property
Help and Contact Information
Phone: (650) 691-2420
Email: minako.walther@mvla.net
Mountain View High School Mission
To increase the instructional coherence within and between departments while raising the achievement of all students
Mountain View High School Mission
To increase the instructional coherence within and between departments while raising the achievement of all students