HCDE 461
Japanese for Technical and Business Professions 1 (5 credits)
Autumn Quarter 2009
1. Course outline
This course and the two subsequent courses (HCDE 462 and HCDE 463)
constitute the “Japanese for Technical and Business Professions” sequence. In
this course, students review and strengthen their basic knowledge of grammar,
vocabulary and kanji and apply this to reading authentic materials on technologyrelated topics. Skills to analyze sentence structures for accurate interpretation are
taught. Students also learn functional conversation skills, both verbal and nonverbal, and apply this to technical and business communication situations.
Students also learn the cultural concepts underlying these situations.
2. Objectives
- To review and strengthen basic grammar, vocabulary and kanji
- To increase reading accuracy
- To expand vocabulary and kanji
- To develop functional conversation skills in basic technical and business
communication situations
- To understand the cultural concepts underlying these situations
- To become able to control speech levels in these situations
- To become able to make short speeches and reports effectively
3. Instructor
Masashi Kato
426C Sieg Hall, 543-8524
mkato@u.washington.edu
4. Meeting hours and classroom
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
Mary Gates Hall 228
5. Office hours
Monday and Wednesday
By appointment
9:00 - 10:20 a.m.
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
6. Textbook
No textbook is used. Selected reading materials will be provided (see 11. Schedule).
7. In-class activities
- Reading on general technology-related topics
- Discussion on the content of reading materials
- Lectures on grammar, lexical items, and reading skills
- Grammar drills
- Model dialogue practice
- Role plays and simulation practices (including occasional videotaping)
- Short speech and oral presentation
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- Lectures on Japanese society and business culture
- Discussion on current issues in Japan
- Unit quizzes
8. Outside-class activities
- Reading an assigned text before each class
- Doing exercises for sentence structure analysis and translation/interpretation
- Completing study questions
- Doing grammar drills
- Writing assignments using Japanese e-mail
- Practicing model dialogue using Language Partner
- Studying cultural background information
- Reviewing oral performance videos (at HCDE Student Lab)
9. Exams and quizzes
- Midterm and final Exams
- Unit quizzes
10. Grading
Midterm examination
Final examination
Quizzes
- Make-up allowed only for an excused absence
Homework and assignments
- 60% of credit given for a late assignment
Classroom performance
- group work participation (including discussion)
- mastery check of model dialogues
- role plays and simulations
- short speeches and presentations
- attendance
- notify absence before the class
- two tardiness counted as one unexcused absence
25%
25%
15%
20%
15%
"If you would like to request academic accommodations due to a disability,
please contact Disabled Student Services, 448 Schmitz, (206) 543-8924
(V/TTY). If you have a letter from Disabled Students Services indicating you
have a disability that requires academic accommodations, please present the
letter to me so we can discuss the accommodations you might need for class."
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11. Schedule
Week 1
September 30 (Wed)
Introduction to HCDE 461: syllabus, goals, rules, and tips to success
Warm-up activities: Self-introduction
October 2 (Fri)
In-class diagnostic check: Listening comprehension (JLPT Level 1, Part 1)
Reading: Grammar review (sentence structure, noun modification)
Due Saturday (11:00 p.m.): Self-evaluation of Japanese skills (via e-mail)
Week 2
October 5 (Mon)
In-class diagnostic check: Short speech – audio recording
Reading: Reading strategies (Scope and Skeleton)
October 7 (Wed)
Reading: Reading strategies (Scope and Skeleton)
Oral: Taigu Hyogen. Keigo verb variations (sonkei form and kenjo form)
October 9 (Fri)
LP orientation (at HCDE Lab 9:00 - 9:45)
Reading: Scope and Skeleton drill
Week 3
October 12 (Mon)
Reading: RAM and ROM
Oral: Conversation strategies (Aizuchi), keigo drills
Due today: Mastering LP dialogues – Aizuchi (Math Test and Computer Game)
Due today: Study Questions (1)
October 14 (Wed)
Reading: RAM and ROM
Oral: Switching speech levels, keigo drills
Due today: Homework (1)
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October 16 (Fri)
Unit Quiz (1)
Reading: RAM and ROM
Oral: Switching speech levels, keigo drills
Week 4
October 19 (Mon)
Reading: "Spoken Language and Japanese People" (pgs. 63-68)
Oral: First-time Greeting (model dialogues)
Due today: Mastering LP dialogues – 1st-time greeting.party (Birkland and Kato)
Due today: Study Questions (2)
October 21 (Wed)
Reading: "Spoken Language and Japanese People" (pgs. 63-68)
Oral: First-time Greeting (role plays)
Due today: Homework (2)
October 23 (Fri)
Unit Quiz (2)
Reading: "Spoken Language and Japanese People" (pgs. 63-68)
Oral: First-time Greeting (role plays)
Week 5
October 26 (Mon)
Reading: Reproduction Science (pgs. 158-159)
Oral: Advice (model dialogues)
Due today: Mastering LP dialogues – Advice.wedding present (Student)
Due today: Study Questions (3)
October 28 (Wed)
Reading: Reproduction Science (pgs. 158-159)
Oral: Videotaping First-time greeting performance
Advice (role plays)
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October 30 (Fri)
Unit Quiz (3)
Reading: Reproduction Science (pgs. 158-159)
Oral: Advice (role plays)
Due today: Homework (3)
Week 6
November 2 (Mon)
Reading: Newspaper articles related to reproduction science
Oral: Role plays using the functions learned in the first half of this quarter
Discussion: “How far should reproduction science advance - ethics?”
November 4 (Wed)
Reading and Oral: Review and drills for Midterm Examination
Due today (11:00 p.m.): Essay (1) "My opinions on reproductive science"
November 6 (Fri)
Midterm Examination (9:00 – 10:20)
Week 7
November 9 (Mon)
Reading: Communication in IT Age (pgs. 2-11)
Oral: Taigu Hyogen (non-verbal expressions)
Due today: Study Questions (4-1)
November 11 (Wed)
No school - Veteran’s Day
Due today (11:00 p.m.): Revision of essay (1) "My opinions on reproductive science"
November 13 (Fri)
Reading: Communication in IT Age (pgs. 2-11)
Oral: Taigu Hyogen (non-verbal expressions)
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Week 8
November 16 (Mon)
Reading: Newspaper articles related to cell phone technologies
Oral: Request (model dialogues)
Due today: Mastering LP dialogues – Requesting.not now but later (Imai and Kacho)
Due today: Study Questions (4-2)
November 18 (Wed)
Reading: Newspaper articles related to cell phone technologies
Oral: Request (role plays)
Discussion: "Do I really need a cell phone in my life?"
Due today: Homework (4)
November 20 (Fri)
Unit Quiz (4)
Reading: Newspaper articles related to cell phone technologies
Oral: Request (role plays)
Week 9
November 23 (Mon)
Reading: Japanese Education Reform (#1 and 2)
Comprehension Check (#1 and 2)
Oral: Permission (model dialogues)
Due today: Mastering LP dialogues – Permission.May I use your computer? (both)
November 25 (Wed)
Reading: Japanese Education Reform (#3 and 4)
Comprehension Check (#3 and 4)
Oral: Permission (role plays)
Due today (11:00 p.m.): Essay (2) "Life without a cell phone"
November 27 (Fri)
No school - Thanksgiving Day
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Week 10
November 30 (Mon)
Unit Quiz (5)
Reading: Japanese Education Reform (review #1-4)
Oral: Permission (role plays)
Due today: Homework (5)
December 2 (Wed)
Reading: Japanese Education Reform (#5 and 6)
Comprehension Check (#5 and 6)
Oral: Oral Presentation
Due today (11:00 p.m.): Revision of essay (2) "Life without a cell phone"
December 4 (Fri)
Reading: Related newspaper articles on Japanese education reform
Oral: Oral presentation practice and preparation
Discussion: "My opinions on Japanese education system "
Week 11
December 7 (Mon)
Unit Quiz (6)
Oral presentation
December 9 (Wed)
Oral presentation
Reading and Oral: Review and drills for Final Examination
Course evaluation
December 11 (Fri)
Final Examination (9:00 – 10:20)
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