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Cornell University
Fall 2005
JAPANESE 141
Beginning Japanese at a Moderate Pace
SYLLABUS
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Course Website
Blackboard Website: http://blackboard.cornell.edu/ Go to the Blackboard website, find
Japanese 141/142 in the Course Catalog (<Japanese<Arts and Science or use “Course Search”), then enroll to access course documents, assignments etc. on the site. You may also access to our web site as a guest by clicking preview button for the first three weeks.
Check ANNOUNCEMENTS every day. Important notices are posted (e.g. information on the next exam).
Most of the materials necessary for your study outside class including the weekly syllabi are found in COURSE DOCUMENTS.
Credits : 4.0
Sections and Rooms
Section 2
Section 3
MTWRF
MTWRF
Section 4 MTWRF
Section 5 MTWRF
Section 1
Instructors
MTWRF
9:05 – 9:55
10:10 – 11:00
11:15
12:20
1:25
– 12:05
– 1:10
– 2:15
UH 303
UH 303
UH 303
UH 303
UH 303
Name E-Mail Office Phone
KATAGIRI, Yukiko
ASAI, Toshihiro
YAMASAKI, Yasuko
AKASAKA, Yukiko
MCKEE, Dan yk43 ta57 yy238 ya34 djm53
421 Rockefeller
181 Rockefeller
388 Rockefeller
181 Rockefeller
181 Rockefeller
255-5671
255-0685
255-6457
255-0685
255-0685
Dept. Office (Michelle Kirchgraber) mrk29 350 Rockefeller 254-5091
Office Hours
Office hours will be posted on the course web site soon.
Course Objectives
This course teaches the same basic skills as Japanese 101, but at a more moderate pace with a different textbook from 101. Emphasis is on learning culturally appropriate communicative skills and on gaining an accurate command of basic grammar. By the end of the semester, students will have mastered the basic pronunciation of Japanese, and begun to learn the most important grammatical patterns and verbal/adjectival conjugation forms. Students will be able to handle basic interactions with friends, make simple requests, and order food in a restaurant; they will also have mastered the kana syllabaries and begun to learn basic writing and reading of kanji . Sections are conducted in
Japanese, and written work (homework and exams) uses
Grading : kana and kanji .
Oral Performance
Oral tests
Daily Section grade
Final written test
Homework
50%
Written tests
Vocabulary quizzes
40%
Lesson quizzes
Reading and Writing quizzes
10%
15%
35%
5%
20%
5%
10%

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Texts :
An Integrated Course In Elementary Japanese: GENKI ( I)
An Integrated Course In Elementary Japanese: GENKI (I) Workbook
By Eri Banno et al, the Japan Times Ltd., Tokyo.
Course Audience
This course is designed for beginners who want a moderately paced introduction to Japanese
Waitlist focusing on extensive use of the spoken language together with a solid foundation in reading and writing.
Japanese 141 is usually oversubscribed at the beginning of the semester, so you may be placed on a waitlist. Do not despair! Students placed on the waitlist should attend all classes and do all assigned work to retain their place on the list . We will contact you if a place opens up in the class . Usually, enough places open up to accommodate most or all students. If you have questions about the waitlist, contact the course coordinator, Yukiko Katagiri (yk43). If you decide to drop this course, notify one of the teachers immediately.
Course Structure
I. Daily Sections: Japanese 141 is made up of Sections with not more than 14 students. Sections are your chance to use and hear Japanese. Therefore always speak to your Section teachers only in
Japanese! They are skilled at using Japanese in a way that you can understand, even at the beginning.
II. Daily Grade: Once classes are in full swing, you will be graded daily on your Section performance.
The grade reflects your preparation of the day’s lesson, including reading. Each week your five daily grades (which may include zeros for absence) will be averaged and posted by your secret 4-digit code name on the course web site. At the end of the semester, your lowest four daily section grades
(which may be zeros for absence) will be eliminated before calculating your final daily grade. Though your daily grade cannot be made up, inform us by e-mail the reason for any absences from section or lecture whether due to illness, academic conflict, emergency, etc. You may be excused from Section for major religious holidays if you inform your teachers in advance with a written note, and your daily section grade can be made up. No other daily grades may be made up.
III. Quizzes: Quizzes will be given at the end of each lesson. There are no make-up quizzes. Your lowest grade for each type of quiz will be dropped from your record before calculating your final grade
(the lowest may be a zero for a missed quiz).
IV. Oral Presentations: At the end of each unit, you will prepare and be graded on an oral presentation of the unit dialogue, performed as a team with another student.
V. Exams: You will receive separate grades for each component of Prelim/Final exams (Oral/ Written).
*Students having legitimate need to miss a quiz or test may make it up if their absence is made known and approved by course staff in advance of the absence.
VI. Homework: You will be assigned HW on a regular basis. HW grades will be recorded as follows:
Received on time:
Received one day late:
100%
50%
After that: 0%
Your lowest 2 HW grades will be dropped from your record before calculating your final grade. (The lowest may be a zero for late submission.).
University Policy :
Together with all the members of this Department, we respect and uphold University policies and regulations pertaining to racial or ethnic discrimination, sexual harassment, assistance available to handicapped, visually and/or hearing impaired students, the observance of religious holidays, and plagiarism. All students are advised to become familiar with the respective University regulations and are encouraged to bring any questions or concerns to our attention.