Syllabus

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• Syllabus
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• Lesson 1
• Lesson 2
• Lesson 3
• Lesson 4
• Lesson 5
• Lesson 6
• Exams
• Study Materials

Prerequisites

None. Graduate credit is for students in 21F.551. Students in 21F.076 Globalization should register for 21F.571.

Required Texts

This course uses the following text and its accompanying audio supplement. Students are also given a course packet covering kana and kanji, which is not available.

Jorden, Eleanor Harz. Japanese: The Spoken Language, Part 1. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1987. ISBN: 9780300038347.

Noda, Mari. Japanese: The Spoken Language, CD-ROM. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2005. ISBN: 9780300075632.

As of Fall 2010, the Japanese classes at MIT have changed textbooks and use new course materials under active development. The latest materials are available at the class website for Japanese I; this site is maintained by the MIT Japanese faculty, and is not part of OpenCourseWare.

Course Objectives and Procedures

This course covers JSL Lessons 1 through 6, providing opportunities to acquire basic skills for conversation, reading and writing. The program emphasizes active command of Japanese, not passive knowledge. Your goal is not simply to study the grammar and vocabulary, but to improve the ability to use Japanese accurately and appropriately with fluency. You will learn 56 Kanji characters in this course.

FACT vs. ACT Class Sessions

In this course there are two types of class sessions, FACT and ACT. In FACT classes, information necessary for using the language, such as grammar, vocabulary, and socio-cultural information, will be provided primarily in English. You must read the textbook carefully, studying the Structural Patterns (SP), the Miscellaneous Notes (MN), the Breakdowns (new vocabulary items), and the Core Conversations (CC), as your preparation for FACT classes. Make sure that you know the metalinguistic terms used in the text as we refer to them in class.

ACT classes, which are conducted entirely in Japanese, will concentrate on speaking activities that require you to use the language. One of the things expected in ACT classes is that you act out the assigned Core Conversations (CC) accurately and fluently. Note that your grade for this course is largely dependent on your daily performance. Good daily performance scores can be achieved when you have learned and practiced the assigned CCs and Drills before coming to class, and demonstrate that you can use them in other contexts given in the class session. You should not rely only on reading the texts when you prepare for class; you need to use the accompanying tapes and learn the sounds, paying attention to the pronunciation and the intonation. Come to class well-prepared, as the pace and the level of a particular session are influenced by your readiness.

Tips

• Get in the habit of working with the audio files at the beginning of the semester by utilizing the Digital Language Lab at Ohio State University. Practice Core Conversations, Drills, and other spoken exercises with audio at all times.

• When studying Drills, pay attention to the form, the pronunciation and intonation, and think of when and how you may use these phrases.

• Using the DL Recorder, you are able to record your utterance online and compare it with that of native speakers.

• Keep in mind that communication is two-way: if you want to be able to speak in Japanese, you have to be able to listen and understand what others say to you. Don't underestimate the importance of the amount of time you use with audio files for your listening comprehension skills.

• Due to time limitations, we cannot spend so much time on in-class reading/writing practice. You are expected to set aside some time outside class to practice reading and writing on your own, using the Kana-Kanji text and the online materials. While we are learning Hiragana and Katakana, please bring the Kana-Kanji text to class every day, and be ready to recognize and write the assigned kana.

• At the beginning of the year, please read the Introduction to the course text and familiarize yourself with the Japanese sound system, Romanization, Symbols, and other conventions used in the text.

Evaluation

Daily Grade

One of the things you are expected to do in ACT classes is that you act out the assigned Core Conversations (CC). Based on your performance of CCs and other activities involving the assigned CCs and Drills, you will be given a daily performance score:

10 = excellent performance; native-like fluency
9 = very good/strong performance with some minor errors
8 = fair performance with some mistakes or weakness
7 = prepared, but weak in major areas
6 = present, but evidently unprepared
0 = absent

The above grade scale also applies to your performance on assigned readings in class.

Exams and Quizzes

There are two oral interview tests and two written exams. In addition, there are many vocabulary and kana quizzes throughout the semester.

Evaluation Method

* The three lowest daily grades will be dropped at the end of the term.
** The three lowest quiz scores will be dropped at the end of the term.
No make-up quizzes or exams are given in this course.

There will be no make-up for missed performances and quizzes.

Attendance Policy

1. Because of the cumulative nature of language learning, it is essential that you attend all sessions and keep up with the course work on a daily basis. Please follow the online Weekly Schedule and come to class well-prepared.

2. Attend the class section which you are registered in, unless you have made official arrangements with the instructors at the beginning of the semester, or your grade will not be credited. If you have to attend a section other than your regular section on a particular day, you must notify the instructors at least one day in advance.

3. Only in case of an emergency you may be allowed to participate in class activities and quizzes in a different section without the aforementioned one-day-in-advance permission from the instructors. Oversleeping is not regarded as an emergency.