Academic Catalogs

JAPN A185: Elementary Japanese 2

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 10/20/2021
Top Code 110800 - Japanese
Units 5 Total Units 
Hours 90 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 90)
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee Yes
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S), 
  • Pass/No Pass (B)
Associate Arts Local General Education (GE)
  • OC Humanities - AA (OC1)
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)
  • Cal-GETC 3B Humanities (3B)
  • Cal-GETC 6A Language Other Than English (6A)
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
  • IGETC 3B Humanities (3B)
  • IGETC 6A Lang other than Engl (6A)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)
  • CSU C2 Humanities (C2)

Course Description

Continuation of JAPN A180, with further development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing proficiency, and additional exploration of cultures related to the Japanese language. This course is equivalent to three years of high school Japanese. Enrollment Limitation: JAPN A185H; students who complete JAPN A185 may not enroll in or receive credit for JAPN A185H. PREREQUISITE: JAPN A180 or JAPN A180H or completion of two years of high school Japanese with a grade of 'C' or better. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Recognize and produce the Japanese language at the high-beginning level in the four primary areas of communication: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
  2. Demonstrate a better understanding and appreciation of the cultures related to the Japanese language by comparing and contrasting them with the students' own culture(s).
  3. Use current technologies to further develop their language and cultural competencies.

Course Objectives

  • 1. Comprehend high-beginning-level spoken Japanese.
  • 2. Produce high-beginning-level spoken Japanese.
  • 3. Read and understand high-beginning-level Japanese.
  • 4. Express basic ideas and opinions in high-beginning-level written Japanese.
  • 5. Acquire high-beginning-level Japanese vocabulary.
  • 6. Understand and use high-beginning-level Japanese grammatical structures.
  • 7. Recognize the more important cultural aspects of living in the Japanese-speaking worlds.
  • 8. Use technologies such as the Internet, online workbooks and multimedia to enhance learning.
  • 9. Value the process of language learning.

Lecture Content

Topic 1:  Activities and Hobbies Contents  Food Beverages Sports Music Leisure activities Objectives Express likes and dislikes, using suki or kirai and the particle ya Make noun phrase using no and the dictionary forms of verbs Make contrasts using the particle wa, and express but, using ga Make comparisons using ichiban and no hoo ga ~yori, and ~mo ~mo and express lack of preference Give reasons using the plain form + node Read and write 15 basic kanji related to the topic Read understanding word formation Listen identifying conversation fillers Speak giving positive feedback with mo and making a contrast with wa Topic 2:  Shopping Contents Clothing Accessories and departments Numbers 100 and above Expressions related to merchandise, prices, other activities in a store Objectives Request and give explanations or additional information, and create harmony and shared atmosphere, using ~n desu Express desire using ~hoshii, ~hoshigatte iru and ~tai, ~tagatte iru Express quantities with numbers and the counters, using mai, hon, hiki, satsu Express quantities using Japanese origin numbers Talk about prices, using en and indicate floor levels with kai Read and write additional 14 kanji for numbers and prices Read using scanning Listen recognizing the characteristics of speech Speak asking for paraphrase and repetition Topic 3:  Restaurants and Invitations Contents  Things to order and types of cuisine Food expressions Ordering food and inviting people Objectives Indicate choices, using ~ni shimasu Make requests, using ~wo onegaishimasu Elicite and make proposals, using ~masen ka, ~mashoo ka, and ~mashoo Use question word + ka + (particle) + affirmative and question word + (particle) + mo + negative Give reasons using kara; express opposition or hesitation using kedo Read and write additional 15 basic kanji related to the topic Read understanding Japanese e-mail format Listen using the context Speak introducing a new topic  Topic 4:  My Family Contents Kinship terms Parts of the body Physical appearance Personality Verbs of resultant state Age, number of people, and order in a family Objectives     1.   State the order within a family using ban(me)     2.   Make requests, using ~wo onegaishimasu     3.   Describe a resultatnt state using verb TE form + iru      4.   Describe physical appearance and skills using ~wa ~ga     5.   Describe people and things using nouns and modifying clauses     6.   Expressing opinions using ~to omou     7.   Read and write additional 17 basic kanji related to the topic     8.   Read creating charts and figures     9.   Listen using ones background knowledge about a person    10.  Speak being modest about yourself and your family Topic 5:  Seasons and Weather Contents  Weather Climate Temperature Compass directions Objectives Express ongoing and repeated actions using the TE form of verbs + iru Plan past forms and casual speech Describe characteristics of places, objects, and time using ~wa ~ga Express manner of action or outcome of a change using the adverbial forms of adjectives and nouns + ni Express uncertainty using ~deshoo, ~kamoshirenai, and ~kana Read and write additional 17 kanji related to the topic Read getting used to vertial writing Listen understanding the organization of prepared speech   Speak expressing agreement and solidarity using ne and mo Topic 6:  Annual Events  Contents  Dates Years Other time expressions Attractions and leisure activities Momorable events Objectives Talk about time using noun/adjective + toki and duration + mae/go Talk about past experiences using ~takoto ga aru List representative activities using ~tari ~tari suru Express hearsay using the plain form + soo da Use noun modifying clauses in the past and present Read and write additional 17 kanji related to the topic Read understanding the format of a postcard Listen taking turns in conversation Speak using phrases for filling in pauses

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
  • DE Online Lecture (02X)

Instructional Techniques

1.   Lecture and application of ideas 2.   Large and small group discussion 3.   Individual, paired, and small group exercises focused on communication 4.   Instructor and peer feedback 5.   Audio CD (or MP3 files), DVD (or MP4 files), PowerPoint slides and overhead transparencies to illustrate concepts 6.   Individual and/or collaborative project 7.   Interactive computer and the Internet

Reading Assignments

Reading assignments are used at every step through the semester to reinforce the vocabulary, grammatical structures, and communicative-oriented language skills being studied. The students will read selections from the textbook and other online or offline supplementary materials. Typical selections focus on the immediate environment of the students (such as hobbies, shopping, restaurant, inviting people, family, vacation, favorite town, weather) written in hiragana, katakana, and learned kanji. These readings and the culture notes of the textbook provide practical insights into Japanese culture.

Writing Assignments

Writing assignments are used at every step through the semester to exercise the vocabulary, grammatical structures, and communicative-oriented skills being studied. The student will write essays and skits on topics covered using hiragana, katakana, and learned kanji. Typical topics include: hobby, shopping experience, dining experience, family members, favorite towns, vacation, childhood. They will also write an e-mail to invite a friend for a special occasion.

Out-of-class Assignments

The students will complete speaking, listening, reading, and writing exercises in the textbook, the workbook, and other online or offline supplementary materials. The assignments include not only short response type exercise, but also reading comprehension, essay and/or skit writing, online language lab. activities and oral presentation preparation. The students are also required to finish various culture-related exercises, including creation of PowerPoint slides based on online research.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

The students will demonstrate the following skills: 1: Oral participation (question/answer, one-to-one, group interviews and discussions)2: Completion of assignments (speaking, listening, reading, and writing exercises in the textbook, the workbook, and other online or offline supplementary materials including reading comprehension, essay and/or skit writing, online language lab. exercises, paper(s), project(s))3: Short quizzes of vocabulary, grammatical concepts, hiragana, katakana or Japanese culture4: Written tests at the completion of each lesson or unit of instruction (i.e., chapter tests or midterms and a final exam, or a comprehensive final exam)5: Oral tests based on the topics covered and the application6: Oral presentation and/or role-playing

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Writing assignments Writing assignments are used at every step through the semester to exercise the vocabulary, grammatical structures, and communicative-oriented skills being studied. The student will write essays and skits on topics covered using hiragana, katakana, and learned kanji. Typical topics include: hobby, shopping experience, dining experience, family members, favorite towns, vacation, childhood. They will also write an e-mail to invite a friend for a special occasion. Proficiency demonstration 1.   Complete open-ended statements in a creative manner on situations presented orally and/or in writing. 2.   Transfer the linguistic elements learned in class to the world of family, friend, and work. 3.   Select the most appropriate grammatical structure over another. 4.   Write short essays in the enumerative, descriptive, and narrative modes using various grammatical forms and appropriate Japanese writing systems. 5.   Relate the cultural material read and discussed to other cultures in order to compare and contrast them. 6.   Discuss and analyze current topics in Japan. 7.   Discuss and analyze comparatively the relationship between Japan and other countries.

Eligible Disciplines

Foreign languages: Masters degree in the language being taught OR bachelors degree in the language being taught AND masters degree in another language or linguistics OR the equivalent. Masters degree required. Foreign languages: Masters degree in the language being taught OR bachelors degree in the language being taught AND masters degree in another language or linguistics OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Hatasa, Y. A., et al. Nakama 1: Japanese Communication, Culture, Context, 3rd ed. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2018 Rationale: . 2. Required Hatasa, Y. A., et al. Nakama 1: Student Activities Manual, 3rd ed. Cengage Learning, 2018 Rationale: .