Soko Gakuen
Japanese Language School
Phone 415-928-9608
sokogakuen.org

COURSE SYLLABUS

Term (Contact hours) ............... WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER, & FALL (33 hours each)
Class & Section .......................... BEGINNING 2  SM, ME, or WE
Instructor ......................................... TBA
Meeting day & Time ................. Saturday 9-12noon, Monday 6-9pm, or Wednesday 6-9pm
 

COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:  talk about everyday activities\what, when, where; make reservations at a restaurant by phone; state how frequently one does something;  talk about the characteristics of things and places;  talk about the weather; express onefs thoughts about experiences;  express gratitude;  talk about tourist destinations and onefs hometown;  ask the meaning of a word you do not know;  talk about giving and receiving gifts; talk about what one possesses;  talk about someonefs likes and skills; talk about what you would like to do;  tell where a certain event is taking place; invite someone to an event; receive or decline an invitation; state a reason for declining and invitation.

TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS
1. Required:  a)  Japanese For Busy People  I   Romanized VERSION  (Lessons 8-16) by Kodansha USA / AJALT.  b) Shimazu, Y. M. (2022). Handy Katakana Workbook.  Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Pub. [also available at Kinokuniya Bookstore, San Francisco--Geary at Webster. Phone 415-567-7625].

2. Recommended: 
Mizutani, O., & Mizutani, N. (1977 & 1979). nihongo notes (Vols. 1 & 2).

3.  Audio files.
Visit https://www.kodanshausa.com
and locate Japanese for Busy People I
and click on corresponding Audio Lessons.

4. Online software programs for you to practice KANA, etc. at home.
http://www.ajalt.org/sfyj/
http://www.realkana.com/katakana

EVALUATION
1. One final exam (2.5 hours).
2. Upon successful completion (80% or higher attendance rate and 80% or higher final exam score) of the course, a STUDENT PROGRESS REPORT will be written if requested at the time you take the final exam.
3. Your final exam score (%) and attendance (%) will be kept in a digitized form @STUDENT GRADES AND INFORMATION REPOSITORY.

TEACHING STYLE
The instructor will create a relaxed, low-anxiety atmosphere through which you can acquire the previously mentioned course objectives with less effort and with ease. The instructor will use an eclectic teaching method.

PROCEDURES
1. The instructor will follow the CALENDAR /Weekly Schedule.
2. In class, student and teacher (and student and student) will engage in interactive language activities, a variety of exercises, using Japanese as much as possib le. The instructor, however, will use some mechanical and meaningful drills, when necessary, to develop your kinetic memory for the training of the perceptual motor skills.
3. Students will reinforce and develop vocabulary, structure, listening to audio files and conversational skills through weekly assignments.
4. The class, however, may be conducted in accordance with the needs of the students in class within the course objectives.

CALENDAR / Weekly Schedule

Week 1.  Brief Review and Lesson 8 .......................  GOING TO NIKKO

Week 2.  Lesson 9 ....................................................... LOOKING FOR A PARKING LOT

Week 3.  Lesson 10 ..................................................... MAKING PLANS FOR THE WEEKEND

Week 4.  Lesson 11 ..................................................... AT A TEMPURA RESTAURANT

Week 5.  Lesson 12 ..................................................... RECEIVING HOSPITALITY

Week 6.  Lesson 13 ..................................................... GIVING COMPLIMENTS

Week 7.  Lesson 13,  Review and Quiz

Week 8.  Lesson 14 ..................................................... EXPRESSING GRATITUDE

Week 9.  Lesson 15 ..................................................... INVITATIONS

Week 10.    FINAL EXAM

Week 11.  Lesson 16 ...................................................  PARTICIPATING IN A FESTIVAL

*Weekly assignments on specific dates will be available from your instructor in class.

PLEASE NOTE
1. You are expected to listen to the audio files, memorize new words, read the grammar explanation in the textbook and to complete all assignments before coming to class.
2. From time to time short KANA quizzes may be given in class.
3. Please be on time for class; otherwise, you interrupt the lesson for others. Regular class attendance and participation are essential for language learning.
4. Excessive absences (more than 3 class meetings) may be cause for repetition of the course.
5. The results of your final exam (%) and attendance (%) will be kept in a digitized form @STUDENT GRADES AND INFORMATION REPOSITORY Your PROGRESS REPORT will be kept in the Soko Gakuen Records Office, and the Office will release it only upon your request.
6. When you obtain a score of 80% or higher on the final exam, you move up to a higher level class. Soko Gakuen's exit criteria for each class/level are based on the 1987 ACTFL Japanese Language Proficiency Guidelines.

POLICY ON FINAL EXAM
If you are unable to take the final exam on the scheduled date due to circumstances beyond your control, the exam will be given only in a similar test-taking situation (under supervision of an instructor at Soko Gakuen). Unless the final exam is made up before the PROGRESS REPORT is submitted (from the teacher to the Soko Gakuen Records Office), NO CERTIFICATES can be issued.


ALL THE ENDEAVORS OF THE TEACHER WILL FAIL TO INSURE SUCCESS
UNLESS YOU PREPAREWITH DILIGENCE AND CONSTANCY

THE EXERCISES TO BE GIVEN IN CLASS.

YOUR PROGRESS IS OUR MAIN CONCERN.