Soko Gakuen Japanese Language School
1881 Pine Street
San Francisco, California 94109
Phone 415-928-9608
https://sokogakuen.org

COURSE SYLLABUS

Term (Contact hours) ......................... WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER, & FALL (33 hours each)
Class & Section ................................... JLPTn4&k  ME
Instructor  ............................................ TBA
Meeting day & Time ........................... Mondays, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

(Prerequisite: JLPTn5&K or its equivalent)

COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES
Continuation of Reading 1&k and Nihongo Noryoku Shiken Level 4  by Bonjinsha.  Students develop Japanese language proficiency (NIHONGO NORYOKU Level 4).    Practice and learn key test-taking strategies for the Nihongo Noryoku Shiken N 4.
   Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
1. Read and write (reproduce) approximately 370 essential KANJI characters, the ON-KUN readings/pronunciation (in addition to the previously learned characters Kanji 1) and use them appropriately in sentences.
2. Fulfill survival skill need to read and write modern Japanese (signs, memos, letters, and simple writing, etc.).
3. Guess the meaning when confronted with new Kanji characters by studying the radicals.
4. Get to know the real NIHONGO NORYOKU SHIKEN's format, question types, and scoring.

TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS
1. Required:
a)  Instructional materials prepared by instructor.
b)  Kano, C. , Shimizu, Y., & Ishi, E. (1989). Basic KANJI Book (Lessons 19-32, Vols.1&2). Tokyo, Japan: Bonjinsha.
c)  Nihongo Noryoku Shiken Level 4.  Tokyo, Japan: Bonjinsha.

2. Recommended:
a) Murata, M. (1991). KANJI: Practical guide for beginners. Tokyo: Babel Press.
b)  ジャポニカ かんじのれんしゅう 小学3年、4年.  (n.d.). Tokyo, Japan: Shouwa [Available at SF Kinokuniya].
c) Kanji practice on the Internet.
http://jisho.org
http://webjapanese.com/kanji/test03/suntack.cgi
http://webjapanese.com
http://www.nuthatch.com/kanjicards
d) Online dictionaries:
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/jwb/wwwjdic?9T
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/jwb/wwwjdic?1C
http://www.shurey.com/countdic/index.html
To find Kanji  http://www.trussel.com/f_nih.htm, http://www.rdt.monash.edu.au/~jwb/wwwjdic.html
To find Kanji using radicals http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/jwb/wwwjdic?1R
e)  Heisig, J. W. (1977). Remembering the KANJI I. Tokyo, Japan: Japan Publications Trading.
f)  Canon Wordtank. (1991). A portable Kanji computer [Available at Keidenshi, electronics shop below the Kinokuniya Bookstore, San Francisco].

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 (see below).
        a) For each class, the student is expected to study Units 1, 2-1, and 2 before the class, and Units 2-3 and 3 after the class.  Please use separate notebooks instead of writing in the textbook.
        b) To improve writing, students are expected to write short essays and sentences using those new Kanji introduced in the class as much as possible. The instructor will collect and correct them.
        c) There may be a short quiz every week.
        d) The Kanji redicals (BUSHU) will also be covered in this class.

2. The class, however, may be conducted in accordance with the needs of the students in class within the course objectives.

CALENDAR / Weekly Schedule  (The following schedule may change.)

Week 1. Brief introduction and orientation. Lesson 19 (Vol.1)

Week 2. Lessons 20, 21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kanji Quiz #1

Week 3. Lesson 22 and Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kanji Quiz #2

Week 4. Lessons 23, 24 (Vol.2) . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . Kanji Quiz #3

Week 5. Lessons 25 and Review . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . Kanji Quiz #4

Week 6. Lessons 26, 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kanji Quiz #5

Week 7. Lesson 28 and Review . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . Kanji Quiz #6

Week 8. Lessons 29, 30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . Kanji Quiz #7

Week 9. Lesson 31 and Review . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . Kanji Quiz #8

Week 10. FINAL EXAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kanji Quiz #9

Week 11. Review and Lesson 32

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

PLEASE NOTE
1. You are expected to complete all assignments before and after the class. Memorize Kanji characters, write short essays and sentences in Japanese before coming to class.
2. From time to time, Kanji quizzes will be given (possibly as shown in the calendar).
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
There will be NO MAKE-UP FINAL for this course.


ALL THE ENDEAVORS OF THE TEACHER WILL FAIL TO INSURE SUCCESS UNLESS YOU PREPARE
WITH DILIGENCE AND CONSTANCY THE EXERCISES TO BE GIVEN IN CLASS.

YOUR PROGRESS IS OUR CONCERN !

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