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COURSE SYLLABUS (short version)
accessible
syllabus provided by the Center for Faculty Development
Semester:
FALL 2025
Class, section & code:
ELEMENTARY JAPANESE, JPN 001A-02 41450
GE Designator
C2
Units/ Contact hours:
4/ 48 hours
Instructor:
Dr. Shimazu, Department of World Languages
& Literatures, SJSU
Days & Time Taught (Room):
MWF, 1:30-2:40 p.m. Sweeney Hall (SH241)
Office hours:
MWF, 10:30-11:45 a.m. (or by appointment)
Office:
Clark Bldg 410P, phone 408-924-4625
Email:
ymshimazu@gmail.com
Website:
www.sjsu.edu/people/y.shimazu
TEXTBOOKS / INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
1. REQUIRED
a) Banno, E., et al. (2020). An integrated
course in elementary Japanese GENKI (3rd ed.) and workbook,
audio files
(LL.1-5, Vol.1).
Tokyo, Japan: The Japan Times. ISBN 9784789017305.
b) Shimazu, Y. M. (2022). Handy Katakana
workbook (7th ed.). Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt. ISBN
9798765744260
2. RECOMMENDED
a) International Internship Programs. (1997). Japan at a glance. Tokyo:
Kodansha International.
b) Mizutani, O., & Mizutani, N. (1977 &
1979). nihongo notes (Vols. 1
& 2).
c) Brown, H. D. (1989). A
practical guide to language learning. New York:
McGraw-Hill.
d) Makino, S., & Tsutsui, M. (1986).
A
Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar. Tokyo, Japan:
The Japan Times.
e) Inaba, S. (2013). An introduction to Japanese
linguistics for advance learners of Japanese.
Cupertino. CA: GreenLing-5
f) DeMente, B. (1997). The Japanese
have a word for it. IL: Passport
Books/Lincolnwood
g) Books, dictionaries, etc. https://www.stonebridge.com
h) Genki Opening Dialogs (videos)
https://genki3.japantimes.co.jp/en/student/dialoguevideo.html
REQUIREMENTS
1. DO BOTH IN-CLASS AND M&F
HOMEWORK *ASSIGNMENTS (online). Because this course is
a C2 GE Designator, all students must purchase their
Workbooks and complete every required page to receive credit.
2. ATTEND CLASS regularly. Attendance rate 80% or higher required
(to participate in class
activity, you need to attend the class). Excessive
absences (missing more than 20% of class time) may be cause for
repetition of the course.
3. TAKE quizzes and 1 final exam.
*Assignment due dates are subject to change with fair
notice.
GRADING
1. Quizzes (if 6 quizzes are given, lowest score may be
deleted) ......................... 50%
2. Final exam (
Wednesday 12/10/25 100pm-300pm)).........................................
25%
3. Participation, Homework, and Workbooks (HKW & orange
book)................. .... 25%
4. Extra work such as reading newspaper or magazine articles
that are related to Japan (business, language, culture, etc.) and
reviewing those articles, or attending
lectures......................................extra credit (1% per
case)
5. Actively participate in the SJSU
Japan Club activities.
GRADING SCALE ► A+
98-100% A
93-97% A- 90-92% B+ 88-89% B
83-87% B- 80-82% C+ 78-79% C 73-77%
C- 70-72% D+ 68-69% D 63-67%
D- 60-62% F Below 60%
l. The instructor will create a relaxed,
low-anxiety learning environment through which you can acquire the
course objectives.
2. The instructor will use an "eclectic" teaching
method to help you develop basic linguistic and communicative
competence by understanding "speaking rules," and the "relation
between linguistic form and function."
3. In class, students and teacher (and student and
student) will engage in interactive language activities, a variety
of exercises, using Japanese as much as possible. 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.
4. In order to acquire integrative language skills
and to improve your penmanship in Japanese the instructor may use
writing exercises, dictation, etc. in class.
PROCEDURES
1. One textbook lesson should be covered in 8-10
class sessions with supplementary material, with a quiz at the
end. You are expected to memorize the vocabulary,
read the grammar notes, and listen to the audio files
(1. Scan QR code, 2. download OTO Navi from App
Store or Google Play--see the last page in textbook) for each
lesson before coming to class. The first several weeks
will be spent in learning
Hiragana and Katakana along with the textbook
lessons. Writing exercises shall be done in 8.5 x 7 inch
Examination Green Books (smaller ones).
2. Students will reinforce and develop vocabulary,
structure, listening and speaking skills through M&F HOMEWORK *ASSIGNMENTS
(online).
You are expected to do the online supplementary material
(interactive language activities--including audio tapes) at home.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The student should, at the end of the semester, be able to:
develop four Japanese language skills (listening, speaking,
reading, and writing--NOVICE-MID, ACTFL guidelines) in three
modes of communication (interpersonal, interpretive, and
presentational).
Listening/Aural Comprehension & Oral Production
A. respond to teacher's and classmates' simple questions;
B. respond to simple requests and commands;
C. give short answers to yes/no and information questions;
D. repeat, at least, a 6-word sentence after a model;
E. ask simple questions;
F. ask information questions with a complete sentence;
G. relate Hiragana and Katakana
characters to sounds;
Reading/Recoding
H. read everything that he or she produces;
Writing
I. form correctly all the characters and combinations of
characters in Hiragana and
Katakana;
J. recognize approx. 50
Kanji (Chinese characters) introduced during the
semester;
K. punctuate a sentence correctly; that is, the sentence-end mark
or a small circle (the equivalent of a period in English), and use
comma where appropriate in the sentence structures presented;
L. write dictation based on oral work and reading materials;
M. relate sounds to phonological spelling in Hiragana and Katakana, and
write them correctly;
Special Skills
N. read a calendar; use standard polite expressions, including
greetings, leave-takings, and introductions (L1);
O. ask about, read, and tell prices for food, clothing, postage,
and other necessities; order food in a restaurant (L2);
P. provide basic information about self and family members
verbally and in simple writing (name, age, address, telephone
number, etc.);
Q. talk about daily activities and customs; extend invitations;
accept and refuse invitations (L3);
R. ask and tell time; ask and answer where things are; talk about
things and habitual events that happened in the past (L4);
S. make offers and invitations (L5);
Vocabulary
T. master 400 essential
vocabulary words introduced in the course.
NOTES
Regular class attendance and participation are essential for
learning a language. Please arrive on time for class, and
it is important that you attend all classes and participate in all
class activities. The quizzes and final exam will assess your
comprehension of the material covered in the textbook, class
handouts, and lectures. If you miss a quiz, you will receive a
grade of zero. If you miss a class, you are responsible for
finding out what was covered. You are accountable for all material
presented throughout the course. Please refrain from
bringing food or soft drinks into the classroom,
as well as electronic devices (per AI policy) such as
smarPhones, airPods, headphones, laptops, and similar items.
Additionally, texting, watching anime or manga, and
playing video games in class are not allowed.
POLICY ON FINAL EXAM
According to SJSU Policy, all courses are required to hold a final
examination or final project during the final examination period.
Only with the approval of both the Chair of the Department and the
Dean of the College can exceptions be made, which are rarely
granted except in the most extreme circumstances.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students are not permitted to use old tests or quizzes when
preparing for exams. Violations of the Academic Integrity Policy
undermine the educational process and will not be tolerated.
Violators of the Academic Integrity Policy will be subject to
failing the course and will be reported to the Office of Judicial
Affairs for disciplinary action, which could result in suspension
or expulsion from San José State University. AI policy: The
use of
chatGPT (or QuillBot) must be approached with caution when writing
papers, including essays and reports, due to ethical
considerations. This policy aims to promote working smarter in
academic work.
ADA
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of
a disability, please make an appointment with me as soon as
possible. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that
students with disabilities requesting accommodations must
register with DRC to establish a record of their disability.
Individuals who need extra help, feel free to see me. Questions
are always welcome. Your progress is my main concern. がんばって!
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