Japanese 1 & 2

Name of Instructor:

Isha Sheth

Date/Semester of course:

Fall 2007- Spring 2008

Course Title:

FJ10-FJ20: First Year Japanese

Subject Area/Department:

Foreign Language

Pre-Requisites:

None

Brief Course Description:

In today’s increasingly globalized and multicultural society, fluency in multiple languages is essential for success. This course is designed to introduce students to Japanese language and culture. During this first year, students will focus on learning basic vocabulary that can be used in the classroom and outside of it. Students will learn the building blocks of the Japanese language: the writing systems of hiragana & katakana as well the polite forms of verbs & adjectives.

Essential Questions the course addresses:

• What are the over-arching and provocative questions that will foster inquiry and understanding?

• How are foreign words written in Japanese?

• How do you communicate basic ideas in Japanese?

• What role has culture played in the development of the Japanese language?

• How do you see culture reflected in the language you are learning in class?

• What are the principles and values that are central to Japanese culture?

Skills and Knowledge:

• What key skills and knowledge will students have acquired after completing this course?

By the end of the year, students will be able to:

* Use and understand many important Japanese greetings

* Receive language instruction mostly in Japanese

* Conjugate verbs and adjectives in polite form

* Introduce themselves and describe their likes and dislikes orally and in writing

* Acquire a deeper understanding of Japanese culture

Organization:

• What is the course outline? Please organize by unit, and by the topics, objectives or questions that each unit will cover. Units should relate to one of the essential questions.

Unit 1: Basic greetings & Classroom vocabulary

Unit 2: How to write hiragana

Unit 3: How to use and conjugate Japanese verbs; How to use Japanese particles

Unit 4: How to communicate likes & dislikes in Japanese

Unit 5: How to describe personal characteristics? How to use adjectives.

Unit 6: How to discuss time in Japanese

Unit 7: How to use “to be” in Japanese

Unit 8: How to write katakana; How to translate foreign words into Japanese; How do you write your name?

Texts/Resources:

• What resources (technology, multimedia, field trips, guest speakers, texts, etc.) will be used to engage all learners?

* Adventures in Japanese 1 (Textbook)

* Print-outs & excerpts from other textbooks

* Flash cards

* Japanese film

Standards Addressed:

• What NYS Standards does this course address?

Listening: Provide students with opportunities to listen to authentic speech, teachers, & peers

Provide opportunities for students to have informal conversation with teachers and peers

Provide students with culturally appropriate vocabulary and nonverbal cues

Provide opportunities for student to initiate conversation

Provide opportunity to compose short informal notes and messages for members of the target culture

Provide a simple structure with a range of tenses

Familiarize students with cultural features in target society

Emphasize the aspects of culture most closely related to the comprehension and the production of language

Assessments:

• What types of assessments will you use to evaluate student learning

Oral presentations, essays, “quick quizzes”, quizzes, tests, skits

• By what criteria will you evaluate student work and arrive at a grade? (What is your grading policy?)

15-20% Homework 5-10% Essays

25 % Tests 10% Group projects

20% Quizzes, quick quizzes

20% Class participation (DO NOWs, behavior, class work)

• How will students self-assess their learning (e.g. rubrics, checklists, multiple drafts of work, re-submissions, etc.)?

Students will self assess themselves through the use of rubrics, participating in peer editing, creation of multiple drafts of certain pieces, correcting all tests & quizzes, receiving score reports (that show how the scored in each area), and writing reflective letters on their performance.