Elementary Japanese

 

JAPANESE 101: Elementary Japanese 1 (Online)

Instructor: Etsuko K Benton
Lesley University
 

   こんにちは！ Elementary Japanese is an introduction to Japanese language and culture. The course is designed for 11 weeks of online classes, and for students who have had little or no experience learning Japanese. The goals of this course are to develop four basic skills, speaking, listening, reading, and writing in modern Japanese with an emphasis on grammatical accuracy and socially appropriate language use. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to carry on basic daily conversations and to develop the ability to read and write hiragana as well as to read katakana. 

 

Course Materials 

Required Textbooks and workbooks

Genki I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese with MP3 CD-ROM, 2011

Genki I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese-Workbook with MP3 CD-ROM, 2011

Link

Recommended Texts & Other Readings

Self-study Room - Genki - The Japan Times：htttp://genki.japantimes.co.jp/self_en

Tofugu: http://www.tofugu.com/
Japanesepod 101: http://www.japanesepod101.com/

 

Instructional Technology

Various technology tools are incorporated into this course to facilitate students’ learning, communication, as well as practice the 4 language skills, speaking, listening, reading, and writing.  

Required Equipment

PC

Email address

Skype or other video conferencing tool(s)    

Recording applications: Vocaroo: http://vocaroo.com/

Online Voice Recorder: http://online-voice-recorder.com/

Voicethread: https://voicethread.com/

You can also use cell phone apps.

Scanner or fax machine

 

Course Objectives:

After completing this course, students should be able to:

• communicate in Japanese in limited, concrete situations, related to basic personal needs.
• recognize and distinguish the culturally appropriate use of the Japanese language in some social contexts.
• recognize basic learning strategies and language resources to interact in Japanese.
• read and write/type hiragana and recognize some katakana words.

 

Contact Information

The best way to contact me is sending me an email. I check my email at least once a day and if you don’t hear from me within 48 hours, please resend me an email in a case your email may be somehow got lost. etsukokb@gmail.com

 

Assignments Overview

1)    Weekly Vociethread Activity

Weekly Voicethread Activity will be posted on the Assignment section.  It is due on every Sunday.

example: https://voicethread.com/share/8614482/

 

2)   Weekly Discussion

The weekly discussion topic will be posted on the “Discussion Section” and it is due on every Thursday. You are also required to reply 2 other peers by Sunday.

 

3)   Weekly Video /Skype conversation practice session with an instructor

Every week, each student will be scheduled to practice Japanese speaking skill with me for at least 30 minutes online.  We will practice using Skype or any other online video conferencing tool. 

4)   Typing Assignment    

Every week, students are required to practice typing Japanese words and sentences using a keyboard. The due date for this assignment is every Sunday. 

Here is how to add Japanese characters into your PC: How to Type in Japanese with Windows using Microsoft IME

Keyboard that you can practice typing Japanese: Katakana Japanese Online Keyboard LEXILOGOS: http://www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/katakana.htm

 

5)      Group Project

     Introducing Japanese culture (research project and presentation)

(Due Week 6)

6)       Mid Term Exam ( Week 4)   Mid－Term Exam 

7)       Final Exam (Week 8) 

Final Exam covers all contents that you have been learning since the beginning of this course, Chapter 1-Chapter 4.  

          Final Exam

 

A weekly schedule will be posted on the Announcements section.

 

Grading System and Policy 

The course will be graded on a standard A-F graduate-level grading scale.

I use a pointing system for all assessments, and your total points will be calculated at the end of the course for your final grade. Following is a description of the course assignments. 

I do not have all assessments materials ready now, but you will be graded with your total points of all assessments (including weekly quizzes, 3 group projects, participation on weekly skype speaking chat, mid and final exams).  

 Total 100 % 

A = 90 - 100                                                             

B = 80 - 89

C = 70 - 79

D = 60 - 69

F = 0 – 59  

For example, if the total points for this course is 500 and you have 423 points at the end, after the calculation, your grade will be “B”.

 

Graded Course Activities

Visit the Assignment List link in Canvas for details about each assignment.  Click on Assessments to access quizzes and exams.

Late Work Policy

Be sure to pay close attention to deadlines—

If you are having an emergency, please let me know in advance so that we can arrange something else.  Without a serious and compelling reason and instructor's approval, your points will be reduced.

 

Viewing Grades in Canvas

Points you receive for graded activities will be posted to the Canvas. Click on the Grades link on the left navigation to view your points.

 

Build Rapport

If you find that you have any trouble keeping up with assignments or other aspects of the course, make sure you let your instructor know as early as possible. As you will find, building rapport and effective relationships are key to becoming an effective professional. Make sure that you are proactive in informing your instructor when difficulties arise during the semester so that they can help you find a solution.

 

Complete Assignments

Assignments must be submitted by the given deadline or special permission must be requested from an instructor before the due date. Extensions will not be given beyond the next assignment except under extreme circumstances.

All discussion assignments must be completed by the assignment due date and time. Late or missing discussion assignments will affect the student’s grade.

 

Understand When You May Drop This Course

It is the student’s responsibility to understand when they need to consider disenrolling from a course. Please notify the instructor when you decided to do so.

Here is a refund policy: http://www.lesley.edu/student-accounts/refund-policies/

 

Inform Your Instructor of Any Accommodations Needed

(               ) is committed to equal educational opportunities for qualified students with disabilities in compliance with Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. The purpose of the Disability Resource Program is to assist students with disabilities to realize their academic and personal potential. Students with disabilities needing accommodation are required to contact the Disability Program office at (xxx) xxx-xxxx. All requests for accommodations need appropriate advance notice by the student to avoid a delay in services. Please discuss approved accommodations with faculty.

 

Academic Dishonesty Policy

1. Academic dishonesty includes such things as cheating, inventing false information or citations, plagiarism and helping someone else commit an act of academic dishonesty. It usually involves an attempt by a student to show possession of a level of knowledge or skill that he/she does not possess.
2. Course instructors have the initial responsibility for detecting and dealing with academic dishonesty. Instructors who believe that an act of academic dishonesty has occurred are obligated to discuss the matter with the student(s) involved. Instructors should possess reasonable evidence of academic dishonesty. However, if circumstances prevent consultation with the student(s), instructors may take whatever action (subject to student appeal) they deem appropriate.
3. Instructors who are convinced by the evidence that a student is guilty of academic dishonesty shall assign an appropriate academic penalty. If the instructors believe that the academic dishonesty reflects on the student's academic performance or the academic integrity in a course, the student's grade should be adversely affected. Suggested guidelines for appropriate actions are: an oral reprimand in cases where there is reasonable doubt that the student knew his/her action constituted academic dishonesty; a failing grade on the particular paper, project or examination where the act of dishonesty was unpremeditated, or where there were significant mitigating circumstances; a failing grade in the course where the dishonesty was premeditated or planned. The instructors will file incident reports with the Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs and for Student Affairs or their designees. These reports shall include a description of the alleged incident of academic dishonesty, any relevant documentation, and any recommendations for action that he/she deems appropriate.
4. The Vice President for Student Affairs shall maintain an Academic Dishonesty File of all cases of academic dishonesty with the appropriate documentation.
5. Student may appeal any actions taken on charges of academic dishonesty to the "Academic Appeals Board."
6. The Academic Appeals Board shall consist of faculty and at least one student.
7. Individuals may not participate as members of the Academic Appeals Board if they are participants in an appeal.
8. The decision of the Academic Appeals Board will be forwarded to the President of XXX, whose decision is final.

Important Note: Any form of academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, may be reported to the office of student affairs.

Course policies are subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility to check Canvas for corrections or updates to the syllabus. Any changes will be posted on Canvas.