Undergraduate Courses
General Course Information
The Japanese Language Program offers a four-year curriculum in the Japanese language as well as Japanese literature courses.
The program maintains four-days-per-week instruction plus a weekly half-hour peer tutor session for the initial four-semester sequence of Japanese language courses (JAPN 10A, 20B, 30A and 40B). For Japanese 105A and 105B, instruction is divided between two weekly 80-minute sessions and one weekly 50-minute session (4 hours total per week). Through these intensive courses, Brandeis students gain strong Japanese language skills and understanding of its culture. JAPN 120A (fourth-year Japanese course) will be a project-based class, and students will collaborate with Japanese students and conduct research together to further develop their advanced Japanese language skills.
The four-semester sequence of Japanese courses 10A through 40B, or its equivalent, fulfills the language requirement for the East Asian Studies major and minor.
Placement
All students who have previously studied Japanese (high school, university, self-study or a home) and wish to continue studying Japanese at Brandeis must take a placement test to determine their level of proficiency so the instructor can place them in the appropriate class. The test will be scheduled during the first week of the semester so there is sufficient time to choose and register for an appropriate class. Please contact Professor Hisae Fujiwara when you arrive on campus in the fall.
SAT II test scores in Japanese do not satisfy the foreign language requirement.
Fall 2023 Courses
Taught in Japanese
Fall 2023 mode: Offered in person
Instructors: Professor Hisae Fujiwara (Sections 1, 2. & 3); Professor Mayumi Tamaki (Section 4)
Meets four days per week for a total of four class hours per week and one half-hour tutoring session per week.
Intended for students with little or no previous knowledge of Japanese. This course offers intensive training in the basics of Japanese grammar, listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Students acquire Japanese language proficiency through various interactive classroom activities, workbook, audio, video, and computer-assisted exercises.
Taught in Japanese
Fall 2023 mode: Offered in person
Instructor: Professor Yukimi Nakano
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 20b or the equivalent. Meets four days per week for a total of four class hours per week and one half-hour tutoring session per week.
Continuation of JAPN 20b. This course aims to further develop a student's four language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing Japanese through various classroom activities, workbook, audio, video, and writing essays.
Taught in Japanese
Fall 2023 mode: Offered in person
Instructor: Professor Yukimi Nakano
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 40b or the equivalent. Four class hours per week.
Continuation of JAPN 40b. For advanced students of Japanese who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency as well as reading and writing skills. Students will develop their proficiency in reading and speaking through texts, films, videos and discussions on current issues on Japanese society. Various forms of writing will be assigned to improve students' writing skills.
Taught in Japanese
Fall 2023 mode: Offered in person
Instructor: Professor Hisae Fujiwara
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 105b or the equivalent. May be repeated for credit.
Further enhances advanced students’ proficiency in four skills through discussion, reading, writing, presentation, and group work.
Taught in English
Fall 2023 mode: Offered in person
Instructor: Professor Matthew Fraleigh
All films and readings are in English.
An introduction to some major directors and works of postwar Japanese film and anime with special attention to such issues as genre, medium, adaptation, narrative, and the circulation of national images in the global setting.
Taught in English
Fall 2023 Mode: Offered in person
Instructor: Professor Matthew Fraleigh
Often called "the world's first novel," The Tale of Genji has captivated readers with its narrative of love, rivalry, friendship, and loss for centuries. This class explores what has given the text its prominent place in Japanese and world literature.