Sections

Japanese

Last updated: August 28, 2009 at 11:16 a.m.

Faculty

Matthew Fraleigh
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Hiroko Sekino
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)

Courses of Instruction

(1-99) Primarily for Undergraduate Students

JAPN 10a Beginning Japanese
Meets five days per week for a total of five class hours 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. Usually offered every fall.
Ms. Sekino

JAPN 20b Continuing Japanese
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 10a or the equivalent. Meets five days per week for a total of five class hours per week.
Continuation of JAPN 10a. Usually offered every spring.
Ms. Sekino

JAPN 30a Intermediate Japanese
[ fl ]
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 20b or the equivalent. Meets five days per week for a total of five class hours 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. Usually offered every fall.
Ms. Sekino

JAPN 40b Advanced Intermediate Japanese
[ fl hum ]
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 30a or the equivalent. Meets five days per week for a total of five class hours per week.
Continuation of JAPN 30a with more emphasis on reading and writing. Usually offered every spring.
Ms. Sekino

JAPN 98a Readings in Japanese
Prerequisite: JAPN 40b or the equivalent.
Usually offered every year.
Ms. Sekino

JAPN 98b Readings in Japanese
Prerequisite: JAPN 40b or the equivalent.
Usually offered every year.
Ms. Sekino

(100-199) For Both Undergraduate and Graduate Students

JAPN 105a Advanced Conversation and Composition I
[ fl hum ]
Prerequisite: JAPN 40b or the equivalent.
Designed for advanced students of Japanese who wish to enhance and improve their skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will develop their proficiency in writing, reading, and speaking through reading and discussion of Japanese texts on various topics of relevance. Listening and speaking skills are reinforced through audio, video, guided conversation, discussion of texts, and oral presentation. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Sekino

JAPN 105b Advanced Conversation and Composition II
[ fl hum ]
Continuation of JAPN 105a. For advanced students of Japanese who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency as well as reading and writing skills. Speaking skills will be developed through conversation, discussion of texts and films, and oral presentation. Various reading topics on Japanese culture and various forms of writing will be assigned to improve students' reading and writing skills. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Sekino

JAPN 120a Readings in Contemporary Japanese Literature
[ hum nw ]
Prerequisite: JAPN 105B or equivalent.
Provides advanced students of Japanese an opportunity to develop reading and writing skills through class discussion, presentation, group work and writing. Familiarizes students with different facets of contemporary Japanese culture and society. Readings are supplemented by films and related visual materials. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Sekino

JAPN 120b Readings in Modern Japanese Literature
[ hum nw ]
Prerequisite: JAPN 105Bor the equivalent.
Provides advanced students of Japanese with broad introduction to contemporary Japanese literary work that is widely read in Japan. Focuses on significant expansion of vocabulary and grammar improving students' knowledge of the language as well as enhancing their understanding of Japanese culture and society. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Nakano

JAPN 125b Putting Away Childish Things: Coming of Age in Modern Japanese Literature and Film
[ hum nw ]
Explores the ways in which modern Japanese writers and filmmakers have represented childhood, youth, and coming of age. A variety of short stories, novels, and memoirs from the 1890s to the present day are read, and several recent films are also screened. Usually offered every third year.
Mr. Fraleigh

JAPN 130a The Literature of Multicultural Japan
[ hum nw ]
"Multicultural" may not be an adjective that many associate with Japan, but as we will find in this class, Japan's modern literary and cinematic tradition is rich with works by and about resident Koreans, Ainu, Okinawans, outcasts, and sexual and other marginalized minorities. Why then does the image of a monocultural Japan remain so resilient? Usually offered every third year.
Mr. Fraleigh

JAPN 135a Screening National Images: Japanese Film and Anime in Global Context
[ hum nw ]
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. Usually offered every third year.
Mr. Fraleigh

JAPN 140a The World of Early Modern Japanese Literature
[ hum nw ]
A survey of the most celebrated works of literature from Japan's early modern period (1600-1868). Explores a wide range of genres, including fiction, travelogues, memoirs, dramatic forms such as the puppet theater and kabuki, as well as poetry in Japanese and Chinese. All readings are available in English translation; Japanese knowledge is not required. Usually offered every third year.
Mr. Fraleigh

JAPN 145a The World of Classical Japanese Literature
[ hum nw ]
A survey of some of the most important works of Japanese literature from its origins to the late sixteenth century, including a wide range of genres: fiction, essays, travelogues, poetry, and drama. All readings are in English. Usually offered every third year.
Mr. Fraleigh