Elementary Japanese (First Quarter)

An introduction to the language and the culture of Japan. Emphasis will be on language as the primary expression of culture and a medium of communication. Four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing), as well as sociocultural knowledge which plays an important role in communicating in the target language, will be developed. Japanese will be the major language of instruction. Oral practice based on an understanding of the language structure will also be emphasized. Mastering of two of the Japanese syllabic writing systems, hiragana and katakana, and 29 kanji (Chinese characters) is required.