Japanese Language Program
Course Descriptions

Just Getting Started (Pre 101-1)
Students learn:

  • Basic expressions for:

    • Greetings

    • Self-introduction

    • Communicating with front desk clerks at hotels

    • Communicating with salesclerks

    • Communicating with taxi drivers, bus drivers, etc.

    • Buying over-the-counter medication

101-1 | Japanese for Busy People Vol 1 (4th Ed.) | Lessons 1-3
Students learn:

  • Japanese Phonetic Symbols: Master the basics of Hiragana

  • Greeting and Self-Introduction Expressions: Acquire common expressions for greetings and self-introductions

  • Numbers 1 through 10: Learn numbers from 1 to 10

  • Demonstrative and Interrogative Pronouns: Understand demonstrative pronouns and interrogative pronouns (who, whose, what, what time, how much)

Goals:

  • Achieve proficiency in recognizing and using Hiragana

  • Gain insight into Japanese culture

  • Comprehend the distinctions between Japanese and English syntax

101-2 | Japanese for Busy People Vol 1 (4th Ed.) | Lessons 4-7
Students learn:

  • Japanese Loan Words: Learn Katakana symbols used for loan words

  • Large Numbers: Understand numbers greater than 10

  • Counters: Familiarize yourself with counters for solid items, floppy items, and rod-like or cylindrical items

  • Interrogative Pronouns: Grasp interrogative pronouns such as "how much," "where," "when," and "with whom"

  • Verbs of Movement: Learn verbs for "go," "come," and "return"

  • Vocabulary for Destinations: Expand your vocabulary related to destinations

  • Particles に: Understand the use of the particle に for direction and time reference

  • Japanese Currency: Familiarize yourself with Japanese currency

  • Days of the Week and Month: Learn the days of the week and days of the month

Goals:

  • Able to recognize Katakana symbols proficiently

  • Can identify and understand vocabulary related to transportation and destinations

  • Capable of communicating effectively with salesclerks

  • Can recognize and understand the prices of merchandise

  • Destination Arrival Inquiries

102 | Japanese for Busy People Vol 1 (4th Ed.) | Lessons 8-11
Students learn:

  • A variety of verbs and their conjugations (affirmative, negative, present, and past tense)

  • Two types of adjectives and conjugations (i-adjective and na-adjective

  • The time reference words and means of transportation

  • The interrogative pronouns (where, with whom, when)

  • Counter for people.

Goals:

  • Can talk about daily activities.

  • Can talk about activities that one is frequently engaged in.

  • Can talk about the plan on weekends.

  • Can ask and answer the time, days, or dates for a meeting or a business appointment.

  • Can express impressions about experiences.

  • Can place an order at Izakaya (Japanese-style bar)

104 | Japanese for Busy People Vol 1 (4th Ed.) | Lessons 17-20
Students learn:

  • Dictionary form of verbs and the Te-form conjugation for various expressions

  • Verb Masu-Form Stem たいです

Goals:

  • Express desires effectively

  • Request using appropriate conjugations

  • Describe sequences of actions with suitable conjugations

  • Recognize basic vocabulary related to communications, positions, directions, and giving directions

  • Develop conversation skills for:

    • providing directions and estimating travel time

    • Requesting deliveries

    • Requesting room service

    • Describing daily schedules effectively

105 | Japanese for Busy People Vol 1 (4th Ed.) | Lessons 21-24

Students learn:

  • the grammar patterns with the Te-form いますfor:

    • Present progressive

    • Habitual actions

    • Current states

  • Particle も to describe duplication.

  • Particleは for contrasting

  • Negative Te-form　…ないで

  • Gerund     Dictionary form + こと

Goals:

  • Can inquire and describe someone’s current activities.

  • Can discuss routine activities.

  • Can contrast two things using the particleは

  • Can inquire and describer someone’s current state using expressions like

    つとめています, ついています　and　すんでいます

  • Can effectively communicate health issues to a medical doctor.

  • Can ask and answer about the rules in the public space using

    …ないでください and …てもいいですか

204 | Minna no Nihongo Vol. 1 | Chapters 23-25

Students learn:

  • Temporal clause とき

  • Temporal clause と　when two sentences have a sequence

  • Giving and Receiving benefits

    • ～てあげる

    • ～てもらう

    • ～てくれる

  • Conditional Form　　たら　＆　と

  • Expressing to present contrasting conditions ～ても

Goals:

  • Can ask and understand the direction to destinations.

  • Can ask and say what you want to do for their family and close friends.

  • Can talk about ‘what if’ with your friends.

307 | Minna no Nihongo Vol. 2 | Chapters 44-46

Students learn:

  • The suffixes to describe:

    • A certain action or state was excessive. …すぎる

    • The ease of handling or occurrence. ますForm Stem ＋やすい/にくい

    • How someone conducts changes. I-adjective stem +く/Na-adjective stem に する

    • Anticipating possible scenarios Ta-Form + 場合

    • Results contrary to expectations のに

    • The fact that someone is in the process of doing something or has just done something.

    • Dictionary Form/ Ta-Form ところ

    • Ta-Form ばかり

    • Expressing certainty. Plain sentence +はず

Goals:

  • Gain proficiency in listening honorific and humble forms for effective communication with sales staff.

  • Acquire the necessary expressions and vocabulary to navigate the intricacies of risk management effectively.

  • Learn expressions for conveying certainty, rating a product review, and delivering live coverage.

  • Deliver a speech or write an essay discussing concerns and worries, recount a challenging day, and explore the characteristics of your country’s typical wedding ceremony.

Intermediate Japanese Across the Four Language Skills | Ch. 6

  • Reading:

    • Learn the necessary travel information by reading guides and columns

  • Conversations:

    • Change restaurant reservations over the phone

    • Ask about the menu and place an order at a restaurant

  • Writing:

    • Write a description about the characteristics of a tourist destination

  • Listening:

    • Listen to a speech by an Italian exchange student on Japanese behavior and have a class discussion about it