Note: The Department Waitlist policy for all courses is 2 – Go
to the department office to get on a waitlist, and then attend the first class meeting. Policies and procedures for handling the waitlist will be explained there.
Students wanting to begin language study, at a level other than first year, must take a placement exam to be held on January 6.
250. Undergraduate Seminar in Japanese
Culture. No
knowledge of Japanese language is required. (3). (HU). May be
repeated with department permission.
Section 001 – Japan's Encounter with the West. This course will focus on the various
phases of Japan's encounter with the West from the mid-19th century
to the present. We will examine the shifting representations of the West in the Japanese imagination, for example as object of
aspiration and identification, as "barbarian" enemy
and rival, as the space of erotic fantasy, and so on. In sum, what roles has "the West" played in the ongoing project
of Japanese self-definition, and why? Readings will include contemporary
fiction and cultural studies. Materials are all in English, so
Japanese language is not necessary. Requirements: discussions, four 2-page essays, and a final paper. WL:2 (Ramirez-Christensen)
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402. Japanese Literature in Translation:
Edo and Modern Periods. A
knowledge of Japanese is not required. (3). (HU).
The course will examine the various forms of Japanese literature in the Edo period (1600-1868)
- haiku, prose fiction, puppet plays, and Kabuki drama. It will
also introduce the student to the development of the modern novel
beginning in the Meiji period (1868-1912) and will focus on major
works of modern Japanese fiction from the Meiji era to the present, including the novels of Natsume Soseki, Tanizaki Jun'ichiro, and the Nobel Laureate Kawabata Yasunari. WL:2 (Ito)
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490. Introduction to Japanese Linguistics.
Japanese 202.
(3). (HU).
This course is designed
for both undergraduate (prerequisite is required) and graduate
students who are interested in acquiring the specifics of Japanese
grammar. It is also recommended for anyone considering a career
as a teacher of Japanese. The goals of the course are to gain
knowledge of the basic characteristics of sentence structure and meaning in Japanese; to become familiar with selected theoretical
analyses (or competing analyses) which linguists have proposed
for various structural patterns in Japanese; and to develop a
repertoire of linguistic vocabulary with which to talk about sentence
structure and meaning in Japanese. WL:2 (Johnson)
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Language Courses
102. Beginning Japanese. Japanese 101. (5). (LR). Laboratory fee
($9) required.
This course is designed
for students who have less than the equivalent of one year's study
of Japanese at the University of Michigan. The goal of the course
is the simultaneous progression of four skills (speaking, listening, writing, and reading) as well as becoming familiar with aspects
of Japanese culture which are necessary for language competency.
Recitation sessions are conducted in Japanese emphasizing speaking/reading
in Japanese contexts at normal speeds. Analyses, explanations, and discussions involving the use of English are specifically
reserved for lectures with a linguist. Students are required to
do assignments with audio tapes a minimum of two hours for each
class hour (10 hours per week). It is expected that, by the end
of the year, students will have basic speaking and listening comprehension
skills, a solid grasp of basic grammar, reading and writing skills
in Hiragana and Katakana, and will be able to recognize and produce
approximately 140 Kanji in context. Texts: Situational Functional
Japanese, Vol. 1-2. WL:2 (Johnson)
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202. Second-Year Japanese. Japanese 201. (5). (LR). Laboratory fee
($9) required.
Further training is
given in all the language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) for students who have acquired a basic language proficiency.
The aim of the oral component is to provide the student with the
speaking and comprehension skills necessary to function effectively
in more advanced practical situations in a Japanese-speaking environment.
In the reading and writing component, the emphasis is on reading
elementary texts, developing an expository style, and writing
short answers/essays in response to questions about these texts.
Approximately 400 of the essential characters are covered. Discussions
on the social and cultural use of language are provided. Students
are required to attend five hours of class per week: two hours
of lecture and three hours of recitation. Students are also required
to practice a minimum of two hours for each class hour (12 hours
per week). Recitation sessions are conducted entirely in Japanese.
Recitation sessions emphasize speaking/reading in Japanese contexts
at normal speed with near-native pronunciation, accent, intonation, rhythm, and appropriate body language. Analyses, explanations, and discussions involving the use of English are specifically
reserved for lectures. Texts: Situational Functional Japanese, Vol. 2-3. WL:2 (Kozuka)
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406. Third-Year Japanese. Japanese 405. (5). (Excl).
Advanced training is
given in all the language skills. Practice in the use of spoken
Japanese is contextualized within simulated Japanese social settings.
A variety of selected modern texts (essays, fiction, and newspapers)
are read with emphasis on expository style. The goal is to produce
self-sufficient readers who can read and discuss most texts with the aid of a dictionary. Students are required to practice with
audio/visual tapes a minimum of two hours for each class hour
(10 hours per week). Recitation sessions emphasize speaking/reading
in Japanese contexts at normal speed with near-native pronunciation, accent, intonation, rhythm, and appropriate body language. Analyses, explanations, and discussions involving the use of English are
specifically reserved for lectures. Text: An Integrated Approach
to Intermediate Japanese. WL:2 (Abbas)
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408. Advanced Readings in Modern Japanese
Literature. Japanese
407. (3). (Excl).
This course introduces the student to modern Japanese fiction (largely short stories)
and other materials written by outstanding writers for a mature
Japanese audience. The emphasis is upon a literary approach, using
close reading and translation, in class, of Japanese texts. Occasional
papers and written translations are required. The pace of reading
is intended to help the student build up reading speed and comprehension.
The course will also teach the student how to use dictionaries
and other basic research aids effectively. WL:2 (Ito)
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414. Accelerated Readings in Japanese.
Japanese 102
or 361. (5). (Excl).
Accelerated Readings in Japanese
is designed for students who have proficiency in another Asian
language and wish to achieve reading competence in scholarly Japanese
in the shortest practical time. Within the two terms, all basic
grammar is reviewed or introduced and extensive reading practice
is emphasized to build vocabulary and skills with dictionaries
and related reading aids. WL:2 (Abbas)
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417. Communicative Competence for Japan-Oriented
Careers II. Japanese
406, 411. (3). (Excl).
This course stresses the effective use of the Japanese spoken language in contexts
likely to be encountered by a career-oriented professional in
Japan. Winter Term topics include: Banking, Import and Export, The Japanese Market, Annual Reports, Business Ritual, and Socializing.
In addition, the course will include practice in rapid reading
and transcription/dictation of moderately difficult texts, newspaper
articles, and news broadcasts. Students are expected to practice
with audio tapes for a minimum of two hours for each class hour.
WL:2 (Omoto)
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461. Social Science Readings in Japanese.
Japanese 406.
(4). (Excl). May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
This course helps students
to develop reading skills necessary to conduct research in Japanese
social science topics. Readings are assigned from newspapers, books, and journals in a variety of fields. The emphasis is on the acquisition of kango vocabulary which arise in understanding these readings. Homework includes a minimum of two hours of preparation
per class hour. Students are expected to review for the readings
and for frequent quizzes so that they can participate actively
in discussion in Japanese in class. WL:2 (Emori)
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