01:565:301 Advanced Japanese 

This course is designed for students who have successfully completed Japanese language study up through the 202 level and are motivated to further their language skills. The purpose of this course is to develop mastery of modern Japanese (standard Tokyo dialect) by introducing advanced materials, grammatical points, and vocabulary. We will engage in a variety of activities such as role playing, writing and performing skits, and reading essays on variety of topics to cultivate the four skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. By the end of the course, all students should reach intermediate-mid/high level in accord with ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) proficiency standards. This course will cover Lesson 2 to 6 in the “4技能で広がる中級⽇本語カルテットI” textbook. Classes will be conducted in Japanese, except in situations where instruction in English is deemed necessary.

Successful completion of the course fulfills the following Asian Languages and Cultures Departmental Learning Goals for Japanese majors and minors at this level:

  • Majors in Japanese will acquire in-depth knowledge of the Japanese language as well as the literature and culture of Japan. Majors will be able to demonstrate oral, reading, and written proficiency in the language and develop critical skills in analyzing and interpreting literary, historical, and cultural texts. Students will acquire the literary, cultural and linguistic competency necessary for continuing onto post-graduate study or employment requiring such cultural knowledge and/or linguistic skill. Students will learn the cultural heritage of Japan within the larger context of East Asia through a wide and coherent curriculum, which includes courses in the following humanities and social science disciplines: literature, visual culture, history, religion, language and linguistics.
  • Minors will be introduced to the cultural heritage of Japan through courses on literature, history, visual culture, language and linguistics. Minors will be able to communicate effectively (listening, speaking and writing) in Japanese and will learn critical skills in analyzing and interpreting literary and cultural materials appropriate to the student’s area of specialization. Students will achieve advanced linguistic competency and be able to demonstrate practical skills in using Japanese for translation and interpretation. Students will be able to relate relevant issues to other areas in the humanities. See full statement of Asian Languages and Cultures Departmental Learning Goals at Learning Goals.

This course is conducted in person. You will submit most of the assignment online using Canvas. To access the companion Canvas course site, please visit Rutgers Canvas at https://canvas.rutgers.edu/ and log in using your NetID. For more information about course access and support contact Canvas Help at https://canvas.rutgers.edu/canvas-help/, via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 877-361-1134. The recordings should not be shared outside the class to avoid potential FERPA issues.

Course Materials: 4技能で広がる中級日本語カルテット II 教科書 Quartet Intermediate Japanese Across the Four Language Skills Textbook Vol. II, Japan Times: ISBN 978-4-7890-1745-9, 4技能で広がる中級日本語カルテット II ワークブック Quartet Intermediate Japanese Across the Four Language Skills Workbook Vol. II, Japan Times: ISBN 978-4-7890-1746-6, Quartet II (Vocab &Kanji) App (Apple: https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/quartet-2-vocab-kanji/id1556388466)

Grading: Active Participation & Attendance 5, Homework 15 Quizzes(X15) 15, Lesson Test(X4) 35, Speaking Assignment(X5) 5, Mini Presentations (X3) 15, Final Project 10

Regular on-time attendance is necessary. Three absences or more will negatively affect your grade. Every 3 instances of unexcused tardiness or early class departure (more than 5 minutes) will count as one absence. Missing a class for more than 40 minutes will be also considered one absence. Please be notified those 8 absences or more after the add period is over will not allow you to pass this course.

In case you test positive for COVID-19, please inform the campus Student Health office of your positive test result and follow the university and CDC guideline. Also, please let your instructor know and send him/her the note from the Student Health office. A special accommodation may be arranged.
If you expect to miss classes, please e-mail your instructor or use Self-Reporting Absence Application to indicate the date and reason for your absence. Please note that reporting an absence does not automatically "excuse" you. In cases such as a job interview, a conference, religious observance, and other inevitable commitments, the student will be excused without penalty and will be allowed to make-up the work missed. You are responsible to provide notification to your instructor about necessary absences BEFORE the date of the engagement. Any other absences will be considered an unexcused absence.

If you are traveling from another campus to this class and are having difficulty getting to class on time, please let the instructor be aware of your situation. Rubric for Active Participation Grade is on Canvas.
Students must take the quizzes and lesson tests on the days scheduled. Retakes are only permitted when you have a reasonable excuse such as a job interview or being sick. Retakes must be completed within three days and students can only receive a maximum score of 80%. Quizzes are usually timed and will be 10 minutes. If you are late, you won’t be given extra time to complete the exams, please submit at the end of the quiz time. Kanji quiz will have writing and reading sections. The word will be selected from the Kanji HW. The vocabulary quiz will ask you to write English for Japanese words and Japanese for English. The vocabularies will be selected from the handout. Details of the unit test will be explained in class before each examination.

Students will record themselves reading aloud for roughly one to two minutes. Grades will be based on fluency, pronunciation, natural speed, and accuracy. A rubric and the due date will be posted on Canvas.
Late submission of homework is subject to a 50% grade reduction if submitted within three day of the due date; work submitted after three days will be evaluated at the discretion of the instructor. If you know that you will miss a class, submit the homework to the teacher in advance. If you receive an IC (incomplete) mark, you must correct the mistakes and resubmit the homework by the start of the next class to receive a full grade.
Please discuss any issues that you are having in completing the coursework on time with me. I am available to talk this over with you during the office hour, before/after the class or by appointment.

Lectures and materials utilized in this course, including but not limited to videocasts, podcasts, visual presentations, assessments, and assignments, are protected by United States copyright laws as well as Rutgers University policy. As the instructor of this course, I possess sole copyright ownership. You are permitted to take notes for personal use or to provide to a classmate also currently enrolled in this course. Under no other circumstances is distribution of recorded or written materials associated with this course permitted to any internet site or similar information-sharing platform without my express written consent. Doing so is a violation of the university’s Academic Integrity Policy. Similarly, these copyright protections extend to original papers you produce for this course. In the event that I seek to share your work further, I will first obtain your written consent to do so. Copyright for Students: https://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/research-tools-and-services/copyright-guidance/copyrightstudents.

Exposure to Japanese helps you learn. In fact, you can’t learn without it. You should listen to the textbook’s audio CDs when you study, which have also been uploaded to Canvas. Listen to the dialogue, vocabulary, drills, and the reading from the Reading section in the textbook as much as possible. Do not just passively listen but speak with the CD using the shadowing technique.