AP/JP4000 6.0 POST-ADVANCED MODERN STANDARD JAPANESE
[cat# U89S01]GENERAL GUIDELINES: 2020-21
COURSE
This course is a web-based post-advanced Japanese course that provides further language instruction for those who have completed AP/JP3000 6.0 (or AS/JP3000 6.0) at York University or an equivalent course at other institutions, or those who have acquired comparable knowledge of the Japanese language elsewhere. The knowledge assumed consists of the basic [simple sentence based], intermediate [complex sentence based] and advanced [paragraph based] grammar, general and semi-specialized vocabulary, communicative competence enhanced by various sociolinguistic and pragmatic information, and two Kana systems and Kyooiku Kanji [881 Education Characters].
In this course, students are expected to put their acquired
knowledge and competence to use. Activities such as
interpretation, translation, summarization, error analysis,
discussion, debate and web presentation will enable students to
become familiar with various topics and use a wide variety of
Japanese materials independently. This course requires rather
heavy preparation, and many assignments are given. As this is
the fourth year course in the Japanese Program, students are
encouraged to improve their performance by recognizing their own
weaknesses and overcoming them. This course is ideal also for
those who need a remedial Japanese course to improve their
performance. Kaitee Jooyoo
Kanji 'Revised Chinese characters for daily
use' (2136) will be targeted (passive recognition
included). No textbook is used, and all the instructional
materials including self-study materials are available on the
web site. Technology Enhanced Learning [TEL] is used to enhance
students' further acquisition of the language. This course is online
friendly as well. In case of emergency it can be easily
converted to online delivery with Moodle and Zoom.
Upon completion of this course students should be able to
engage themselves in sophisticated communicative activities
involving various speech acts and tasks such as presentation,
summarization, interpretation and extensive discussions,
understand TV programs and films, read books, newspapers and
magazines, and write reviews, summaries, essays and
letters.
ONLINE VERSION
The entire course will take place on
line using Zoom and Moodle.
Students participate in this
course through video conferencing and appear on video for
tutorial participation and activities, remote proctoring for
skits and tests. Students are required to have stable
high-speed Internet connection and a computer with
a webcam and a microphone.
Please also install VSee <https://my.vsee.com/download> as the alternative app in an emergency.
Please visit the Moodle site first and
check the attendance. You are required to sign in within the
first thirty minutes.
You can open Zoom from within Moodle or connect directly to
the JP3000 Room.
Emergency procedure:
In case of Moodle
shutdown:
Please check your York University E-mail for an invitation
to the Zoom account: Meeting ID: 928 5805 1430 (you can
sign up directly)
In case of Zoom shutdown:
Please open VSee and look for
<nota@yorku.ca>
PREREQUISITE
A grade of at least "B" in AP/JP3000 6.0 (or AS/JP3000 6.0) or equivalent background is strongly recommended. Students who have not taken AP/JP3000 6.0 (or AS/JP3000 6.0) must write an on-line placement test and arrange an interview with the staff before registration [contact Norio Ota <nota@yorku.ca>].
PACE & COVERAGE
The course is semi-intensive in nature and performance and
activity based: roughly within two weeks one main reading
material and 50 new Kanji will be covered. Approximately
1000 Kanji will be added to the 881 covered in AP/JP1000 6.0
(or AS/JP1000 6.), AP/JP2000 6.0
(or AS/JP2000 6.0) and AP/JP3000 6.0
(or AS/JP3000 6.0). Kaitee Jooyoo Kanji [Revised
Chinese Characters for Daily Use (2136)] will be targeted.
Text reading; readings in unannotated original essays and
articles on current issues taken from periodicals;
interpretation, translation, summarization and discussion based
on a wide variety of Japanese materials. Viewing DVD films helps
students further develop their listening comprehension.
Extensive use of the Internet and computer-based materials for
presentations and assignments.
FORMAT Four class hours per week; rather heavy preparation and assignments. Each class will be conducted in seminar style in order to enhance students' active and creative participation. Students are expected to be familiar with current affairs through reading newspapers and watching online TV news for discussion. Technology Enhanced Learning [TEL] work.
TESTS, ASSIGNMENTS & QUIZZES:
Tests [online - Moodle] - 40%; Oral assignments - 20%; Quizzes and written assignments - 20%; Essay - 10%; Attendance and participation - 10%.HOW TO STUDY: Students will learn how best to utilize the acquired knowledge and competence. Rather than linguistic forms more attention should be paid to content. Developing the use of sophisticated vocabulary through reading will also assist speaking about various topics. The degree of authenticity of utterances and writings should increase based on careful examination of texts and expressions characteristic of Japanese. Thus, switching back and forth between English and Japanese [not literal translation] in explaining ideas and describing events is a very useful strategy. In reading students should become familiar with typical text structures, so that they will be able to predict the course of events and to capture presupposition and hidden intention. Developing an extensive knowledge of Kanji-based vocabulary will help all the four skill areas. Stylistic differences in different genre will be focused on.
In reading Japanese materials, it is helpful to itemize the contents and remember them. For listening comprehension develop a strategy for understanding the gist of each text and gradually try to increase more detailed information. The use of a little more sophisticated vocabulary is required in various activities. Students will learn to use vocabulary learned in reading in conversation, discussion and presentation, so that they will be able to express abstract and complicated ideas. Learning about Japan by extensive reading should also help students understand the Japanese psyche and perceptions.
New Kanji characters learned are constantly reinforced by repetition in various materials. Students must spend much time for learning them. Targeting the ones most difficult to remember would be helpful, and paying attention to newspaper articles that deal with Japan for topics of conversation. Current affairs are always good topics.
EVALUATION
Please refer to the grading scheme given below.
WARNING & SANCTION
Students who missed the class three times consecutively without any reasonable explanation to the instructor may receive a warning, and if attendance does not improve immediately, further action may be taken by the course director.
Academic dishonesty such as cheating and plagiarism will be penalized severely according to the university regulations. Those who are accepted to this course provisionally may receive recommendation from the instructor as to whether or not s/he should continue the course.
CONSULTATION
As for general questions and problems please feel free to consult your instructor. However, please observe office hours; otherwise make an appointment. Time-consuming questions and individual questions should be addressed during the office hours.
IN-CLASS POLICIES
* Any form of abuse, physical, psychological, or verbal, will not be tolerated.* 'Political Correctness' should be adhered to as a guiding principle.
* Private talking should be kept minimal.
* Cellular phones and pagers must be turned off except for emergency situations.
* Only drinks are allowed, no eating or chewing gum.
ENROLLMENT DEADLINE
Last date to enroll without permission of course instructor: September 22, 2020
Last date to enroll with permission of course instructor: October 27, 2020 (applicable only to those who have attended the class regularly)
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE
Your interim grade will be provided by the end of January,
2021. If you should decide to drop the course, the deadline is February 5, 2021
Course Withdrawal Period (withdraw from a course
and receive a grade of “W” on transcript: February 6 - April 12, 2021
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Ontario Japanese Speech Contest
The annual Ontario Japanese Speech Contest will be held at the beginning of March. Third year students are eligible for the intermediate category. York students have been doing extremely well in the past. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in this event.
National Japanese Speech Contest
The first prize winners of the regional speech contests are eligible to compete in the Canada-wide National Japanese Speech Contest to be held at the end of March.
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (cancelled for 2020)
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test is hosted by and held at York University on the first Sunday of December. Students are strongly encouraged to take part in the test.
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
There are opportunities to apply for scholarships sponsored by the Japanese Government.
Exchange Program (consult with York International)
The one-year exchange programs with Meiji
University in Tokyo, Dokkyo
University in Saitama, Keio
University, Waseda
University, Hitotsubashi
University, Ayoyama
Gakuin University in Tokyo and Nagoya University
in Nagoya are available for those who (will) have completed
AP/JP3000 6.0 (or AS/JP3000 6.0) with good standing not only in
Japanese but also in GPA [B or above]. Applicants must apply to
York International
and be recommended by the selection committee through an
interview and a test. Up to three students are recommended per
institution annually. Official inter-university exchange
students may be eligible for JASSO
[Japan Student Services Organization] scholarship.
JET Program
The job prospects in Japan-related areas look very promising not only in Canada and the U.S. but also in Japan. The JET [Japan Exchange and Teaching] Program, which is sponsored by the Japanese Government, gives opportunities to work in Japan as either an assistant English language teacher [ALT] at a local school or a co-ordinator for international relations [CIR] at a local government office. Consult with the Japan Information Centre [ph. (416)363-5488] for further information.
CALL [Computer-Assisted Language Learning]Multimedia Language Centre [MLC: S117 Ross] (N/A)
E-mail account
Every student must activate his/her E-mail account as soon as possible in order to log in at MLC.
Students might be involved in E-mail communication in Japanese with students in Japan.
Web Page
Please check one of the Japanese Web Sites regularly for new
information.
https://buna.yorku.ca/
http://tsuge.arts.yorku.ca/
http://kusu.arts.yorku.ca/
http://udo,arts.yorku.ca/
GRADING SCHEME
% GRADE POINTS EVALUATION 100 - 95 A+ 9 EXCEPTIONAL 94 - 89 A 8 EXCELLENT 88 - 83 B+ 7 VERY GOOD 82 - 77 B 6 GOOD 76 - 71 C+ 5 COMPETENT 70 - 65 C 4 FAIRLY COMPETENT 64 - 59 D+ 3 PASSING 58 - 53 D 2 BARELY PASSING 52 - 47 E 1 MARGINALLY FAILING 46 - 0 F 0 FAILINGYour final grade will be given based on the above grading scheme.
Please note that the grading percentages are set higher than in the standard grading scheme because 10% of the total grade is allocated for class attendance and participation.
Fractions are not rounded up. [e.g. 70.99% is C, and 71.00% is C+.]
Norio Ota
Course Director
Japanese Studies Program
York University
