Michigan State University   JAPANESE PROGRAM   COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

The main emphasis in all the Japanese courses is on accurate and appropriate communication.

JPN 101. Elementary Japanese I (5 credits; Fall of every year)

Prerequisite: none.

Beginning-level speaking, listening comprehension, reading, writing, and grammar. Introduction to Hiragana and Katakana writing systems and some Kanji. Aspects of culture. Emphasis on accurate communication.

JPN 102. Elementary Japanese II (5 credits; Spring of every year)

Prerequisite: JPN 101 or equivalent.

Further work on beginning-level speaking, listening comprehension, reading, writing, and grammar. Continued emphasis on accurate communication. Additional Kanji and aspects of culture.

JPN 201. Second-year Japanese I (5 credits; Fall of every year)

Prerequisite: JPN 102 or equivalent.

Intermediate-level speaking, listening comprehension, reading, writing, and grammar. Aspects of culture. Additional Kanji. Emphasis on accurate communication.

JPN 202. Second-year Japanese II (5 credits; Spring of every year)

Prerequisite: JPN 201 or equivalent.

Continuation of JPN 201. Additional Kanji and aspects of culture. Continued emphasis on accurate communication.

JPN 290. Independent Study (1-6 credits; Fall, spring, and summer of every year)

Restrictions: Approval of department.

Special projects in Japanese studies arranged by an individual student and a faculty member in areas supplementing regular course offerings.

JPN 301. Third-year Japanese I (4 credits; Fall of every year)

High intermediate-level speaking, listening comprehension, reading, writing, and grammar of modern Japan. Use of some authentic materials, both spoken and written. Additional Kanji and aspects of culture. Class conducted mostly in Japanese.

JPN 302. Third-year Japanese II (4 credits; Spring of every year)

Prerequisite: JPN 301 or equivalent.

Continuation of JPN 301. Additional Kanji and aspects of culture. Class conducted mostly in Japanese.

JPN 350. Studies in the Japanese Language (3 credits; Spring of every year)

Prerequisite: JPN 202 or equivalent . Outline of the Japanese language, partly taught in English. History, styles, socio-linguistic issues (e.g. honorifics, gender differences, dialects). Review of important structures and phrases.

JPN 369. Introduction to Japanese Literature and Culture (3 credits; Fall and spring of every year)

Prerequisite: {IAH 211B or (HST 369 or HST 370)} and JPN 202 and Completion of Tier I Writing
                     Requirement.

Critical concepts and tools necessary to analyze discourses on Japanese culture and literature. Key issues in Japanese studies, including the emergence of pre-modern and modern literary genres and styles, the canonization of national literature, and the nature of translation and transformation. Taught in English and Japanese.

JPN 401. Fourth-year Japanese I (3 credits; Fall of every year)

Prerequisite: JPN 302 or equivalent.

Advanced work on speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing. Some classical grammar. Extensive use of original technical and non-technical materials, both spoken and written. Additional Kanji and aspects of culture. Class conducted entirely in Japanese.

JPN 402. Fourth-year Japanese II (3 credits; Spring of every year)

Prerequisite: JPN 401 or equivalent.

Continuation of JPN 401. Additional Kanji and aspects of culture.

JPN 431. Advanced Spoken Japanese (3 credits; Fall of odd years)

Prerequisite: JPN 302 or approval of department.

Present-day spoken Japanese. Mastery of common advanced vocabulary and grammar, Various aspects of Japanese culture and social interaction. Video and web materials and role-play practices. Taught entirely in Japanese.

JPN 441. Japanese Short Storiesese (3 credits; Spring of every year)

Short stories from various genres. Reading strategies. Onomatopoeia. Taught entirely in Japanese.

JPN 451. Advanced Japanese for Japanese Language Proficiency Test Preparation (3 credits; Fall of even years)

Prerequisite: JPN 302 or approval of department.

Preparation for Japanese Language Proficiency Test Levels 1 or 2. Practice in advanced-level Kanji (Chinese characters), grammar, and reading comprehension. Advanced speaking practice. Taught entirely in Japanese.

JPN 469  Research Seminar in Japanese Literature and Culture (W) (3 credits; Fall and spring of every year)

Critical concepts and tools for analysis of discourses on Japanese culture and literature. Re-examination of the received notion of Japanese uniqueness through focused investigation of a specific foundational literary narrative in circulation via various cultural mediums in the twenty-first century. Taught in English and Japanese.

JPN 471. Classical Japanes (3 credits; Fall of every year)

Prerequisite: JPN 302.
Restrictions: Approval of department.

Basics of classical Japanese grammar and syntax. Close reading of a classical Japanese primer including its historical contextualization.

JPN 472. Classical Japanese II (3 credits; Spring of every year)

Prerequisite: JPN 471.
Restrictions: Approval of department.

JPN 490. Independent Study (1-6 credits; Fall, spring, and summer of every year)

JPN 493. Study Abroad Experience in Japan (2 credits; Fall, spring, and summer of every year)

JPN 499. Senior Thesis (1-4 credits; Fall, spring, and summer of every year)

Restrictions: Approval of department.

Individual research project supervised by a faculty member that demonstrates the student's ability to do independent research and submit or present a major paper.