Japanese
Hello, Welcome to our Kwantlen Japanese Page!
Japanese language courses have been taught at Kwantlen Polytechnic University beginning in September 1997. We now offer Japanese courses at the first-year level (Basic Japanese, Basic Japanese I and Basic Japanese II), second-year level (Intermediate Japanese, Intermediate Japanese I and Intermediate Japanese II), third-year level (Upper Intermediate Japanese, Upper Intermediate Japanese I and Upper Intermediate Japanese II) and fourth-year level (Advanced Japanese I: Conversation). All these courses are university transferable (refer to transfer guide). These courses serve students who have no or little knowledge of Japanese language as well as those who have basic understanding of the language and communication skills in Japanese.
We also offer Japanese cultural studies and business courses: Introduction to Contemporary Japanese Society and Culture, Japanese Culture through Film, and Japanese Culture and Business. These courses are taught in English.
Good reasons for studying Japanese at Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- Knowing a second /additional language enables students to expand their perspectives and to deepen their understanding of the world.When you are able to use an additional language comfortably, you can function and compete effectively and globally.
- Since Canada, especially B.C., has a close relationship with Japan, learning Japanese opens up diverse career opportunities to students in tourism, hospitality, horticulture, business, and trade, to name a few.
- As you learn language and culture, your appreciation and understanding of Japanese norms and values increase. You will be able to reflect upon your values critically and develop more global perspectives.
- You will be able to study or live and work in Japan.
Our Goals
1. First-year Japanese
The primary objectives of the courses are to help students:
- develop conversational fluency (oral expression and ability to understand simple conversation)
- build vocabulary (including idioms) and basic knowledge of grammatical structure
- acquire basic functional reading and writing skills
- develop intercultural communication skills (understanding and appreciating differences and similarities in Japanese and Canadian culture)
- find Japanese language and its culture accessible and interesting
2. Second-year Japanese
The primary objectives of the courses are to help students:
- develop speaking and listening skills in various daily life situations, including the work place
- learn to write coherent sentences, using hiragana, katakana, and kanji
- improve reading skills including reading for main ideas and reading for details in short texts
- comprehend a variety of textual materials, including short stories, business and personal letters
- develop and understanding of basic sociocultural practices in social and work situations
Instruction format
Students attend an 80 minute class twice a week and a 40 minute conversation lab once a week. Students learn about Japan and Japanese language through a variety of activities and materials such as a textbook, Japanese magazines and newspapers, videos, and audiotapes. Anybody interested in Japan, its language and culture, is welcomed.
Course Descriptions
JAPN 1100: Basic Japanese IJAPN 1101: Basic Japanese II
JAPN 2200: Intermediate Japanese I
JAPN 2201: Intermediate Japanese II
JAPN 3300: Upper Intermediate Japanese I
JAPN 3301: Upper Intermediate Japanese II
JAPN 4400: Advanced Japanese I: Conversation
JAPN/CUST 1200: Introduction to Contemporary Japanese Society and Culture*
JAPN/CUST 3310: Japanese Business and Culture*
JAPN/CUST 3320: Japanese Culture through Film*
Japanese Course Offerings (SPRING 2012)
Questions? E-mail: Sumiko.Nishizawa@kwantlen.ca
Seiko.Roberts@kwantlen.ca
