Study Guide

Objective

This class consists of the following three objectives.
1. to learn basic Japanese conversational expressions
2. to learn how to read and write ‘hiragana’, a basic element of the Japanese writing system
3. to experience one aspect of Japanese culture through watching an animated film, 'The Wind Rises' by Hayao Miyazaki

By the end of the class, the participants will be able to
1. introduce themselves in Japanese to new people in a Japanese-speaking environment.
2. read and write ‘hiragana’.
3. acquire new knowledge of Japanese culture in the 1920s to 1940s depicted in the film ‘The Wind Rises’.

Content

The details are as follows.
1. to learn basic Japanese conversational expressions
The participants will be given opportunities to learn the beginner level of practical Japanese for daily conversation. They will learn particularly the basic greeting expressions when meeting people for the first time in Japanese speaking situation.

2. to learn how to read and write ‘hiragana’
‘Hiragana’ is the most basic of the three Japanese writing systems, the other two being ??‘katakana’ and ‘kanji’. Participants learn how to write hiragana with a brush used for calligraphy. They also learn how to read hiragana with the help of an interesting song called ‘Hiragana Song’.

3. to experience Japanese culture through an animated film
‘The Wind Rises’(2013), a masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki, will be viewed in class for this purpose. Then, the participants will be arranged to form groups of 3 or 4 members, and work collaboratively throughout the week toward a presentation on the last day. The theme of the presentation can be anything related to the film, such as history, culture, industry, or customs.

Assessment methods and criteria

- Attendance and class activities 40%
- Group work 20%
- Individual homework 20%
- Group presentation on the last day 20%

Prerequisites

None