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About our program
JPLI offers a complete program in standard Japanese, the dialect spoken in Tokyo. The program consists of two to four years of instruction, with the first year focusing on mastering speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. The first year is designed for beginners and covers basic linguistic skills, such as reading and writing hiragana, katakana, and around 200 Chinese characters. Additional characters are introduced in the following years, with students being exposed to the majority of the 1,945 common use characters by the end of the third year. The four-year course involves reading various social science topics related to modern Japan and project work where students can practice writing and giving presentations in Japanese on academic subjects of their choice. Advanced students can also take courses in classical Japanese if they are interested in literature. Upon completion of each proficiency level, students can take the official Japanese exam (JLPT) to earn certificates recognized by the Ministry of Education in Japan. |
About Japanese Language
Japanese is an East Asian language spoken by over 125 million people, primarily in Japan. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which also includes Ryukyuan languages spoken in the Ryukyu Islands. Here are some key points about the Japanese language: 1. Writing System: Japanese uses a combination of three scripts: Kanji (characters borrowed from Chinese), Hiragana, and Katakana (two syllabaries used for native Japanese words and foreign loanwords, respectively). 2. Grammar: Japanese grammar is quite different from English and many other Indo-European languages. It is an agglutinative language, which means that words can be formed by stringing together various morphemes. 3. Pronunciation: Japanese has a relatively simple sound system compared to many other languages, with fewer distinct sounds. There are five vowels in Japanese (a, i, u, e, o) and a relatively small number of consonants. 4. Politeness Levels: Japanese has a complex system of honorifics and politeness levels known as "keigo." It is important to use the appropriate level of politeness based on the social context and the relationships between speakers. 5. Dialects: Japan has several regional dialects, with the Tokyo dialect (Standard Japanese) being the most widely used in education, media, and formal situations. Other dialects can vary significantly in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. 6. Loanwords: Due to historical and cultural influences, Japanese has borrowed a significant number of words from other languages, particularly from English, Chinese, and Portuguese. Learning Japanese can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be challenging due to its unique features. If you're interested in studying Japanese, there are many resources available, including textbooks, language courses, online resources, and language exchange programs. |
Introductory Japanese
JPN100 Courses Focusing on mastering speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. The first year is designed for beginners and covers basic linguistic skills, such as reading and writing hiragana, katakana, and around 200 Chinese characters. Divided into JPN101,JPN102,JPN103,JPN 104 four sections. Students can complete in 32 weeks. |
Intermediate Japanese
JPN200 courses Additional characters will be introduced in the intermediate courses, with students being exposed to the majority of the 1,945 commonly used characters by the end of the third year. Students will be able to reach JLPT proficiency levels N3 or N2. The course will be divided into JPN201A, 201B, 201C, 201D, 201E. JPN202A, 202B, 202C, 202D, 202E. JPN203A, 203B, 203C, 203D, 203E. JPN204A, 204B, 204C, 204D, 204E. |
Advanced Japanese
JPN300 Courses The four-year course involves studying various social science topics related to modern Japan and completing projects where students can practice writing and giving presentations in Japanese on academic subjects of their choice. Advanced students may also choose to take courses in classical Japanese if they are interested in literature. This course will be divided into JPN301A, 301B, 301C, JPN302A, 302B, 302C, JPN303A, 303B, 303C, and JPN304A, 304B, 304C. Students will be able to achieve JLPT proficient level N2 or N1. |
PROGRAM SPECIALTIES
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Course Schedule
Spring Section II
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