The Intensive Japanese Language Program, offered by the Center for Japanese Language at WasedaUniversity, is a one-year program to study Japanese language intensively. This program is for those who are enrolled in undergraduate courses or who have obtained a “Bachelor’s degree”. Through various courses provided in different levels, skills and themes, students can study Japanese language according to their own abilities and goals.
*It is noted that this program is not a preparatory course in which students intend to enroll Undergraduate programs in Japanese universities.
2. DURATION OF COURSES
All courses are one-year courses.
3. ACADEMIC YEAR AND SEMESTERS
The academic year is divided into two semesters. There are vacations in the academic year.
Semesters – Spring Semester: April 1 to September 20
Fall Semester: September 21 to March 31
<For reference: Vacations in the 2008 academic year>
Summer Vacation : July 29, 2008 ～September 20, 2008
Winter Vacation : December 23, 2008 ～January 7, 2009
Spring Vacation : February 3, 2009 ～ March 31, 2009
4. COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Courses of the Intensive Japanese Language Program are divided into eight different levels, and each of which offers comprehensive learning of Japanese language. Course and subjects will be determined after a Placement Test which students will take on enrollment to determine the student's level.
(1) Completion of Program
A student who has passed the prescribed examinations and earned 26 credits, 13 credits per semester in principle, is deemed to have completed the program and receives a Certificate of Completion.
(2) Subjects
・Credits given to each subject are based on the number of classes offered in a week.
・The subjects offered by Center for Japanese Language give 1 credit for one 90 minutes- class/week. The subjects offered by other faculties give 2 or 4 credits for one 90 minutes class/week.
・Level 1 and 2 students will take intensive courses (core courses) which consist of 10 or 13 classes per week in order to strengthen their basics. Higher levels offer wider range of choices when students select their subjects.
Type of Classes
Contents
Credits
Center for Japanese Language
Core Courses
Based on textbooks. Comprehensive Japanese
learning from the basics to practical application.
5 or 10
Based on activities. Mainly focused on training communication skills.
3 or 5
Skill Subjects
Listening Comprehension, Reading Comprehension, Oral Expression, Written Expression, Grammar, Kanji and Pronunciation.
1/each
Japanese
Theme Subjects
Lectures or activities about a certain theme related to Japanese society, culture, or Japanese language.
1/each
Other Faculties
Audit lectures offered by other faculties.
*Only 8 level students are available.
2 or 4
(3) Selection of Subjects
・Students will choose their classes according to their levels.
・All classes are held in Japanese.
・As to “core class”, students will choose one of text-based class or activity-based class.
・As to “skill subjects” and “theme subjects”, students will choose number of classes necessaryto meet 13 credits as a total.
Level
Goals
Core Course
Skill Subjects
Japanese Theme Subjects
Other Faculties’ lectures
1
These levels aim to acquire basic sentence patterns, vocabularies and expressions in order to obtain the elementary level of Japanese proficiency to communicate. The student is expected to acquire up to 2000 basic vocabularies and 500 basic kanjis.
10
3
―
2
3-4
The aim of these levels is to be able to use Japanese expression in various situations by increasing basic and intermediate vocabularies and acquiring broad range of communication skills. Students in these levels will be able to acquire basic Japanese language skills required in daily-life as well as in debating and presentation about different themes and assignments.
5 or 10
3 or 8
―
5-6
3 or 5
8 or 10
―
7-8
The aim of these levels is to acquire advanced level of Japanese language needed to participate in university lectures and research activities. Students in these levels will be able to acquire advanced level of communication skills in class discussion, presentation and writing assignments on advanced level of academic, social and cultural themes.
The level 8 course students can enroll in up to 2 subjects in different faculty of WasedaUniversity.
―
13
2
5. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The Center organizes a number of extracurricular activities for its foreign students, the purpose of which is to complement their knowledge of Japanese society and culture acquired in the classroom. These activities include watching sports, appreciating performance of Kabuki, going to overnight trip.
6. EXAMINATIONS AND GRADES
A student’s grades for individual subjects are determined on the basis of the results of classroom examinations, reports and her/his performance in class. A grade of 60 or over is a pass.
A student who, without due cause, fails to sit an examination as instructed by the subject teacher, or who fails to submit an examination report will, in principle, receive a Fail grade for that subject. Moreover, a student who attends less than two-thirds of the total class hours in a subject will receive a Fail grade, regardless of her/his examination results.
A student who has completed one year of program study and earned 26 credits is deemed to have completed the course and will receive a Certificate of Completion.
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