1

JAPN 101: Elementary Japanese I

Summer 2017
Palomar College

Professor: Masako Ikenushi, Ph.D. Office: H-207F (760)744-1150 Ext. 2653

Days: Mondays & Wednesdays (6/26-7/19) Course #: 50289
Hours: 8:00 AM 1:25 PM Prerequisites: none
Classroom: H-215 Unit: 5
Email address: mikenushi@palomar.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is the first semester of Japanese. This elementary level course is a study of the
Japanese language and Japanese-speaking cultures, with an emphasis on the development of
communicative skills and basic structures. The course includes a study of fundamental grammar,
idiomatic expressions, Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. The course combines in-class instruction
and practice with self-paced study in the Foreign Language Laboratory. This beginning-level
course is for students with no previous coursework in Japanese.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
1. Communicate at a basic level, correctly applying Japanese grammar. Specifically,
students will master Japanese greetings and set expressions, conduct a proper self-introduction,
and successfully participate in simple daily conversations.
2. Pronounce Japanese correctly, with proper intonation, such that a native Japanese speaker can
understand each word the student enunciates.
3. Form simple declarative and interrogative sentences, understand these in the speech of others,
and respond appropriately when addressed directly with these simple sentences.
4. Read and write letters, and short sentences written in hiragana, katakana and
Kanji characters. Write a simple narrative (or its equivalent, such as a memo) using all
of these in proper combination.
5. Understand the culture of Japan and acquire the basic knowledge of its cultural events and
ideas behind them

COURSE STRUCTURE:
This 5-unit, hybrid Japanese course includes 80 hours of instruction: class meetings on campus for
40 hours and 40 hours of online instruction. In addition to class hours, this hybrid course includes 8
hours of language laboratory assignments in the WLRC. ILrn also includes lab assignments.
Please remember that you are expected to devote time to homework and study, in addition to the
class and lab assignments described. No laptops/electronic devices are permitted during class
meetings held in the classroom.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME (SLO):

The evaluator will ask each student about him/herself and the student will answer in written
sentences. The questions will address name, major, age, hometown, year in school and nationality.
Students will also be asked to briefly describe a typical weekday and/or weekend in writing.
The SLO assessment test for JAPN 101 is scheduled to be administered every Fall semester.
 2

CORUSE MATERIALS:

Required Materials
You will need two items for this course.
1. Textbook, Nakama 1, by Y.A. Hatasa, K. Hatasa, S. Makino, 3rd Edition, Cengage Learning
2. Student Activities Manual (SAMe), Nakama 1, by Y.A. Hatasa, K. Hatasa, S. Makino, 3rd Edition,
electronic version (hardcopy is available at Palomar bookstore)

Where to buy
All of the necessary materials may be purchased as a package at the Palomar College bookstore or
order online directly from the publisher, Cengage Learning. A hardcopy of the SAM is available only at
the Palomar bookstore.
Do not purchase the textbook through sites like Amazon or Half.com. Access to iLRN is sold
only at the Palomar bookstore and through Cengages online.
If you have questions, please go to iLRN Heinle Learning Centers Frequently Asked Questions
at https://hlc.quia.com/help/book/Content/helpfiles/faq.html or contact Digital Technical Support
via email at bookhelp@quia.com or by phone at 1-877-282-4400, option 2.

Registering your code and accessing the iLRN assignments:

Go to http://cengage.com/iLrn.com. You will need to 1) create an account and 2) register your code in
order to have access to all our online class assignments. Then, 3) join the correct Japanese class. After
you have done all three steps, Due Dates will appear next to the activities that have been assigned. If
you do not see any due dates, you have not registered your codes completely and your instructor cannot
see the results of your online work. ILRN training is scheduled at H-123 in the beginning of the course.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:

Cengage iLrn Online Assignments 15%

Accessing assignments: Your online coursework and assignments are located within the Cengage
iLRN. After you have registered, you can enter the iLRN to do your assignments. Each lesson is broken
into sections: grammar, lab, writing, vocabulary, kanji and hiragana practice. These sections appear in
each lesson of the Cengage text and the SAMe.

Types of assignments in iLRN:

Assignments range from fill-in-the- blank, short answer, dialogue, writing, multiple choice, and
individual oral practice. The computer will automatically grade the assignments the moment you
submit them, while some will require feedback from your instructor. In order to learn the material as
you go through each lesson, it is important that you review your assignment results.

Assignment Due Time:

Assignments must be completed by the due date listed. You will be allowed to submit iLRN work
beyond the deadline, but there is a 30% penalty for each late assignment.
 3

Class Meetings 5%
All students enrolled in the hybrid class MUST attend the class meetings.
If you are late for class, its your responsibility to inform the instructor of your attendance; otherwise,
your attendance record will remain as an absence. If you leave before the end of class or during break,
it's your responsibility to inform the instructor of your early departure; otherwise, your attendance
record will change to an absence.

Homework assignments (classroom submission) 5%

All homework must be handwritten. All pages need to be stapled together. Homework assignments that
are not stapled together will not be accepted. Submission is accepted at the beginning of class in the
classroom ONLY.

Skit Presentation 10%

You will be assigned as a group. Each group will create a dialogue and present a skit by video
or performance in class at the end of the course. Details will be discussed in class and posted on
Blackboard

Tests 20%
Tests will be given during class meetings. You must be present in class to take the tests. No make-up
tests will be given.

Midterm Exam 15%

The Mid-term exam will cover material from our first three (3) Chapters. This exam will be taken on
campus during one of the class meetings. You must attend class to take the exam. No make-up exams
will be given.

Final Exam 25%

The Final Exam is a cumulative test covering material from all six (6) Chapters. The exam will be
taken on campus during the final class meeting. No make-up exams will be given.

Language lab requirement (WLRC) 5%

a. 8 hours of lab required; 2 hours per week.
b. Read the description of the lab requirement at http://streaming.palomar.edu/pctv/promo/llo2010
c. You are not allowed to work on iLRN at the WLRC. iLRN lab work must be done outside the WLRC.
d. Having anyone other than yourself complete the lab work is cheating and will result in a 0% for the lab
portion of your grade, a loss of participation points, and a report to the Director of WLRC.
1. LOG-IN
Students enter their Palomar Student ID # to log in/out at the front desk at WLRC. When
leaving the WLRC at any time, even for a minute, students must log out. A students time for
the entire session may be deleted when attendance is taken and he/she is not present; it is
therefore critical that students remember to log out.
2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Students must complete a total of 8 hours in the WLRC. A maximum of two hours per week
will be counted towards the courses required lab hours. Part of the 8 hours will be devoted to
using the Rosetta Stone (4 hours). There are also films and other materials.
3. RULES
All time spent in the WLRC must be devoted to studies for the language class in which the
student is currently enrolled. All work must be original. Students not abiding by rules may be
 4

asked to leave temporarily, for up to 2 days. Rules are discussed in the Orientation slideshow,
which is posted on the WLRC webpage.
4. SPECIFIC ASSIGNMENTS
All students are assigned to a series of activities within Rosetta Stone. Each Level contains 4
Units. The students should complete 1 unit of Rosetta Stone. WLRC staff does not monitor
which unit students complete; they only report the percentage completed.
5. JAPN 101 requires 16 hours of lab (10%) but the iLRN assignments in the hybrid course
include listening practice, so the lab work requirement at WLRC will be 8 hours (5%).

COURSE EVALUATION (Grading):

Cengage iLrn assignment 15%
In-class participation 5%
Homework (classroom submission) 5%
WLRC (Language lab) assignment 5%
Skit presentation 10%
Tests 20%
Midterm exam 15%
Final exam 25%

Grading Scale:
A 90-100%, B 80-89.9%, C 70-79.9%, D 60-69.9%, F 59.9% and below.
100-70% = Pass for students taking course Pass/No pass

MISCELLANEOUS:

a. Form study session with a partner or group

Students are encouraged to form study sessions with a partner or group, discuss material and help
each other with material in the course. If you are absent, get information on lecture, any changes,
copy of notes, and/or homework information from fellow classmates.

b. Withdraw
It is the students responsibility. Students are encouraged to consult with the instructor or
counselor prior to withdrawing.

c. Behavior:
Students are expected to behave properly in class. You are not allowed to use cell phones in the
classroom. All cell phones must be turned off during class. If you are being destructive and/or
disrespectful to the instructor and/or classmates in class, you will be ordered to leave class, lose
points for participation, and/or be reported to the Director of Student Affairs or Campus Police.
If you have questions, raise your hand, and when the instructor calls you, you may ask your
question. You are not to ask questions without raising your hand and being called upon as that is
disruptive to the lecture and class activity. Questions must be related to what the class is working
on at that time. If you want to ask on a topic unrelated, wait until class is over to ask the
instructor.
If you need to go to the restroom or make a call and cannot wait until break time or end of class,
you may leave the classroom quietly without informing the instructor. Leaving in the middle of
class on a frequent basis will not be tolerated.
 5

You are required to participate fully and be ready to be called upon at any time during class for
speaking practice, so do not eat or chew gum during class activities.
If anyone in the class uses inappropriate language, behaves inappropriately and/or exhibits violent
behavior, you must inform the instructor immediately.

f. Enrolled Students Only

Friends and family members are not allowed to sit in the classroom during class activities.

g. Personal computer, phone, recorder, camera

Students are required to fully participate in class and are not to use this time to surf the web on
personal computers/phones during class. You are not allowed to use audio or video recorders to
record class lectures and/or activities and take photographs of powerpoint slides.

h. Recommendation letter
If students would like the instructor to consider writing a letter for an application (i.e, scholarship,
job search, overseas studies, transfer, etc.), you must first complete at least one of the instructors
Japanese courses with the demonstration of "good performance" for the course. You must make
an appointment and bring applicable documentation to the instructor in her office with
an explanation of what the letter is for, at least two weeks prior to the date needed.
If you wish to use the instructor as a reference, you must get approval from the instructor in
advance.

j. Misconduct
Misconduct for which students are subject to disciplinary action fall in the general areas of :
1. Academic dishonesty: cheating on an examination and/or test/quiz, sharing test materials
and/or test answers, fabrication, and plagiarism. A student who cheats or plagiarizes may have
his/her grade lowered or even receive an F.
2. Actions or verbal statements which threaten the personal safety of any faculty, staff, student,
or others assembled on campus or in the classroom, or any conduct which is harmful, obstructive,
disruptive to, or interferes with the educational process or institutional functions.
3. Violation of California statutes, and/or college regulations and policies.
* Students will lose participation points and may be reported to the Director of Student Affairs,
the World Language Department, and/or the Admission Office.

k. Student with a verified disability

A student with a verified disability may be entitled to appropriate academic accommodations.
Please identify in the beginning of the course your needs to the instructor and the Disabled
Student Program & Services Program at 760.744.1150 ext. 2375.

l. Office Hours
There will be NO office hours during the summer. If you have a question, the instructor can assist
you after class in the classroom. If you need to meet with the instructor outside of normal
classroom hours, contact the instructor to make an appointment. Break time is not office hours.

Important Dates:
Last Day to Add without Permission Code: 6/30
Last Day to Add with Permission Code: 6/30
 6

Last Day to Drop with No Grade on Record: 6/29

Last Day to Change to P/NP: 6/30
Last Day to Drop with a W Grade: 7/7
Census Day: 6/29

COURSE SCHEDULE (subject to change)

week Date CH Content and Activities Homework

1 6/26 Mon 1, 2 Syllabus HW 1 (1%)

Classroom All Hiragana letters
Hajimemashite
Kore wa nihongo de nan to iimasuka.
(12:30-1:25p) H-123
iLRN 1, 2 Assigned in iLRN
Due 6/30
6/28 Wed 1, 2 Hiragana dakuon, small , double vowels & double HW 1 Due
Classroom consonants, etc.
Nensei, time, wadesu, negative
Katakana letters
iLRN 1, 2 Assigned in iLRN
Due 7/2
2 7/3 Mon 3 All Katakana letters, double vowels & consonants HW 2 (1%)
Classroom Verb conjugation, direct object, --ni ikimasu, ---de
Test 1 (Ch.1, 2, hiragana)
iLRN 3 Assigned in iLRN.
Due 7/6
7/5 Wed 3, 4 Days of the week, ---ga arimasu HW 2 Due
Classroom frequency adverbs, ph numbers
past tense of verb, daily schedule
kore, sore, are, dore
---ga arimasu, imasu
iLRN 3, 4 Assigned in iLRN
Due 7/8
3 7/10 Mon 4, 5 Adjective, Kanji(ch4) HW 3 (2%)
Classroom kono sono ano dono, Location words
Midterm Exam (Ch. 1,2,3, katakana)
iLRN 4, 5 Assigned in iLRN
Due 7/13
7/12 Wed kara ..made, ---de, gurai, demo, nimo,
Classroom 5, 6 Dialogue practice, kanji(ch5) HW 3 Due
Assign skit presentation
household chores
--to, -ni, purpose ni, adjective past
 7

iLRN 5, 6 Assigned in iLRN.

Due 7/15
4 7/17 Mon 6 te-form, te kudasai masenka, two activities in a sentence, HW 4 (1%)
Classroom masenka form, denial, kanji(ch6)
Preparation of skit project
Test 2 (Ch.4,5, kanji)
iLRN 6 Assigned in iLRN
Due 7/19
7/19 Wed Skit presentation HW 4 Due
Classroom Final Exam (Ch.1-6)