Japan is the world’s third-largest economy, and there are many benefits that come from learning the culture and language. Normandale has more world language offerings and has more sections of Japanese courses than any two-year college in the state.
Our courses will help you gain awareness of cultural, social, religious and linguistic aspects of the Japanese culture. Through these classes, you will also develop an understanding of the responsibility world citizens share for their common global future by comparing and contrasting your own culture with Japanese culture.
Prerequisite: This course is intended for students with no prior Japanese language experience.
Course Summary: This beginning‑level Japanese course builds basic speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills while introducing cultural insights. Students learn simple conversations, hiragana, katakana, and 15 kanji.
Topics: Self‑introduction, shopping, planning weekend activities
Textbook: Genki Vol. 1 (Chapters 1–3)
Prerequisite: This course is intended for students who have successfully completed JAPN1100 (Beginning Japanese 1) or have completed 1–2 years of high school Japanese within the last two years. Students must be able to read and write hiragana and katakana.
Course Summary: This second‑semester Japanese course develops competency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing while introducing cultural topics. Students progress to Novice Mid proficiency, learning adjectives, verb te‑forms, and 43 additional kanji.
Topics: Describing where things are, talking about trips, expressing rules (do’s and don’ts)
Textbook: Genki Vol. 1 (Chapters 4–6)
Prerequisite: This course is intended for students who have successfully completed JAPN1200 (Beginning Japanese 2) or have completed 2–3 years of high school Japanese within the last two years. Students must be able to read and write around 50 kanji.
Course Summary: This third‑semester Japanese course develops competency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing while introducing cultural topics. Students progress to Intermediate Low proficiency, learning short forms, complex sentences, and 43 additional kanji.
Topics: Describing family members, casual conversations, quoting
Textbook: Genki Vol. 1 (Chapters 7–9)
Prerequisite: This course is intended for students who have successfully completed JAPN2100 (Intermediate Japanese 1) or have completed 3–4 years of high school Japanese within the last two years. Students must be able to read and write around 100 kanji.
Course Summary: This fourth‑semester Japanese course further develops speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills while introducing cultural topics. Students continue at the Intermediate Low level, learning comparison structures, explanation mode: -n desu, and 44 additional kanji.
Topics: Comparison, expressing desires, talking about being sick
Textbook: Genki Vol. 1 (Chapters 10–12)
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