College/University

Eastern Michigan University

Code

FL 

Source of Guidelines/Standards

Michigan State Board of Education, 2000

Program/Subject Area

Japanese Language & Culture (FL)

1.0

Study of Japanese Language

1.1

Basic knowledge for practical communication: structure and history of language.

Elementary

Major:

Minor:

Secondary

Major:

Minor:

K-12

Major: JPNE 212 In JPNE 212, as in the case of every Japanese language course offered at EMU, students (1) engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions; (2) understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics; and (3) present information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.  Three modes of communication are emphasized:  Interpersonal, Interpretive, and Presentational.  At the lower courses such as JPNE 212 and the part of JPNE 344, Interpersonal mode of communication is focused and as the student’s proficiency level advances, the course content include more formal presentational mode of communication where students conduct a formal, one-way presentation. As part of the assessment for these courses, students are to demonstrate their oral communication competence by going through various tasks with grammatical accuracy and cultural appropriateness.

Historical aspects of Japanese language and culture are covered throughout in these courses listed utilizing video and other materials.  LNGE 223 also covers comparative views of structures and histories among languages.

1.2

Basic conversational Japanese:

Elementary skills in speaking, reading, writing and listening.

Elementary

Major:

Minor:

Secondary

Major:

Minor:

K-12

Major:

JPNE 212 Intermediate Japanese II

At EMU, reading and writing skills are introduced from the first semester of the first year level (i.e., JPNE 121).  In JPNE 212, students are given ample opportunities to go through various basic level tasks and situations in all four skills with cultural appropriateness.

1.3

Intermediate conversational Japanese:  skills in reading popular periodicals and newspapers.

Elementary

Major:

Minor:

Secondary

Major:

Minor:

K-12

Major:

JPNE 344 Japanese Conversation and JPNE 444 Advanced Japanese Conversation and JPNE 361 Japanese for International Trade.

As stated in Standard 1.1, in upper level courses,  students engage in presentational mode of communication more frequently than lower level courses.   The proficiency goals for these courses are Intermediate Mid using the ACTFL oral proficiency interview scale or Level 3-4 using the Japan Foundation’s Japanese proficiency test.

1.4

Interrelationship of culture and language usage: information about daily life needs in Japan. 

Elementary

Major:

Minor:

Secondary

Major:

Minor:

K-12

Major:

JPNE 212, JPNE 344, JPNE 361, JPNE 444 and JPNE 494

At EMU, all Japanese language courses include cultural instruction where students (1) demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices (How) and perspectives (Why) of the Japanese culture; (2) demonstrate understanding of the relationship between products (What) and perspectives (Why) of the Japanese culture.  Instruction includes video viewing and writing analysis or reflection papers of Japanese culture in English or Japanese. Although JPNE 345, Japanese Composition is not required for teaching major students, they are strongly encouraged to take the course.  Through course work, students get opportunities to interview and discuss about Japanese culture and society with Japanese students on campus as well as in Japan through face-to-face and/or internet communication.

ANTH 245 Culture of Japan (See syllabus)

Study of Japanese Culture and Society

2.1

Historical development of culture and its characteristics.

Elementary

Major:

Minor:

Secondary

Major:

Minor:

K-12

Major:

JPNE 212, JPNE 344, JPNE 361, JPNE 444 and JPNE 494         

As stated in section 2.1, these courses look at culture with products, perspectives and perceptions.  EMU instructors often explain certain Japanese behaviors with historical perspectives.

ANTH 245 Culture of Japan

2.2

The structure and dynamics of Japanese society and socialization process: including a knowledge of the educational system, the family, and tradition in Japan.

Elementary

Major:

Minor:

Secondary

Major:

Minor:

K-12

Major:

JPNE 212, JPNE 344, JPNE 361, JPNE 444 and JPNE 494

As stated above, instructors utilize various supporting materials (e.g., videos, articles and internet resources) to introduce many faces of Japanese culture.  Students are constantly exposed to variety of media on the topics of education, family and tradition.  Although JPNE 345, Japanese Composition is not required for teaching major students, they are strongly encouraged to take the course.  Through course work, students get opportunities to interview and discuss about Japanese culture and society with Japanese students on campus as well as in Japan through face-to-face and/or internet communication.

ANTH 245 Culture of Japan

3.0

Study of Political and Economic Systems

3.1

Structure and characteristics of Japanese political system.

Elementary

Major:

Minor:

Secondary

Major:

Minor:

K-12

Major:

JPNE 361 Japanese and International Trade

In JPNE 361, Japanese economic system between 1944 and present are introduced.  Since economy and politics are inseparable, general information of Japanese political system is also introduced.  Although JPNE 345, Japanese Composition is not required for teaching major students, they are strongly encouraged to take the course.  Through course work, students get opportunities to interview and discuss about Japanese culture and society with Japanese students on campus as well as in Japan through face-to-face and/or internet communication.

PLSC 374 Asian Political Systems 

3.2

Structure of Japanese economic system.

Elementary

Major:

Minor:

Secondary

Major:

Minor:

K-12

Major:

JPNE 361 Japanese for International Trade

JPNE 446 Business Japanese I and JPNE 447 Business Japanese II

Although the focuses of these courses are on the development of Japanese business language proficiency, the course content also includes Japanese current economic systems.  Although JPNE 446 and JPNE 447 are not required for teaching major students, they are strongly encouraged to take them.  Although JPNE 345, Japanese Composition is not required for teaching major students, they are strongly encouraged to take the course.  Through course work, students get opportunities to interview and discuss about Japanese culture and society with Japanese students on campus as well as in Japan through face-to-face and/or internet communication.

ECON 480 International Economics  

3.3

Study the interaction between politics and economy in the development of Japanese industry.

Elementary

Major:

Minor:

Secondary

Major:

Minor:

K-12

Major:

JPNE 361 Japanese and International Trade, JPNE 446 and JPNE 447

As stated in section 3.3, the course content includes the study of Japanese economic systems with political perspectives. JPNE 446 and JPNE 447 are not required for majors.  Although JPNE 345, Japanese Composition is not required for teaching major students, they are strongly encouraged to take the course.  Through course work, students get opportunities to interview and discuss about Japanese culture and society with Japanese students on campus as well as in Japan through face-to-face and/or internet communication.

PLSC 374 Asian Political Systems 

ECON 480 

4.0

Teacher Exchange Support Information: 

The program will provide information necessary for Michigan teachers to participate in International Teacher Exchange Programs, such as the Michigan-Shiga, Japan Teacher Exchange Programs industry:

4.1

Interaction with Japanese culture and society.

Elementary

Major:

Minor:

Secondary

Major:

Minor:

K-12

Major:

Study Abroad Programs:

Japanese teaching major students are strongly encouraged to participate in the study abroad programs such as: (1) Japanese Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU programs), (2) Kansai Gaidai University program, (3) Japan Adventure Program through Lansing Community College and (4) other study in Japan programs such as Waseda University program.

Although JPNE 345, Japanese Composition is not required for teaching major students, they are strongly encouraged to take the course.  Through course work, students get opportunities to interview and discuss about Japanese culture and society with Japanese students on campus as well as in Japan through face-to-face and/or internet communication.

On-campus/Off-campus collaboration with students from Japan

Japanese teaching major students are also strongly encouraged to work with EMU Japanese Student’s Association in planning various on-campus and off-campus activities such as Japanese appreciation dinner show at EMU where high school Japanese language learners from area high schools participate.

4.2

Socializing with Japanese students to ensure understanding and their cultural setting.

Elementary

Major:

Minor:

Secondary

Major:

Minor:

K-12

Major:

Japanese teaching major students are strongly encouraged to have conversation partners with students from Japan whose English proficiency levels are not high.  Since EMU faculty members are also advisors of the EMU Japanese Student’s Association which consists of students from Japan and Japanese language students, they have established a set procedure to provide conversational partner(s) for major students.

Although JPNE 345, Japanese Composition is not required for teaching major students, they are strongly encouraged to take the course.  Through course work, students get opportunities to interview and discuss about Japanese culture and society with Japanese students on campus as well as in Japan through face-to-face and/or internet communication.

ANTH 245 Culture of Japan

In addition, joint activities with EMU Japanese Student’s Association such as annual Japanese appreciation dinner show in November and other activities ensure

4.3

Study the organization of the Japanese education system.

Elementary

Major:

Minor:

Secondary

Major:

Minor:

K-12

Major:

JPNE 212, JPNE 344, JPNE 361, JPNE 444 and JPNE 494

As stated above, students are exposed to Japanese educational system through various cultural materials.  Video materials such as “Growing-up in Japan” depicts Japanese schools and Internet resources such as “The Japan Forum’s Kentaro-kun no ichinichi” and “DEAI” depict K-12 students’ lives in Japan. 

Although JPNE 345, Japanese Composition is not required for teaching major students, they are strongly encouraged to take the course.  Through course work, students get opportunities to interview and discuss about Japanese culture and society with Japanese students on campus as well as in Japan through face-to-face and/or internet communication.