Intermediate Japanese

Prerequisite: LAJA 102 or waived This course is an intermediate Japanese language course, the third in the three-semester sequence of Japanese language courses, for those with a solid foundation in elementary Japanese spoken and written communication skills. By the end of the semester, students will be able to handle basic communication in a variety of everyday life situations in a culturally coherent manner with native speakers of Japanese, both orally and in written form. Students can participate in simple conversations on topics beyond their most immediate needs. Focusing on the dynamics of communication across cultures, students will engage in multicultural communication and analyze the forces underlying the ways that individuals from their cultures express their ideas in their native language, in comparison with students' own native language. Emphasis will be placed on respecting human similarities and differences, recognizing sociocultural influences on individuals' worldviews, and comprehending the diverse factors that establish and maintain cultural norms, including power, privilege, age, class and gender. Students who wish to continue working towards further proficiency should plan to take LAJA 172 Business Japanese. Offered annually.