Japanese Language - Essentials
Japanese Language - Essentials
Course Duration: 4 weeks
Total Course Hours: 8 hours
Requirements: Knowledge of the English Language (from basic to low-intermediate level - A2-B1)
This course aims to provide students with the basics to approach the Japanese language and culture.
Students will learn about the Japanese writing system: the Hiragana and Katakana syllabaries, along with some basic Kanji (JLPT N5 Level) and how to write them.
Learning the culture is crucial to understanding the language, especially as Japanese culture is known to be very different from Western culture. We believe learning the Japanese language alongside its culture is the best way to make the learning journey much easier!
At the end of the course, we will discuss comparisons between Japanese culture and the Western culture in order to deeply understand the differences between them.
COURSE SYLLABUS
WEEK 1: APPROACHING THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Part 1
General Characteristics: Romaji, basic sounds, and how to pronounce them.
The order of the elements in phrases.
Particle System
Basic Japanese: Self-introduction and Greetings
Part 2
Introducing the Japanese writing system, with general information on Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji.
Hiragana Pt. 1: Basic words and pronunciation, from vowels to “Ta” sounds.
Japanese Culture: In Japan, it is important to be kind and respectful of others!
WEEK 2: SELF-INTRODUCTIONS
Part 1
Hiragana Pt. 2: from “Na” to “Wa”
Japanese Sounds Pt. 1: alphabet, contracted sounds, double consonants.
Self-introduction, including analyzing the particle “Wa” and verb “to be”.
Part 2
Japanese Sounds Pt. 2: contracted sounds (Kya...), double consonants, and long-vowel sounds.
Video material to learn the pronunciation of basic words.
WEEK 3: INTRODUCING KATAKANA
Part 1
Katakana Pt. 1: Basic words and pronunciation, from vowels to “Ta” sounds.
Focusing on when to use Katakana.
Japanese Culture: Learn how to use the suffixes.
Part 2
Katakana Pt. 2: from “Na” to “Wa”
Verb “to be”: affirmative and negative form.
Vocabulary: nationalities in Japanese
WEEK 4: REVIEW
Part 1
Approaching Kanji: how to write Kanji
Learning the first most-used kanji and the days of the week.
An overview of communicating with Kanji.
Part 2
Review
Japanese Culture: Polite and casual expressions. Discussion and examples on how to sound formal and colloquial.