Japanese II

Modern Languages 202

Because the Japanese language is a mastery skill, it is recommended that students earn an 80% or better grade in both semesters of Japanese I before advancing to Japanese II.

(Students with previous Japanese language experience may need to skip a level or two and move to a higher course.)

Student-driven Curriculum

Recognizing that the most dynamic and productive curriculum is one which is student-driven, this course is designed to emphasize areas of language learning most applicable to the individual needs of students. This individual ownership best prepares students for advanced study and occupational endeavors. Consequently, this class will be different than typical language classes.

The Japanese II curriculum offers several different options, each of which is effective in some aspect of the language learning task. While the specific tasks accomplished by students during this course are largely determined by students themselves (chosen from available options), the course emphasis for the first semester is on comprehension, while the second semester focuses on reading and characters.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to (1) use many advanced grammar structures correctly, (2) accurately* read 250 characters, (3) accurately* write 150 characters, (4) use many complex verb conjugations correctly, (5) understand basic foundations of Japanese culture, and (6) monitor and understand current events in Japan.

* Accuracy is eighty percent; most gateways, and many tests, quizzes, and assignments are pass/fail at this level.

Text

Unfortunately, there are no adequate texts published for English speakers to learn Japanese. Watabe's Toward Better Japanese Volumes I & II has been adopted by the Department of Education, and may be used in Japanese II as a reader/workbook for those students choosing that medium. The Shimomura System, though under development at the second year level, provides some instruction for students at Sanchez.

Timetable

Each semester students may choose assignments from a given menu. The grading scale for first semester is 1,800 points. The grade a student receives for first semester will be the percent of 1,800 points earned by 1:00 p.m. Friday, December 3, 1999. Students may earn points in each of the following categories: (1) Reader, (2) Horizons, (3) Creation, (4) Culture, (5) Production, and (6) Characters. (While students may work on assignments at any time, before being credited with those points they must first successfully complete one or more prerequisite assignments, called Gateway assignments, in that particular category.) Second semester grades will be based on 2,700 points.

Students should expect to spend one-half hour to one hour per day studying Japanese outside of class time.

Accountability

High School is a transition from the effort-based reward system of elementary school to the product-based reward system of college. Since Japanese II is an upper-level class, all evaluation will be product-based. While there are many instances where students engage in group work, much of the course work is individual in nature. Students are, naturally, responsible for their own work and behavior. Part of high school is not using others as an excuse for not doing what is required.

Students are required to know their grade in this class at any one time. Students are given a Score Sheet to keep track of their current grade during each quarter. THE SCORE SHEET SENT HOME AT MID-QUARTER SERVES AS A PROGRESS REPORT. Parents should initial the Score Sheet each weekend, and sign it when it is sent home as a Progress Report.

Costs

There are several costs associated with taking Japanese II. Each student will need four hundred 3x5 index cards and two computer disks. Students will need to pay for costs associated with use of the Japanese word processors on a per use basis. Students will need to bear the costs associated with optional assignments which they choose: any cassettes or videos used, gifts etc. for guests, the reader, and ten dollars per semester for karaoke.

Class time

Class time is for Japanese II work only! Any other work will be taken away, as will other irrelevant items (eg. annuals, walkmans, radios, magazines, newspapers, etc.). Texts and work for other classes may be returned the next school day; items of a personal nature may not be returned!

Detention

Serving detention is required for missing class time, minor offenses of school rules, foul language, personal grooming, disturbing other classes, doing other class work, missing fire-drill roll, and any other inappropriate behavior. Students will be required to do housekeeping chores. If students are late for detention they will not be admitted, and will receive an additional detention for not serving.

Repeated instances of the same offence will receive increasingly harsher penalties.

As upper-level elective students, Japanese II students should be mature enough that behavioristic policies do not need to be maintained in the classroom. However, students who have not learned proper behavior will be treated differently, and will have behavioristic penalties imposed upon them.

JO2kla97/99