Elementary Japanese I  ON-LINE
Mesa Community College
Instructor: Emi Ochiai Ahn (Call me Ochiai Sensee!)  
E-mail: emiahn@mail.mc.maricopa.edu　
Phone: 480-461-7692  Fax: 480-461-7458 
Address: Mesa Community College, Foreign Language Department, 1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa AZ 85202-1220
Office: BO3
 

Last Updated:June 27, 2006

Table of the Contents:

Prerequisite of the Course:
No Prerequisite.

Course Description:
Please read MCC Catalog

Objectives of the course:  After this course, students should be able to:

1. read and write Japanese syllabic letters (Hiragana and Katakana).
2. read and write 75 basic Chinese characters (Kanji).
3. speak and write about self, neighborhood, and daily schedule.
4. get the information about someone's personal information, neighborhood and daily schedule through both written and oral communications.
5. make sentences with copula and adjectives for both affirmative and negative form in non-past tense.
6. make sentences with verbs for both affirmative and negative forms in non-past and past tenses.
7. demonstrate appropriate manners of bowing, exchanging business cards, and addressing.

Required Textbooks:  All required materials are available at MCC Bookstore (phone: 480(461)7226)

1. Kana Can Be Easy, Ogawa, The Japan Times
   
   
    
2. Yookoso-An Introduction to Contemporary Japanese, Tohsaku, Third Edition (accompanied by an Interactive CD-ROM).  This textbook includes Registration Code to access online materials which include the audio files for the textbook and workbook exercises ( www.mhhe.com/yookoso3  ).
   
         
    
3. Workbook for Yookoso-An Introduction to Contemporary Japanese (If you repeat the course, please get a new workbook.).  The audio files needed to do listening exercises in the workbook is available online when you register to www.mhhe.com/yookoso3 .
   
   
    

Recommended Materials:                       Return to Table         
A Japanese-English dictionary
An English-Japanese dictionary

Required Equipments:

1. Suitable Computer (Visit HERE to check if your computer is suitable for this course)

2. Headphone with a microphone

3. Fax and phone access

4. Purevoice (free, should be downloaded to your local computer)

5. Quicktime player (free, should be downloaded to your local computer)

Technical Support:

1. MCC Technology Support Services (480)461-7217

2. MCC Online Support Services

Requirements and Grade of the Course:

It is mandatory to take the final and earn at least 300 points (out of 600 maximum) to receive A, B, C, D, or P for this course.  Those who failed to take the final test or earned less than 300 points will automatically receive an F, regardless the rest of the performance of this course.

A (2,790-2,500 points)
B (2,499-2,200points)
C (2,199-1,900 points)
D (1,999-1,600 points)
F (1,599 points and below)

Pass-Fail Grade:  If you wish, you can take this course as a Pass-Fail option.  However, you can take this course as a Pass-Fail student only if you report to school on the first week of the instruction.  Please inform the instructor of your intention of being a Pass-Fail student as soon as possible.  If you earn 1,600 points or above, you will receive a P.  If not, you will receive a Z. 

Class Policies:                               Return to Table  

1. Deadlines are final and no make ups are given.
2. Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated.  All submitted work should be your own.
3. Each student is expected to read and consult Student Handbook of Mesa Community College including disability issue.

In-Person Final Test:

    The In-Person Final test will be offered at Language Lab (AS110 Foreign Language Learning Center (480)461-7969) Map on campus for those that are living in the Maricopa County.  If you are living outside of the Maricopa County, contact the instructor immediately for a special arrangement. It is absolutely mandatory to take the final and earn at least 300 points (out of 600 maximum) to receive A, B, C, D, or P for this course. 

Oral Tests on the Phone:

   Four oral tests are required to take in this course.  Each test will be taken on the phone at the end of each chapter: Weeks 6, 9, 12 and 15.  A week before each phone test, you are requested to make an appointment with the instructor via e-mail.

Weekly Discussions:

   Participation of this course will be evaluated based on Weekly Discussion activities.  By each Wednesday, you are required to post at least two messages (one in English and one in Japanese, except for the first week only in English).  The details are explained in Weekly Lesson.  As far as you posted, you will receive a full credit (10 point/posting) for this activity.

                                                                     Return to Table  

How to Study for This Course:

This course is organized on weekly basis.  A "week" in this course starts on Monday 12:01am and ends on Sunday 11:59pm (Arizona Time).  In "Weekly Lesson," there are four sections in each week.  At the beginning of your typical week, you will read "Objectives and Requirements of This Week" to figure out what you are supposed to learn and what kind of quiz, test, assignments you are required to do within the week.  After that and until the end of Wednesday of the week and until the end of Saturday, you will study by faithfully following the instruction under "Instruction Until Wednesday" and "Instruction Until Saturday." Of course, you are welcome to be ahead of the schedule.   And by 11:59pm, you are supposed to submit all of your requirements.  Details of the requirements are described under "Quiz" under each weekly lesson.

  It is recommended that

1. You spend at least 13 to 15 hours a week for this class. Spend at least 2 hours EVERY DAY for this course.  Visit HERE to check if this course will suit you.
2. You check the calendar and faithfully follow the weekly schedule.
3. You post your questions to Weekly Discussions as often as you like.
4. You e-mail your instructor frequently.
5. You contact Technology Support Services for technical support.

Online Tutor:

Online tutor is available without any extra cost for you.  Hours will be announced at the beginning of the semester.  Visit www.mc.maricopa.edu/~emiahn and click on Video Conference Room during the hour.  It would be great if you have a webcam to communicate, but without it, you can still speak or type with the tutor in the room. 

Useful Links:

1. Kinokuniya Bookstore
2. MCC Bookstore
3. MCC Catalog
4. Ochiai Sensee's Home Page
5. MCC Student Handbook
6. Yookoso Homepage

Return to Table