1.1 Students are able to communicate effectively in Japanese in three modes: interpersonal, interpretive and presentational; and in a culturally appropriate manner in a variety of social and professional settings and circumstances at the Intermediate-High level of language proficiency, according to the ACTFL Guidelines.
1.2 Students gain competency in the Japanese language including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and discourse, and compare and analyze the structural differences between Japanese and English.
Courses Taken:
JAPN 201: Intermediate Japanese 1
JAPN 300: Introduction to Advanced Communication
JAPN 302: History of Japan
JAPN 401: Structure of Japanese Language
CORE COURSE GRAMMAR IIS:
MLO Narrative:
These courses took me from a very low level in Japanese to where I am now. Although I still have very much to learn, I feel that after my time at CSUMB, I have managed to improve myself enough to finally start feeling confident in using Japanese. These courses, combined with my two sessions of study abroad, worked together to build the groundwork for my knowledge of Japanese. Now that I am graduating, I know enough to self start and improve my Japanese skills toward my eventual dream of native-level fluency.
When I first came to CSUMB, my Japanese skills were rudimentary at best. Although I had taken 101 and 102 at MPC, a local community college, I had only really internalized the knowledge from 101. The teacher of 102’s teaching style did not work with my learning style and although I passed the class, I did not feel like I had learned anything. Starting with 201 at CSUMB, I finally felt like I understood what was going on, and started to improve my knowledge. The first real test of my abilities was my study abroad session in Japan during the spring of 2013. Using all my effort, I was able to do fairly well in the classes there, and come home finally able to feel pride in my skills. In the fall of 2013, I made the mistake of taking a class which was too difficult for me. While I had studied abroad for four months, this class was designed for students who were getting back from one year in Japan. My confidence plummeted and I felt very bad about my Japanese skills until the following semester. I took Japanese 300 in spring 2014, a class which had once been moderately difficult. In spite of failing my previous class, I had learned so much from it that 300 was easy for me, and I regained my confidence. In fall 2014, I took Japanese 302: History of Japan. This class was at the same level as the one I had previously failed, yet with much effort, I was able to pass this one. In spring 2015, I took a third upper division class, Japanese 401, and though I found it difficult, it was no longer a true challenge for me to pass it. I feel that with this last class, I finally achieved MLO 1.1. This class also allowed me to fulfill MLO 1.2, because it introduced me to the linguistic structure of Japanese. Although the first Japanese has always been difficult for me, but I am determined to learn it. Even though my language class grades have never been excellent, I know I am nevertheless progressively improving. Upon graduating, I plan to redouble my efforts and continue my studies until I am fluent.
1.2 Students gain competency in the Japanese language including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and discourse, and compare and analyze the structural differences between Japanese and English.
Courses Taken:
JAPN 201: Intermediate Japanese 1
JAPN 300: Introduction to Advanced Communication
JAPN 302: History of Japan
JAPN 401: Structure of Japanese Language
CORE COURSE GRAMMAR IIS:
MLO Narrative:
These courses took me from a very low level in Japanese to where I am now. Although I still have very much to learn, I feel that after my time at CSUMB, I have managed to improve myself enough to finally start feeling confident in using Japanese. These courses, combined with my two sessions of study abroad, worked together to build the groundwork for my knowledge of Japanese. Now that I am graduating, I know enough to self start and improve my Japanese skills toward my eventual dream of native-level fluency.
When I first came to CSUMB, my Japanese skills were rudimentary at best. Although I had taken 101 and 102 at MPC, a local community college, I had only really internalized the knowledge from 101. The teacher of 102’s teaching style did not work with my learning style and although I passed the class, I did not feel like I had learned anything. Starting with 201 at CSUMB, I finally felt like I understood what was going on, and started to improve my knowledge. The first real test of my abilities was my study abroad session in Japan during the spring of 2013. Using all my effort, I was able to do fairly well in the classes there, and come home finally able to feel pride in my skills. In the fall of 2013, I made the mistake of taking a class which was too difficult for me. While I had studied abroad for four months, this class was designed for students who were getting back from one year in Japan. My confidence plummeted and I felt very bad about my Japanese skills until the following semester. I took Japanese 300 in spring 2014, a class which had once been moderately difficult. In spite of failing my previous class, I had learned so much from it that 300 was easy for me, and I regained my confidence. In fall 2014, I took Japanese 302: History of Japan. This class was at the same level as the one I had previously failed, yet with much effort, I was able to pass this one. In spring 2015, I took a third upper division class, Japanese 401, and though I found it difficult, it was no longer a true challenge for me to pass it. I feel that with this last class, I finally achieved MLO 1.1. This class also allowed me to fulfill MLO 1.2, because it introduced me to the linguistic structure of Japanese. Although the first Japanese has always been difficult for me, but I am determined to learn it. Even though my language class grades have never been excellent, I know I am nevertheless progressively improving. Upon graduating, I plan to redouble my efforts and continue my studies until I am fluent.