MLL 252 - Intermediate Japanese II: Japanese American Sociocultural Issues

Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-D1-2
The course focuses on intermediate level Japanese acquisition, application and communication necessary for everyday and professional use. With a holistic approach, students will learn to identify and analyze socio-cultural-linguistic traits and concepts relevant to the Japanese speaking community.

Prerequisites: MLL 251.
Repeatability: Course may be repeated for a maximum of 8 units.
Possible Instructional Methods: On-ground, or Hybrid, or Online-Asynchronous.
Grading: A-F or CR/NC (student choice).
Breadth Area(s) Satisfied: GE-D1-2 - Lower Division Social Sciences
Course Typically Offered: Spring ONLY

Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Possess listening and speaking skills equivalent at least to the intermediate-mid level of the ACTFL Proficiency. Demonstrate the ability to understand main ideas and facts from interactive exchanges and aural texts. Demonstrate the ability to handle successfully a variety of communicative tasks in straightforward social situations.
Possess reading and writing skills equivalent at least to the intermediate-mid level of the ACTFL Proficiency. Demonstrate the ability to read consistently with increased understanding texts dealing with a variety of social needs. Demonstrate the ability write short, simple communications, compositions, descriptions and requests for information that are based on personal preferences, daily routines, common events, and other topics related to immediate surroundings.
Translate U.S. Census questionnaire and/or Healthcare application form into Japanese. Demonstrate the ability to explain the survey guidelines and to complete the survey both verbally and in writing.
Facilitate the community interviews, distinguish the socio-cultural-linguistic traits, and apply the knowledge of ethnolinguistic studies to understand how different ethnic groups perceive the world through the target language (Japanese).
Compare the differences between English and the target language (Japanese) in approaching the questions and in answering the questionnaires/surveys/forms and discriminating concepts/ideas that may be ‘lost in translation.
Identify how the target Language (Japanese) is complexly intertwined with (Japanese speaking) culture (they have evolved together, influencing one another in the process, ultimately shaping what it means to be community).
Describe aspects of Japanese culture using appropriate grammar and vocabulary in writing and speech
Use intermediate-level sentence structure and grammar rules beyond MLL 251 in writing and speech
Participate in intermediate-level conversations by listening and responding appropriately
Assess social situations to determine when to use casual, polite, and honorific forms
Write sentences using Kanji characters and identify Kanji characters in written text
Engage with local/global Japanese and Japanese American communities and organizations

D1-2. Lower-division Social Science Electives Learning Outcomes

specify how social, political, economic, and environmental systems and/or behavior are interwoven;
explain how humans individually and collectively relate to relevant sociocultural, political, economic, and/or environmental systems-how they produce, resist, and transform them;
discuss and debate issues from the course’s disciplinary perspective in a variety of cultural, historical, contemporary, and/or potential future contexts; and
explore principles, methodologies, value systems, and ethics employed in social scientific inquiry.