Description
This course is geared toward people who plan (or would like) to visit Japan in the near future, but have little to no experience with the language and culture. Each week, we will discuss one topic (greetings, dining, transportation, lodging, sightseeing, shopping, and illness/ emergencies), focusing on the most essential words and phrases to help foster smooth communication and positive interactions with Japanese speakers. Other course topics include practical travel tips (purchasing a Japan Rail pass, getting around with luggage, lodging options, helpful apps, seasonal events, etc.), useful resources for continued Japanese language study, important Japanese etiquette, and the phonetic writing systems, hiragana and katakana.
The Textbook for this course is: Japanese for Busy People 4th Edition, Romanized. https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Busy-People-Book-Romanized/dp/1568366191
Amy Franks started learning Japanese in high school when her father was stationed in Okinawa. She eventually went on to receive her doctorate from Yale University in Japanese language and literature, and works as a teacher, tutor, and translator.
Please note this class meets 2.5 hours/ week (1.5 hours in-person, 1 hour Zoom session) The night of the week for the Zoom session will be decided at the first class based on the student’s schedules.
