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KCJS Summer Program in Modern Japanese 2024

Overview

KCJS offers summer programs in various levels of modern Japanese: 2nd, 3rd, 4th year and above.

In eight weeks, the KCJS program covers the curricular equivalent of one academic year of Japanese language study at US universities. Hence, students are expected to spend six hours and more per day on attending classes, reviewing and preparing for lessons, as well as doing homework. If you want to jump-start your Japanese language study in a fast-paced, intensive, and immersive learning environment, this program is just for you!

The eligibility requirements are as follows.

  • Open to undergraduates and graduate students in good academic standing. Recent graduates may also apply.
  • For Second Year Japanese: must have completed one year of college-level Japanese or the equivalent.
  • For Third Year Japanese: must have completed two years of college-level Japanese or the equivalent.
  • For Fourth Year: must have completed three years of college-level Japanese or the equivalent.
  • For Fifth Year Japanese: must have completed four years of college-level Japanese or the equivalent.
  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
  • Minimum 3.0 average GPA in Japanese language courses.

Please note that depending on the results of the placement test, the students may be placed in a different level than they apply for.

KCJS reserves the right to cancel or modify the courses of instruction or to change the instructors as may become necessary.

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Placement

After the application deadline has passed, applicants will be given instructions to take an online placement test. Results will be used for admissions purposes and in order to place students in the appropriate course level.

Monday, February 5: Application deadline

Monday, February 12: Login ID and password to take the online test will be sent to the students who have submitted the application by the deadline.

11:59AM on Friday, February 23: End of the online test

    (Tentative; All dates are EST)

Notes

    • If applicants fail to take the online test by the deadline, their applications will not be considered.
    • Applicants will receive the login ID and password to take the online test at the email address they provided in their application as their primary email address.
    • By taking the online test, it is understood that applicants may be placed in a level different from the applied level, depending on the results of the online test.

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Schedule

For Summer 2024, the program is scheduled to start on , May 30 and end on Friday, July 26.

Please note that the following calendar is tentative and subject to change.

Wednesday, May 29    Students arrive
Thursday, May 30 – Friday, May 31    Orientation
Monday, June 3    Class begins
Friday, July 15    No class (National holiday in Japan)
Friday, July 26    End of the program

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Class Hours

All classes of KCJS Summer: Modern Japanese will meet 3 hours a day, Monday-Friday.

The tentative class hours

9:00am-10:00am
(60 min.)
Communicative practice
10:10am-11:10am (60min.) Communicative practice
11:20am 12:00pm (40min.) Interactive activities with Japanese undergraduate/graduate students, workshops etc.)

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Levels Offered

KCJS offers summer programs in various levels of modern Japanese: 2nd, 3rd, 4th year and above.

KCJS reserves the right to cancel or modify the courses of instruction or to change the instructors at any time.

2nd Year Japanese

 

 
The 2nd year Japanese program (O4201 & O4202; 8 points or 2 semesters) is designed for those who have completed at least one year of college-level Japanese or the equivalent (around 150 hours of Japanese study).

Students who want to take this course are expected to be at least at the Novice-High level of the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Proficiency Guidelines at the beginning of the course.

For a more detailed description, please follow the links provided below:
ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines Novice: Speaking | Writing | Listening | Reading
(see the section of “NOVICE HIGH”)

This class will cover Genki II (The Japan Times) and intermediate materials such as Hiyaku (Routledge). The coverage and materials will be contingent on the levels of students and finalized by the instructors.

The goal of this course is to achieve Intermediate-Mid level or higher proficiency according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. Upon successful completion of the course, the students will:

  • have a command of basic Japanese grammar and vocabulary (equivalent to JLPT N5-N4);
  • be able to communicate with others effectively in Japanese in familiar situations/about familiar topics at a sentence-level;
  • understand written texts about familiar topics related to everyday life and personal interests in Japanese.

Syllabus and Schedule of 2nd Year Japanese for 2024

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3rd Year Japanese

 

 
The 3rd Year Japanese program (H4205 & O4206; 8 points/2 semesters) is designed for those who have completed at least two years of college-level Japanese or the equivalent (around 300 hours of Japanese study).

Students who want to take this course are expected to be at least at the Intermediate-Mid level of the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Proficiency Guidelines at the beginning of the course.  Please note that depending on the results of the placement test, the students may be placed in a different level than they apply for.

For a more detailed description, please follow the links provided below:
ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines Intermediate: Speaking | Writing | Listening | Reading
(see the section of “INTERMEDIATE MID”)

Using a wide variety of materials, the students will develop four skills of language (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) and learn cultural knowledge necessary to communicate in Japanese.

In 2024, 3rd year Japanese will use Quartet I and II.

The goal of this course is to achieve Intermediate-High or above of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. Upon successful completion of the course, the students will:

  • have a command of intermediate-level grammar and vocabulary (equivalent to JLPT N3-N2);
  • understand both spoken and written Japanese correctly about a variety of topics;
  • be able to express his/her opinions at the paragraph level in socially appropriate manner.

Syllabus and Schedule of 3rd Year Japanese for 2024

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4th Year Japanese

 

 
The 4th Year Japanese program (O4217 & O4218; 8 points/ 2 semesters) is designed for those who have completed at least three years of college-level Japanese or the equivalent (around 450 hours of Japanese study).

Students who want to take this course are expected to be at the Intermediate-High level or above of the ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Proficiency Guidelines at the beginning of the course. Please note that depending on the results of the placement test, the students may be placed in a different level than they apply for.

For a more detailed description, please follow the links provided below:
ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines Intermediate: Speaking | Writing | Listening | Reading
(see the section of “INTERMEDIATE HIGH”)

Authentic materials such as newspaper and novels will be used, alongside with instructor-created materials to study grammatical patterns equivalent to N1 and N2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). In addition, the students will have the opportunity to pursue an individualized project based on their own interests and give a presentation about their project at the end of the program.

The goal of this course is to achieve Advanced-Low or above of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. Upon successful completion of the course, the students will:

  • have a command of advanced-level grammar and vocabulary including kango vocabulary and idiomatic expressions (equivalent to JLPT N2-N1);
  • understand more abstract and complicated ideas presented in both speaking and writing;
  • be able to participate in discussions about a variety of topics;
  • be able to narrate and describe effectively and at length.

Syllabus and Schedule of 4th Year Japanese for 2024

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Highlights of the Modern Japanese Program

imageExperienced Professional Instructors. All instructors in the KCJS Summer Program in Modern Japanese have earned either a master’s degree or Ph.D. in related fields, and have extensive experience in teaching Japanese as a second/foreign language. Our faculty are either full-time KCJS instructors or are drawn from consortium member schools such as Cornell University and the University of Virginia. Every instructor is dedicated to improving your Japanese ability and enriching your learning experiences in Kyoto.


imageIntensive Curriculum. The KCJS Summer program takes pride in its intensive yet rewarding curriculum. In eight weeks, our program covers the curricular equivalent of one academic year of Japanese language study at US universities.

Students should be ready to commit six hours + per day on engaging in learning activities and tasks (Comparison: KCJS Summer Program vs. Typical Japanese Course). Thus, we recommend that students be free of other obligations such as online internships.


Interactions with Japanese College Students. The KCJS Summer Program in Modern Japanese will incorporate discussion sessions twice a week with undergraduate or graduate students who are native speakers of Japanese. You will have abundant opportunities to practice authentic communication in Japanese and refine your Japanese language skills.


Workshops & Lectures. The KCJS Summer Program in Modern Japanese plans to offer workshops and lectures.

In 2022, we offered:

  • Lesson on Kansai-ben (Kansai dialect)
  • Lecture on Zen Buddhism
  • Lecture on Noh
  • Workshop on Japanese confectionary art

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KCJS Academic Year/
Semester Programs

CENTER FOR UNDERGRADUATE GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT/COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement

606 Kent Hall
Columbia University
1140 Amsterdam, Mail Code 3948
New York, NY 10027 USA
Tel: 212-854-2559
Fax: 212-854-5164
Email: uge@columbia.edu

Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies 京都アメリカ大学コンソーシアム

Doshisha University, 2F Fusokan
Karasuma Higashi-iru, Imadegawa-dori
Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8580 JAPAN

602-8580
京都市上京区今出川通烏丸東入
同志社大学 扶桑館2F

Tel: 075-251-4995
Tel: (+81-75-251-4995)
Fax: 075-229-6300
Fax: (+81-75-229-6300)
Email: fs2244@columbia.edu