Instructor Insights
"When I first taught Japanese, I found a great gem and since then, I’ve been very passionate about language teaching."
In the following dual language videos, which were recorded in 2016, Senior Lecturer Takako Aikawa describes various aspects of how she teaches 21G.503 Japanese III.
View in English:
- Meet the Educator
- Grammar and Drill Sessions
- Developing Students’ Language Skills
- Assessment Strategies
- Teaching Japanese Culture through Language
- Japanese Community Events
View in Japanese:
Curriculum Information
Prerequisites
This course is the third part of a six-course sequence. The sequence continues in 21G.504 Japanese IV. The first course in the sequence is 21G.501 Japanese I. The second course in the sequence is 21G.502 Japanese II.
Requirements Satisfied
GIR 
Offered
Every fall semester
Assessment
Grade Breakdown
The students’ grades were based on the following activities:
- 10% Daily grade
- 50% Quizzes (lesson, vocabulary, dictation & Kanji)
- 20% Interview tests (2) and one-hour exam
- 15% Homework
- 5% Projects
Instructor Insights on Assessment
Takako Aikawa shares her insights about assessing student learning through a daily grading system and interviews.
Student Information
Enrollment
39 students
Breakdown by Year
Mostly undergraduates
Breakdown by Major
Mostly electrical engineering and computer science
Typical Student Background
Many students are motivated to learn Japanese because of their interest in anime and Japanese games.
Enrollment Cap
21G.503 has several sections, each capped at 16 students to ensure that participants have adequate language development support from instructors.
How Student Time Was Spent
During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:
In Class
- Met 4 times per week for 50 minutes per session; 53 sessions total.
- Class activities included grammar lessons, drills, readings, dialogues, dictation, and quizzes.
- Students were given a daily grade based on their performance in class.
Out of Class
- Students completed workbook and project assignments, prepared for quizzes and exams, and participated in optional Japanese community events on campus.
