Elementary Japanese: This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of modern standard Japanese, placing equal emphasis on listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. During the two blocks you will learn both the hiragana and katakana phonetic syllabaries (47 symbols each) and about 130 kanji. You will also participate directly in the language through dialogues and activities. Cultural aspects of the Japanese language will be an important element stressed throughout the course. We will cook at least one Japanese meal together at Asian House. By the end of the second block you will be able to use greetings, carry on a simple conversation, count, and make purchases at a store - all in Japanese. You will also be able to read and write short essays and letters in Japanese (by hand and using the computer).