Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies
Course Syllabus Template
1. Introductory information about the course and about the instructor:
Course Title: Interview Project Course: Combining your own interests and Japanese learning
Term taught: Fall of 2023
Course format: Discussion and hands-on activity based learning/Independent Study
Targeted Japanese level: Intermediate-High to Advanced level (equivalent to KCJS Third-year High andFourth-year Japanese classes)
Prerequisites: Students must obtain instructorʼs permission to take this course
Number of points of the course: 4 credit
Class days/time: Once a week for 3 hours with small breaks
Classroom location: Fusokan F212
Instructor name: Itsuko Nakamura
Email & Telephone: in2008@columbia.edu/ 251-4996
Office location: Fusokan F203
Days/times of weekly office hours: By appointment

2. A description of the course
Is there anyone you want to interview out of curiosity or for your research? Is there anything you want tolearn firsthand? This project-based Japanese course is an opportunity for you to go beyond the textbook andclassroom and to explore your own interests in any subject by interviewing Japanese experts of your choicein Japanese and sharing your findings through an interview article and presentations in Japanese.
This course enables you to combine your passions and Japanese learning. You will improve your Japanese
proficiency by researching, creating, presenting and communicating in Japanese. In the process, you willlearn strategies and skills necessary for interview and writing an interview article (see #3 for details). Also,
this is the chance to develop your own ‘voice’ in Japanese and open up a window to connect with Kyoto andpeople outside your immediate community who share similar interests.
Your interview project should be a unique endeavor - a deep dive into a specific area or topic that you are
passionate about. The final result should be an article that could only have been written by you, and could
only be written here in Kyoto. To that end, you will use the first third of the semester to narrow downinterview questions through a cyclical process of research, presentation and reflection based on feedback you
receive from your classmates and Japanese students. This process will also help you build knowledge andvocabulary which is indispensable for a successful interview.
Keigo review and several rounds of practice interviews will help you be prepared for the actual interview.
The writing process emphasizes revising and improving the article through interaction with your classmatesand Japanese students. Towards the end of the semester, you will lead a reading and discussion session using
your article as an assigned text. The final draft of your article will be published in paper and web formats.
Past interviewees include: English-Japanese translators, craftspersons of various fields, a set designer fortheater plays, musicals etc., a wagashi chef (Japanese sweets), college professors, a novelist, a DJ, a museum
curator, a shamisen musician (Japanese banjo), a Doshisha University administrator, a Zen monk, a college
student and a KCJS alumnus. You will receive help to find potential interviewees in Kyoto. For the pastarticles, please go to https://kcjsprofessional.wordpress.com/

3. A list or description of the student learning outcomes
The course aims to provide an opportunity for students to:

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Improve proficiency in critical language skills through research, presentations and oral and written
communication in Japanese
Improve interpersonal communications in Japanese (including keigo)
Gain deeper insights into a unique culture of the field of your interests
Learn how to write an interview proposal and formal emails and an engaging, organized anddescriptive interview article in Japanese
Learn how to conduct a successful interview in Japanese (e.g. how to start, carry out and end thesession; how to ask relevant follow-up questions to deepen the topic; how to confirm what theinterviewee said on the spot)
Foster autonomous learning skills and become familiar with on-line resources that are useful for
self-directed language learning
Foster their ability to present in both written and oral format in Japanese.

These skills are as follows:(Reading) Inferring the meaning of unfamiliar grammar and vocabulary through context
Scanning Japanese texts and pulling out key points and information
When confronted with unfamiliar kanji vocabulary, being able to infer its meaning from its
component pieces(Listening/Speaking) Asking for clarification when something is unclear, making sure that you understandwhat your conversation partner has said, and using inference to complement yourinterpretations(Writing/Speaking) Explaining and describing key points in detail
Constructing persuasive arguments to explain your thoughts(Writing) Summarizing information in easy to understand constructions and by so doing writing
a clear piece that communicates its contents wellStudents will be able to use all of these skills to deepen their knowledge and understanding of Japanese.

4. A list of required and recommended texts
No textbook required. All materials will be provided by the instructor. You are expected to conduct
research about the subject on-line, read articles/books, and watch videos in Japanese. You may use
English resources as well but you should be able to explain the content in Japanese.

5. The requirements for the course
1. Preparation and Participation (30%)• Attend every class having fully prepared so that you can actively participate in in-class activities• Actively engage in pair, group and whole-class interaction and facilitate learning from each other
2. Homework assignments (5%)• Submit worksheets related to in-class activities• Submit worksheets which walk you through the interview project
3. Presentations (10%)• Give in-class oral progress report of about 3 to 5 minutes regularly• Give 10- to 30-minute presentation at different stages of the project (e.g. interview theme, interview
questions, outline of your interview article, etc)
4. Research (15%)• Conduct preliminary research about the subject in Japanese (e.g. read materials on-line/article/book, watch
video, etc) outside the class and keep a log updating what you learned in Japanese/English regularly during
the research phase• Build vocabulary• Narrow down interview objectives and interview questions

5. Conduct interview (10%)• Contact the interviewee and make an appointment• Conduct an interview at least for an hour (audio-recorded)• Listen to the audio-recording and ask the interviewee for additional information if necessary
6. Write, Peer Comment and Revise (20%)• Write an engaging, organized and detailed interview article• Submit the 1st, 2nd and 3rd drafts• Help each other improve the article throughout the revising process• Receive feedback from Japanese students to improve the article• Have your interviewee check your article• Submit the final draft (approx. 3000 to 4000 words; 5 to 6 pages) including some pictures with captions
7. Student-led Reading/Discussion at the end of the semester (10%)• As a final presentation, lead a 90-minute class to read and discuss your article
NOTE: Clear guidelines regarding my expectations will be provided in class. Evaluative feedback
will be given throughout the semester. Students will have the opportunity to seek assistance andimprove their performance in class and assignments if necessary.
Grading Scale:
100 ‒ 94.0 A

86.9 ‒ 83.0 B

76.9 ‒ 73.0 C

66.9 ‒ 63.0 D

93.9 ‒ 90.0A-

82.9 ‒ 80.0 B-

72.9 ‒ 70.0 C-

62.9 ‒ 60.0 D-

89.9 ‒ 87.0B+

79.7 ‒ 77.0 C+

69.9 ‒ 67.0 D+

59.9 ‒ F

6. Schedule of the semester (subject to change)
NOTE: A detailed semester schedule will be provided to prospective students when the schedule ofFall 2023 is fixed.
weekProject phase1 Orientation

In-class activities

On your own

To submit- Get to know each other- Understand the project
objectives, schedule andtasks- Brainstorm ideas about
potential interviewees/
theme- Learn how to use on-line
learning resources for
self-directed language
learning- Read interview articles
of students in the past
- Decide yourinterviewee/theme- Your potential
interviewees/theme

2 Interview
Preparation- Give a presentation about
your interview theme/interviewee- Learn how to write aninterview proposal andemail to make a polite
request- Review keigo- Begin research- Research log- Build vocabulary- Your interviewee/- Write an email
themerequesting an interview- Set up an appointment- Talk with Japanese
students about yourtheme/interviewee- Learn interview skills(e.g. how to start/end aninterview; how to ask
relevant follow-up
questions to deepen thetopic; how to confirm
what the interviewee saidon the spot; verbal/nonverbal ways to askquestions, etc)
3 Interview
Preparation- Give an oral progress
report- Review keigo- Learn interview skills- Continue with research- Build vocabulary- Narrow downinterview objectives
and questions- Talk with Japanese
students about yourobjectives andquestions- Research log- Draft of an email
and interview
proposal

4 Interview
Preparation- Give an oral progress- Continue with research
report- Build vocabulary- Give a presentation about - Narrow down
your interview questions
interview objectives- Practice interviews
and questions- Practice interview withJapanese students- Research log- Potential interview
questions

5 Interview
Preparation- Give an oral progress- Continue with research
report- Build vocabulary- Share your reflections on - Narrow downinterview practice rounds
interview objectives
and questions- Research log- Finalized interview
questions

6 Interview &Preparation towrite- Give an oral progress
report- Learn how to write an
outline of the article- Conduct an interview- Thank-you email- Take pictures and/ordraft
ask for photos- Send a thank-you
email- Listen to the audiorecording and decide
what your article will
focus on- Take notes/transcribe
what you want to quote7 Preparation towrite- Present the outline ofyour article- Share the outline of the - Outline of thearticle with Japanese
articlestudents and have them
give you feedback- Listen to the interview
and take notes/
transcribe parts you
want to quote

8 Writing- Learn how to write an
engaging, organized anddescriptive interview
article- Peer comment- Contact interviewee
for additional
information ifnecessary- Read one of yourclassmates’ drafts andgive feedback- Have Japanese
students read yourdraft and give youfeedback- Improve your article
based on feedback- 1st draft

9 Editing- Learn how to write an
engaging, organized anddescriptive interview
article- Peer comment- One-on-one session with
the instructor- Contact interviewee
for additional
information ifnecessary- Read anotherclassmateʼs draft and- 2nd draft

10 Editing- One-on-one session with
the instructor- Improve your article
based on feedback- Have your interviewee
check the article andask for approval topublish it- 3rd draft- draft of Email

11 Student-led
class- Lead a reading/
discussion session using
your article- Read your classmateʼs- Final draft

12 Student-led
class- Lead a reading/
discussion session using
your article- Read your classmateʼsgive feedback- Have different
Japanese students readyour draft and give youfeedback- Improve your article
based on feedback

articlearticle13 Student-led
class- Lead a reading/
discussion session using
your article

14 Wrap-up- Share thoughts about
what you have learned- Share strategies andresources for selfdirected language
learning- Read your classmateʼsarticle- Send a booklet and a
thank-you note to yourinterviewee- Thank-you notedraft

- Self-reflection andassessment

7. Course Policies
General1.

2.

If you are a student with a disability and have a Disability Services-certified ‘Accommodation
Letter’ from your home institution, please send me this letter before the first day of class toconfirm your accommodation needs. If you believe that you might have a disability that requires
accommodation and do not have an accommodations letter, you should contact the Center for
Undergraduate Global Engagement at Columbia University (uge@columbia.edu).
Students are expected to abide by the “Terms of Participation” they signed during the admissions
process for KCJS, as well as the code of Academic Conduct outlined in Columbia University’s
General Handbook and your KCJS Handbook.
(http://www.college.columbia.edu/ccschonorcode)
As members of an academic community, each one of us bears the responsibility to participate inscholarly discourse and research in a manner characterized by intellectual honesty and scholarlyintegrity. Collaborative scholarship requires the study of other scholars' work, the free discussionof such work, and the explicit acknowledgement of those ideas in any work that inform our own.
This exchange of ideas relies upon a mutual trust that sources, opinions, facts, and insights will beproperly noted and carefully credited.
In practical terms, this means that, as students, you must be responsible for the full citations ofothers' ideas in all of your research papers and projects; you must be scrupulously honest when
taking your examinations; you must always submit your own work and not that of another student,
scholar, or internet agent.
Any breach of this intellectual responsibility is a breach of faith with the rest of our academic
community. It undermines our shared intellectual culture, and it cannot be tolerated.

Preparation/Participation
1.

You are expected to attend every class and to actively participate in in-class activities/interaction
with classmates, which will be evaluated as “Class Participation”.
10 points - You came to class fully prepared and on time
- You actively participated in class
9-1 points - Your preparation was not sufficient- Your participation was not sufficient- You were late and/or you left early
0 point- You were absent without legitimate reason

2.

Please contact the instructor BEFORE planned absences or RIGHT AFTER illnesses. No make-up
classes will be given.

Homework
1. All assignments must be handed in on time, i.e. at the beginning of the class unless instructed
otherwise.
2. 10% point reduction per day for late submission unless you have a legitimate reason.
3. No homework handed in beyond two days late will be counted unless you have a legitimate reason.
Consult your instructor to submit outstanding homework assigned during your absence.
4. If it is discovered that a student has done any action against the Columbia University's Honor Code,they will be penalized accordingly. http://www.college.columbia.edu/ccschonorcode