The Japanese language program focuses on communicative Japanese. While students are expected to learn reading and writing, much of the introductory sequence is designed to emphasize the skills of speaking, listening, and interacting with other speakers of Japanese. Students are introduced to the fundamentals of the modern language with particular emphasis on the control of basic grammatical patterns.
Students use hiragana and katakana and a limited number of Chinese characters.
Students are also introduced to literary Japanese. Study through Japanese 203 satisfies the College language requirement . The Japanese language courses are taught with a combination of lectures in English and conversation with native speakers in Japanese. We also offer a variety of courses on Japanese literature, culture and film in English translation. Courses on language and culture have a department web site which includes current course information as well as links to Japan, a page for high school students, and web pages designed by students at Queens College.