Japanese Minor
A minor in French, German, Japanese or Spanish requires the completion of four courses in the language beyond the basic foundation sequence (Language 1001, Language 1002, and Language 2101). Transfer students must complete at least two courses for the minor at UMSL. All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or better.
Specific Requirements for the Japanese Minor
JAPAN 2102 | Intermediate Japanese II | 5 |
JAPAN 3201 | Intermediate Japanese III | 4 |
JAPAN 3202 | Intermediate Japanese IV | 4 |
Select one course in Japanese Studies | 3 |
Learning Outcomes
Graduates with a minor in Japanese from the University of Missouri-St. Louis can use the language to interact with native speakers on familiar topics related to their daily lives. They have an emerging understanding of Japanese culture fostered through engaging courses and opportunities such as study abroad. They can apply their linguistic and cultural competencies in real-life situations such as travel and work.
Skills and Knowledge Areas
Upon completion of the Japanese minor, students should be able to:
Linguistic Goals
- In listening/speaking:
- demonstrate comprehension of the main ideas and supporting details of everyday conversations on familiar and concrete topics, both formal and informal;
- take part in conversations on topics related to work, school, home, leisure activities, culture, and media;
- narrate short anecdotes using Japanese conversational conventions; and,
- function in real-world situations in culturally-appropriate ways.
- In reading/writing:
- interpret basic authentic texts, such as menus and schedules;
- apply reading strategies to glean key information from more challenging texts;
- compose simple practical messages, such as personal emails and letters; and,
- assess language reference resources and use them effectively.
Cultural Goals
- recognize and describe some of the key historical, social, economic, and political forces that shape Japanese society;
- analyze and critique the products of Japanese culture (film, media, literature, art, etc.) in socio-historical context.
The linguistic goals are based on the National Standards For Foreign Language Learning and the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. In speaking and listening, minors are expected to reach the Intermediate-Mid level proficiency at a minimum. For detailed descriptions of sublevels, see the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.