This course aims at developing overall Japanese proficiency by 1) reading , listening, watching videos and discussing the topics related with Japanese social issues through authentic materials and acquiring advanced level vocabulary and expressions through the analysis of them,

2) conducting research project on the most current global, political, economic, environmental,

technological and/or social issues that Japan and the world currently face, and 3) by studying

advanced level word usage and grammar/structure of the Japanese language. The instructor and

the participants will choose topics of their interest, and read/listen authentic materials (e.g., web

resources, academic paper, books, newspaper, magazines, etc.) extensively. In class, individual

student, pairs, and groups will be given the opportunities to give short lecture on the topic, in

which students summarize the research and lead class discussion. Students will also create the

pages about their own research on the topics and issues that they want to pursue on the ArcGIS StoryMaps throughout this course and present them in the middle and at the end of the course.

The specific areas of the language, such as advanced grammar (e.g., particle use, conjugation

words, etc), how to construct well-organized paragraphs/discourses, how to compare/contrast,

how to state own views/opinions effectively, how to utilize charts, graphs, etc., will be covered in

your speech/writing.