JPN - Japanese

Web-based Materials for Self-studying the Kansai Dialect

This project involves the creation of a web-based, guided, self-study program on the Kansai dialect, a powerful regional dialect spoken by over 20 million people in the Kansai area of Japan, where Osaka and Kyoto are located. The website helps users gain basic knowledge of structure and intonation patterns of the Kansai dialect, and build up basic aural and oral communication skills with Kansai native speakers. By including video clips of interviews with various individuals from the region, this site is also a helpful resource to examine how this dialect relates to local identity.

This project was funded from the Consortium in 2006, (refer to the previous description at http://www.languageconsortium.org/node/175) and four out of seven chapters have been created and uploaded as a prototype that contains texts and exercises along with numerous audio files and video clips. The prototype website has been presented and disseminated at language/technology-related conferences. This year’s fund enables this project to be updated and more complete in terms of programming (e.g. make the site IE compatible) and site-design as well as contents.

Web based material for self-studying the Kansai dialect

The purpose of this project is to develop web-based self-study material related to the Kansai dialect, a regional dialect spoken by over 20 million people in Japan. This proposed product aims to 1) assist students who wish to communicate with local Kansai people at work or in daily life, to 2) help students learn to appreciate diversity in Japan; through the understanding of the Kansai local culture and local identity of Kansai people. The proposed product targets English speakers who have studied college-level Japanese for two or more years or those of intermediate to advanced level proficiency.
The website will consist of 1) the basic factual information about the Kansai culture and characteristics of the Kansai dialect, followed by 2) the linguistic-focused chapters for the purpose of the acquisition of the basic grammar and functional expressions that are essential for survival level communication, and 3) situational/thematic chapters for the exploration of cultural aspects of Kansai through their communication. In the situational/thematic chapters, users will be exposed, through video clips taped in Kansai, to unscripted conversations among local people in various settings and interviews and debates on various topics. Linguistic chapters will contain not only descriptive texts, but audio resources attached to the sentences and drills, and video-clips from interviews with local people for the purpose of comprehensive exercises.

Creating a New On-line Listening Assignment on the Course Web Using the Blackboard Assessment Function

The objective of this project is to develop listening assignments on the course web for intermediate level Japanese language classes (JPAN211 and 212 currently offered at the University of Pennsylvania). The goals of the project are to revise the existing listening assignments that are evaluated manually by the instructor, and create new on-line listening assignments that can be efficiently checked and immediately assessed using the blackboard assessment function.

Creating a New On-line Listening Assignment on the Course Web Using the Blackboard Assessment Function

Creating Case Studies Teaching Materials for Japanese for Professions Classes

The objective of this project is to develop new teaching materials for Business Japanese classes, specifically, for the series of Japanese for Professions classes (JFP) which is currently offered at the University of Pennsylvania. The new materials employ the case method, which is frequently used in the business schools, but have just started to be adopted in business language classes. The project will include preparations of the materials, i.e., research of companies and situations and create cases which will become the foundation of teaching language materials.

On-Line Materials for Intermediate Japanese

Development of exercises to accompany the textbook An Integrated approach to Intermediate Japanese (Miura and McGloin). Site (Password required).

Digital Version of SuraSura, Phase II

Development of a digital version (CD-ROM and on-line) of the intermediate Japanese textbook SuraSura, published by Far Eastern Publications. Chie Chao, co-director.

Elementary Japanese Online

Development of computer-based exercises for first-year Japanese.

Workbooks for Elementary and Intermediate Japanese

Development of student workbooks for the locally developed Japanese curriculum.

Computer-Assisted Audio Drills for Japanese, Part II

Continuing development of computer-based aural-oral drills for Japanese.