New Century Cultural Japanese Language Course (CD)

Author: (Japanese) Shi Zhen, Compiler
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-07
Features: This textbook is designed for undergraduate and graduate students learning Japanese as a second language, as well as students in various Japanese language classes and self-learners. It aims to teach students effective methods for learning Japanese while providing a comprehensive understanding of its fundamental grammar. Through approximately 60-80 hours of study, students can grasp the overall structure of basic Japanese grammar, lay a solid foundation for self-study, and achieve the Level 4 proficiency of the "Japanese Language Proficiency Test" established by the Japan Foundation and the Japan Society for International Educational Exchange. This book is compiled based on the requirements of the "Teaching Syllabus for College Japanese (Second Language)" published by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education Press, with innovations in both content and format.
The "Text" section features a wide range of topics, diverse genres, and an appropriate amount of information, while also reflecting the vitality of modern life. The "Dialogues" are concise and natural, aligning with the expressive characteristics of spoken Japanese. The "New Words" section includes not only pitch accent, part of speech, and Chinese translations but also English translations. Learners can use the English translations to more accurately and quickly grasp the meaning of Japanese words. By associating and comparing, students can better memorize and master the origins and patterns of Japanese loanwords, which may enhance their learning interest. The "Fun Facts" section introduces various aspects of Japan in a witty manner, allowing students to gain a more thorough understanding of the country and its people while learning the language. The "Grammar Explanations" are concise and focused, aligning with the requirements of the "Teaching Syllabus for College Japanese (Second Language)." The "Exercises" fully reflect the principles of "instructive learning" and "student-centered instruction," with a flexible format. Many subjective questions are designed to cultivate students' active thinking skills in foreign language learning and encourage their active participation.
The book contains approximately 1,380 words, divided into three levels. The words in the "Text" and "Dialogues" sections account for about 930 words, making up the first level. The "Memory Challenge" supplements some common words by category and part of speech, which, along with new words in the "Exercises," constitute the second level, with about 250 words. The "Related Words" section lists vocabulary that shares the same character, meaning, or near-meaning with a character in the target word, with identical pronunciation, making up the third level, with about 200 words. This section aims to help students expand their vocabulary and strengthen their understanding of the pronunciation patterns of Japanese characters through comparison and recognition.
To facilitate self-study, all Japanese characters in the "Text," "Dialogues," "Grammar Explanations," and "Exercises" are annotated with hiragana. At the end of the book, there are 13 appendices, including reference translations for each lesson, exercise answers, a grammar index, a list of particles and auxiliary verb usage, and more. This textbook comes with an MP3 or CD. In addition to combining knowledge, interest, and practicality in its content, the book pursues a relaxed and lively style in its design. For example, the "Text" and "Dialogue" sections use larger font sizes, include engaging illustrations that complement the content, and maintain ample white space on the pages. These methods aim to reduce students' psychological burden, regulate classroom atmosphere, and make learning enjoyable.
Furthermore, users of this textbook can contact the compiler via the following email address for free guidance on learning-related issues and to engage in discussions: (ffeng@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn)