Japanese 405, 406: Fourth-Year Japanese

The course will begin with a program to develop proficiency in the four communication skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing as well as cultural understanding. Approximately 250 kanji compounds will be introduced, and kanji introduced in the first, second, and third-year classes will be reviewed. The focus of the program will be to help students gain a broader background in Japanese language and culture by reading literary texts and essays, and to explore the challenges of translating those texts into English. Students also will be expected to express themselves orally without having to rely on heavily prefabricated phrases. May be repeated for credit.