Japanese
8 courses · Mt. San Antonio College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Winter 2027
JAPN 1 Elementary Japanese
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- Lecture: 72
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Elementary course for students without prior exposure to Japanese. Includes the study of essentials of pronunciation, vocabulary, idioms, and grammatical structures and an introduction to Japanese culture.
JAPN 2 Continuing Elementary Japanese
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- Lecture: 72
- Prerequisite
- JAPN 1 or two years of high school Japanese
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Further development of elementary skills in Japanese including conversational, reading, and writing skills with special emphasis on verbs, grammar, and extension of vocabulary. Includes a discussion of Japanese culture.
JAPN 3 Intermediate Japanese
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- Lecture: 72
- Prerequisite
- JAPN 2
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continued development of writing ability emphasizing development of thought through Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana. Additional development of cultural application of Japanese.
JAPN 4 Continuing Intermediate Japanese
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- Lecture: 72
- Prerequisite
- JAPN 3
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Continuing intermediate study and review of grammar and vocabulary. Readings and discussions of Japanese cultural topics and introduction to Japanese literature.
JAPN 5 Advanced Japanese
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- Lecture: 72
- Prerequisite
- JAPN 4
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Japanese communication skills with emphasis on conversational skills for daily and social settings in Japanese culture. Advanced study of grammar, vocabulary, Kanji characters, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Extensive exposure to cultural elements from Japan such as art, music, film, and history.
JAPN 50 The Art of Kanji
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture: 54
- Prerequisite
- JAPN 1
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Designed to improve the reading, writing, listening, and understanding of Kanji for intermediate-level Japanese. Students will practice and learn 500 basic Kanji as components of more complex Kanji. The history of Kanji is discussed and elements of calligraphy are introduced. The course is intended for students with no or little prior knowledge of Chinese characters.
JAPN 53 Conversational Japanese
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture: 54
- Prerequisite
- JAPN 2
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
Development of intermediate Japanese conversational skills. Emphasis on collaborative activities and practical use of the language. Extensive exposure to Japanese culture. Grammar is presented in context.
JAPN 62 Japanese Culture Through Anime and Manga
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- Lecture: 54
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
The focus of this course is to examine, analyze, and discuss selected themes of Japanese culture and society through the investigation of Japanese animation (anime) as well as printed cartoons and graphic novels (manga). Students will be exposed to works of various key anime and manga artists. They will explore how these works reflect and influence Japanese culture from historical, spiritual, and global angles. Classes are conducted in English.