JAPN 303 - Business Japanese
Course Description
This course develops functional use of Japanese language for various types of situations and events that occur in the daily business environment. The types of situations include formal introductions, basic business rules, business etiquette, honorifics, and how to write business documents and email. It also presents and expands on cultural perspectives and concepts as they impact the business world. Taught in Japanese. Fulfills MLO 1.
This course develops functional use of Japanese language for various types of situations and events that occur in the daily business environment. The types of situations include formal introductions, basic business rules, business etiquette, honorifics, and how to write business documents and email. It also presents and expands on cultural perspectives and concepts as they impact the business world. Taught in Japanese. Fulfills MLO 1.
Reflective Narrative
This class taught me how to converse in Japanese in a culturally appropriate and professional setting in regards to speaking and behaving as if within an actual Japanese business company. In the Japanese business world, it is not simply enough to act and speak politely towards others; it all depends upon where you are and with whom you're talking to. While in English we simply use more polite words or phrases with anyone we are talking to, in Japan polite language is split among three classifications 敬語 or honorific language: 丁寧語 or polite form, 尊敬語 or honorific form, and 謙譲語 or humble form. Each form, along with the conjugating of certain verbs and phrases, is incredibly important in the Japanese business setting and should always be paid special attention to in order to not insult others especially those in a high rank thank yourself. Phrases that mostly stay the same even when in a business setting change drastically when using honorific language. For example, 「今日の朝」or "this morning" is changed to「今朝」when conjugated into honorific language. This may seem like a simple example, but there is much more to it which makes it all the more important to properly study and understand each unique conjugation.
The class final consisted of a 20 minute video presentation in which groups of three students or more collaborated together in writing and filming a video that properly reflected the different aspects of Japanese business culture, as reflected through what we each went over in every chapter of our textbook. The video my team members and I created, entitled Empire Paper as a sort of mock up of Star Wars, featured 5 acts each reflecting aspects from each of the five chapters in our textbook, example 1. Act 1 touched upon properly introducing yourself and taking notes when being instructed by superiors. Act 2 touched upon the different forms of honorific language and in which situations each type should be used. Act 3 touched upon the conjugation of polite words and phrases and "cushion phrases". Act 4 touched upon letter and document writing formats and finally with act 5 wrapping up the plot of our story leading our new employee to be molded into the perfect businessman.
Throughout the class I was told by fellow Japanese students and friends that what we were learning in this class features aspects of business culture that not even native born Japanese citizens are aware of. With the intention of someday working for a Japanese company, whether here or in Japan, I plan on keeping the textbook and the things I learned from it with me wherever I go as it is filled with incredibly useful information about Japanese business culture.
The class final consisted of a 20 minute video presentation in which groups of three students or more collaborated together in writing and filming a video that properly reflected the different aspects of Japanese business culture, as reflected through what we each went over in every chapter of our textbook. The video my team members and I created, entitled Empire Paper as a sort of mock up of Star Wars, featured 5 acts each reflecting aspects from each of the five chapters in our textbook, example 1. Act 1 touched upon properly introducing yourself and taking notes when being instructed by superiors. Act 2 touched upon the different forms of honorific language and in which situations each type should be used. Act 3 touched upon the conjugation of polite words and phrases and "cushion phrases". Act 4 touched upon letter and document writing formats and finally with act 5 wrapping up the plot of our story leading our new employee to be molded into the perfect businessman.
Throughout the class I was told by fellow Japanese students and friends that what we were learning in this class features aspects of business culture that not even native born Japanese citizens are aware of. With the intention of someday working for a Japanese company, whether here or in Japan, I plan on keeping the textbook and the things I learned from it with me wherever I go as it is filled with incredibly useful information about Japanese business culture.
(EXAMPLE 1) JAPN 303 Empire Paper Script |