Class Participation in
group discussions
and learning activities

The format of this course encourages a great deal of participation on the part of each class member during class meetings. We will be doing a lot of small group work and class discussion and it is expected that everyone will make an effort to actively participate.

Reading texts

Generally, you will have reading assignments every night in the textbook. In addition, you may have other reading to do related to individual or group projects you will be working on.

Activities and Homework

You will be given in-class and take-home activities that might require you to solve problems, read, write or create something. These activities will be required and will be an important part of your grade.

Writing language journals

You need to write at least 1 - 2 pages for each time the journal is due. The most beneficial way to proceed might be to carry a small notebook everywhere and write down anything and everything interesting. You don't need to type this; just make sure I can read your notes. I will check your journals on a regular basis.

This is a journal to increase your ability to notice language (Japanese and English). Listen to or watch your friends using their first or second language. Listen to or observe people from your own culture, social class and gender, and/or from other cultures, classes and genders. Focus on things that are linguistically interesting in some way.

How does the language of speakers you observed or listened to differ from yours? from the standard? Why? Notice "errors" or non-standard examples. Notice language play. Notice levels of formality and try to analyze what made the language more formal. Indicate which aspect of language makes the utterance(s) interesting: phonology, syntax, morphology, dialect, etc. You may be asked to share some of your observations with the class from time to time.

Quizzes and Exams

Often you will be given some kind of short quiz on something you have read or something you have heard in a lecture. In addition, you will have three unit exams. These exams will cover all the material in a particular unit.

Projects and Presentations

For each unit, you will be working in groups or with a partner to do a particular project that will show what you have learned. The projects will be presented in class and wmay also include some kind of written component.

Doing sociolinguistic research with speakers of Japanese and English

As much as possible, we will try to learn about sociolinguistics by studying the TIUA speech community and speech networks. Much of your learning will come from collecting information from your TIUA and WU friends who are living in Kaneko this semester.