Tobira-Curriculum

Description

Outline

Lesson 0

Opening the tobira ("door") to Japanese

Japanese basics with Prof. Tobira (Tobira-sensee) and Nyanta

Everyday expressions

Words and expressions used in the classroom

The sounds of Japanese

The Japanese writing system: Hiragana

Lesson 1. (n%)

Greet and give a simple self-introduction to people you are meeting for the first time.

Ask and answer questions about basic information such as people's names, hometown

Briefly talk about things you like.

Writing System

Hiragana

Katakana

counting words

days / months

greetings

vocabulary

Lesson 1

Greet and give a simple self-introduction to people you are meeting for the first time.

Ask and answer questions about basic information such as people's names, hometown

Briefly talk about things you like.

Lesson 2

What are you doing over the weekend?

Tell someone about your daily life and what you plan to do.

Expand conversations about familiar topics by adding follow-up questions.

Talk about the frequency of actions in daily life.

GRAMMAR

① は [Topic marker]

② XはY {です/じゃないです}

③ の [Noun-modifying particle]

④ Questions

⑤ も [Similarity particle]

⑥ と [Noun-listing particle]

GRAMMAR

① Masu-forms (Polite forms of verbs]

② Case particles (1)

• を [Direct object marker] ]

• に [Destination marker]

• に [Time marker]

• で [Location marker]

③ Word order in verb sentences

④ Verb sentence questions and answers

⑤ は [Topic marker]

⑥ Adverbs of frequency

Lesson 3

What did you do in Tokyo?

Ask and answer simple questions about family structure.

Ask and answer questions about things someone did in the past.

Invite your friends to an event and decide on the details

What are you doing over the weekend?

Tell someone about your daily life and what you plan to do.

Expand conversations about familiar topics by adding follow-up questions.

Talk about the frequency of actions in daily life.

GRAMMAR

① Past masu-forms of verbs

② と [Accompaniment marker]

③ は[Contrast marker]

④ が [Contrast conjunction]

⑤ や [Noun-listing particle (non-exhaustive)]

⑥ 〜ませんか [Invitation] and 〜ましょう [Proposition]

⑦ 〜ましょうか [Suggestion]

Lesson 4

One takoyaki for me too, please!

Do your shopping and order food by referring to things around you.

Briefly describe the things around you.

Share impressions about things you have done.

Talk about how to do something.

GRAMMAR

① Demonstratives

• これ・それ・あれ・どれ

• このN・そのN・あのN・どのN

② Numbers and counters

③ Adjective + Noun

④ Adjectives and nouns used as predicates

⑤ Case particles (2)

• で [Means marker]

• から [Starting point marker]

• まで [Ending point marker]

Lesson 5

Nyanta is missing!

Describe who or what is in a place that you are familiar with.

Describe in detail a place that the listener does not know well.

Ask and answer questions about the locations of things and people.

Ask and answer questions about possessions and events.

GRAMMAR

① X (place) にYがあります・います[Existence]

② Location nouns

③ XというY "Y called/named/titled X"

④ ~から [Reason conjunction]

⑤ Particle + も・は [Double particles]

⑥ XはY (place) にあります・います [Whereabouts]

⑦ Demonstrative ここ・そこ・あそこ・どこ

⑧ XはYがあります・います [Possession]

⑨ X (place) でY (event) があります [Event location]

Lesson 6

We are all looking for him now.

Talk about your daily life by connecting multiple actions.

Ask and answer questions about what you are/were doing.

Talk about a person's physical characteristics, occupation, place of residence, etc.

Talk about what you have already done and what you have not done yet.

Ask and answer questions about what you do on a regular basis and with what frequency.

GRAMMAR

① Te-forms of verbs

② ~てください [Polite command]

③ V1て V2, (Actions in sequence)

④ ~ています [Action in progress;

Resultant state; Habitual action]

⑤ XはYがZ[X's physical characteristics]

⑥ もう“already" and まだ"(not) yet"

⑦ X (period of time) にY (number of times/duration)

[Frequency/duration]

Lesson 7

I want more free time.

Talk in detail about things around you and things you want.

Talk in detail about presents you have given and received.

Talk about what you want to do.

GRAMMAR

① Te-forms of i-adjectives andです

② ほしい and ほしがる“want"

③ 何か "something" and 何もない“not~any"

④ あげる・くれる "give"・もらう "receive"

⑤ V-masu tall and V-masu たがる "want to V"

⑥ ～てみる "V and see; try V-ing"

Lesson 8

I have a favor to ask of you...

Ask and answer questions about preferences, skills, and abilities.

Talk about the reason for or purpose of an activity.

Ask and answer questions about plans in casual speech.

Request a favor or ask for permission with the appropriate level of formality.

GRAMMAR

① XはYがZ [Preference, skillfulness, ability]

② V-plain の [Verb nominalization)

③ plain non-past forms of verbs, i-adjectives です

④ か [Alternative]

⑤ Place に {V-masu/N) にV (motion)

(Purpose of motion)

⑥ Casual speech

⑦ ~ないでください [Polite prohibition]

⑧ 〜んですが [Lead-in sentence ending]

⑨ ~てくれませんかくださいませんか (Request)

⑩ ~てもいい [Permission]

Lesson 9

It was so scary!

Talk about past events in casual speech.

Talk about a situation in detail by providing more explanation.

Give impressions and opinions on a familiar topic.

Report on things you have heard people say.

Talk about experiences.

GRAMMAR

① Plain past forms of verbs, i-adjectives, and です

② ~んです [Asking for and providing explanations]

③ Adjective /Verb そう [Impressions]

④ ~と思う [Assumptions and opinions]

⑤ ~と言う [Quotations]

⑥ ~たり~たりする

[Non-exhaustive listing of actions]

⑦ ~たことがある [Experiences]

Lesson 10

I wanted to go to watch the fireworks together, just the two of us, but...

Ask and answer questions about changes in yourself and things around you.

Compare three or more things and talk about which you think is at the top of a certain category.

Compare two things and talk about differences and similarities.

Contrast two things to express your opinion about something.

GRAMMAR

① Adverbial forms of adjectives

② {Adj(i)-stem く/ Adj(na)に｝なる・する;

Nになる・する

③ Superlative sentences

• XはYの中で一番Adj

• Xの中でYが一番Adj

• Xの中でYP一番よくVerb

④ XもYも "both X and Y"

⑤ Comparative sentences

• XはYXよりAdj

• XとYと {どちら/どっち} のほうPrt {Adj /よく Verb}

⑥ ~けれど/けど"but, although

⑦ ~ことができる "can+V"

Lesson 11

Can you teach me how to memorize kanji?

Describe and explain things and people around you in detail.

Draw comparisons to give easy-to-understand explanations of familiar things.

Ask and answer questions about how to use, make, and do things in your everyday life.

GRAMMAR

①の [Indefinite pronoun]

② Noun modification clauses

③ ～ ”when”

④ ～みたい／よう[Resemblance]

⑤ XはYことです “X is to Y; X is V-ing, X is that Y”

⑥ V-te から”after V-ing; after X has V-ed”

⑦V-masu方[Method, manner]

Lesson 12

When you come to Japan next time, what do you want to do?

Ask and answer questions about your abilities and what you can do in a particular place.

Talk about preparations for trips, parties, events, etc.

Talk briefly about hypothetical situations.

Express what you infer about a situation based on what you see and hear.

GRAMMAR

① Potential forms of verbs

② V前に “before V-ing” and V 後で “after V-ing”

③～ておく “V (ahead of time); V ~ and leave it as is”

④～たら ”if; when”

⑤～みたい／よう [Conjecture]

Lesson 13

Talk about things you are planning on doing.

Report and share interesting and useful information you have heard or read.

Talk about things you have or do not have an obligation to do.

GRAMMAR

① Volitional forms (V-vol) and V-vol と思う “I think I’ll V”

② ～も [Emphasis]

③ ～そうだ[Hearsay]

④ ～ながら [Simultaneous/concurrent actions]

⑤～てはいけない [Prohibition]

⑥ 〜なくてはいけない [Obligation/necessity]

⑦ ～なくてもいい[Lack of obligation/necessity]

Lesson 14

I’d like you to show me around Osaka…

Describe the state of things and places in detail.

Ask and answer questions about troubles someone is having.

Ask for and give suggestions about familiar topics.

GRAMMAR

① Transitive verbs and intransitive verbs

② Intransitive verb +ている [State resulting from change]

③ Transitive verb + てある [State resulting from purposeful action]

④ ～てしまう”V (to one’s regret); finish V-ing”

⑤ ～かもしれない [Uncertainty; possibility]

⑥～すぎる “too Ajs; V too much/many (N)”

⑦S1し、S2し [Multiple reasons]

⑧～てほしい “want (someone) to V”

⑨～たらどうですか [Suggestion]

Lesson 15

I think it might be a little difficult to understand…

Offer help to someone in your daily life.

Express your gratitude when someone does something for you.

GRAMMAR

①～ていく “V and then go; V on one’s way”

②～てくる “go and V (and come back)”

③～ましょうか [Offering to do something]

④～て｛あげる／くれる／もらう｝ [Doing/receiving a favor]

⑤～て｛くれてありがとう／くださってありがとうございます｝”Thank you for V-ing for me”

⑥{～た／～ない} 方がいい [Strong suggestion]

⑦Vないで “without V-ing; instead of V-in”

⑧～やすい／にくい ”easy/hard to V”

Lesson 16

It’s too bad we can only meet up for one day…

Express your feelings about good and bad experiences.

Talk about things that did not go well and things you regret.

Explain facts about famous things and places and provide information about them.

GRAMMAR

①～て [Reason]

② Passive forms of verbs and passive sentences

③ ～しか～ない “nothing/nobody but ~; only ~”

④Ba-conditional forms of verbs and ～ばよかった ”I should (not) have V-ed”

⑤ Vつもり ”be planning to V; be going to V; intend to V”

⑥ 間／間に

Lesson 17

Won't you let me help out around the shop？

Politely express what you want to do and request permission to do it.

Ask and answer questions about new experiences and discoveries.

Talk about your future goals in detail.

GRAMMAR

① ～ので [Reason

② Causative forms of verbs and causative sentences

③～か（どうか）[Embedded question marker]

④ ～と [Conditional conjunction]

⑤～といい／いいですね／いいんですが V-masu tall and V-masu to Do 3 "want to V"

⑥～のために [Purpose]

⑦Vまで “until…V” and V までに “by the time …V”

Lesson 18

Do what you like.

Talk about times when you were forced to do something you did not like.

Talk about unexpected occurrences and express your feelings about them.

Encourage people close to you and show empathy towards them.

Reading comprehension: Understand essays about personal experiences by connecting them with your own experiences.

GRAMMAR

①V-masu なさい [Mild commands]

② Causative-passive forms of verbs and causative-passive sentences

③まだ “still” and もう ”no longer”

④～のに “in spite of the fact that ~; even though ~”

⑤～はずだ [Expectation/anticipation]

⑥ ～ば ”if”

Lesson 19

What story will you be telling tomorrow?

Introduce yourself appropriately in a formal setting.

Use keigo to ask questions politely to someone of a higher status or someone you are meeting for the first time.

Familiarize yourself with polite offers and other common phrasing involving humble expressions.

Understand common public announcements and signs that contain keigo.

Reading comprehension:

Identify the characters, setting, and storyline of a rakugo story and enjoy the humor in rakugo.

GRAMMAR

① Introduction to keigo.

② Courteous expressions

③ ～でしょうか [Extra-polite question]

④ Honorific expressions

⑤ Humble expressions

⑥ お V-mas ください・お／ご VN ください ”Would you please V ?”

Lesson 20

What’s everyone doing next?

Talk about your personal growth, changes in society, and the future to come.

Discuss briefly how you can do your part to make the world a better place.

Reading comprehension: Understand and enjoy the expressions and characteristics of Japanese poems.

GRAMMAR

①～ても “even”

②Vようになる “come to V”

③ Vことにする “decide to V” and V ことにしている “ｍake it a practice/rule to V”

④～なら [Conditional conjunction]

⑤～でしょう／だろう [Conjecture]

Intermediate level courses using Tobira materials are planned for future offering.