Japanese
8 courses · El Camino College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
JAPA 1 Elementary Japanese I
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- 5 hours lecture
- Advisory
- ENGL 1 or eligibility for ENGL 1A (now ENGL C1000) or qualification by appropriate assessment
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course, taught within the context of Japanese culture, introduces students to the development of skills for language acquisition in speaking, listening, reading, and writing of modern Japanese. Students also are introduced to the cultural background of the language.
JAPA 2 Elementary Japanese II
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- 5 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- JAPA 1 with a minimum grade of C or equivalent
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course, taught within the context of Japanese culture, is a continuation of the study of elementary Japanese through intensive training on listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students improve their speaking skills and extend their study of the basic grammar and Kanji characters.
JAPA 3 Intermediate Japanese I
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- 5 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- JAPA 2 with a minimum grade of C or equivalent
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
In this first intermediate course, taught within the context of Japanese culture, students develop their functional communication skills in Japanese through listening, speaking, reading, and writing practice. Students expand their knowledge of the Japanese language and culture. Students read material drawn from daily Japanese life.
JAPA 4 Intermediate Japanese II
- Units
- 5
- Hours
- 5 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- JAPA 3 with a minimum grade of C or equivalent
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
In this second intermediate course, taught within the context of Japanese culture, students further develop their functional communication skills in Japanese through listening, speaking, reading, and writing practice. Students expand their Japanese proficiency and cultural knowledge by comparing and contrasting the Japanese language and culture to their own. Students read material drawn from daily Japanese life.
JAPA 21 Beginning Conversational Japanese
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- JAPA 1 with a minimum grade of C or equivalent
- Formerly
- Japanese 21ab
- Transfers to
- CSU
Students develop competency in Japanese oral expression, oral comprehension, and conversational strategies. Students learn how to converse in various situations, such as business, travel, and dining within the context of Japanese culture.
JAPA 22 Intermediate Conversational Japanese
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 2 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- JAPA 2 and JAPA 21 with a minimum grade of C in prerequisite or equivalent
- Formerly
- Japanese 22ab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course is designed for the intermediate student to develop Japanese language fluency in oral expression, increase oral comprehension, and improve pronunciation. Conversational topics are based upon the daily experiences and cultural life of native Japanese speakers.
JAPA 25 Cultural Aspects of the Japanese Language
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 3 hours lecture
- Advisory
- eligibility for ENGL 1A (now ENGL C1000)
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course provides a study of the cultural aspects of the Japanese language, including the origin of the Japanese people and their language, art, religion, philosophy, and geography. The anthropological and sociological characteristics relating to the language and a comparison of Japanese and Western languages and cultures are also covered. This course is taught in English.
JAPA 99 Independent Study
- Units
- 1-3
- Hours
- hours to be arranged
- Formerly
- Japanese 99abc
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides special advanced studies in a subject field of Japanese education not covered in the regular departmental offerings. Regular conferences with the instructor are coordinated with assigned Japanese projects (54 hours per unit).