This is an introductory Japanese course for those who have no background in the language. The goal of this course is to help students develop Japanese writing skills, simple Japanese communication skills, and listening skills as well as an appreciation of the Japanese culture and customs. Through readings and cultural assignments, students explore different perspectives of the Japanese lifestyle, historical events, and the arts. Initial lessons introduce the Japanese writing system — the phonetic Hiragana and Katakana as well as some basic Kanji. Students will utilize Kanji in counting numbers, as well as telling the date and time. Simple conversational skills are introduced along with basic grammar. By the end of the year, students will be able to write and converse about a variety of topics, including how to introduce themselves and their family members, describe their daily activities, state their date of birth, and tell the time and month.