IJL: Intensive Japanese Language track (D-Level)
With this class meeting 8 times a week (5 grammar classes, 2 speaking and listening classes, and 1 writing class), it's not the least bit surprising to say that Ritsumeikan's Intensive Japanese Language track is definitely intense. I was placed in D-Level classes, which equated to lower intermediate Japanese. As a result, I did end up relearning some concepts, but we went through grammar so quickly, that hardly mattered. Our classes were exclusively in Japanese, and we were challenged each week to communicate only in the language. We had a total of five separate teachers, each with a different strength for teaching us.
The set up of each class was very simple. We had workbooks specially designed for the course, and each day we would complete a certain number of exercises. We also had a story textbook to introduce new vocabulary, and each week we would role-play the situation from the chapters. This ranged from learning how to buy a house, getting directions, properly taking out the trash, to attending a wedding and giving a best man's speech. We also gave presentations on various topics to related to us, be it the places we came from, the hobbies we enjoyed, trips we had already made, or, really, anything, as long as we could explain it in Japanese. I gave presentation on my Mother's Cooking, and traveling around California.
I was lucky (I think) that my classmates were so humorous and laidback, as the various jokes told throughout the lessons somehow made the learning easier. I loved these classes and the people in them: even though it could sometimes be difficult, and I had a ridiculous amount of classes on Mondays, I am deeply happy I got to spend so much time with this group of people.
The set up of each class was very simple. We had workbooks specially designed for the course, and each day we would complete a certain number of exercises. We also had a story textbook to introduce new vocabulary, and each week we would role-play the situation from the chapters. This ranged from learning how to buy a house, getting directions, properly taking out the trash, to attending a wedding and giving a best man's speech. We also gave presentations on various topics to related to us, be it the places we came from, the hobbies we enjoyed, trips we had already made, or, really, anything, as long as we could explain it in Japanese. I gave presentation on my Mother's Cooking, and traveling around California.
I was lucky (I think) that my classmates were so humorous and laidback, as the various jokes told throughout the lessons somehow made the learning easier. I loved these classes and the people in them: even though it could sometimes be difficult, and I had a ridiculous amount of classes on Mondays, I am deeply happy I got to spend so much time with this group of people.