This is a Japanese language course for students at the intermediate level and above. The goal of the course is to further enhance the students’ language proficiency in the four communication skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing) through studying current social/political issues in Japan. While aiming to enhancing the communication skills holistically, particular emphasis is placed on reading of authentic materials, such as newspaper, online news articles, magazine, and speech manuscript. Activities will include reading of authentic materials that are both assigned by the instructor and chosen by students, having discussion about the topics, studying of intermediate-advanced grammar/vocabulary/kanji necessary to understand the authentic reading materials, writing summary and opinions, presenting group work to the class, and discussing language learning strategies that you could use for such activities.