Kyoko Loetscher

It was a very enjoyable and manageable course; it’s five credits so it is a time commitment, but it was generally pretty easy I feel, and professor Matsui was extremely kind and understanding of any extenuating circumstances. 1 Columbia University: Arts & Sciences Fall 2023 Course: JPNSUN3005_001_2023_3-THIRDYEARJAPANESEI : JPNSUN3005_001_2023_3 - THIRD YEAR JAPANESE I Instructor: Kyoko Loetscher

The only downside to this course is the wide range of levels among the class members. The placement system means that some students were well at the 5th-year level while others struggled with grammar and vocabulary below the 4th-year level. It often made in-class discussions and group work very uneven. 1 Columbia University: Arts & Sciences Fall 2021 Course: JPNSGU4017_001_2021_3-FOURTHYEARJAPANESEI : JPNSGU4017_001_2021_3 - FOURTH YEAR JAPANESE I Instructor: Shigeru Eguchi

Workload: Daily quizzes and HW 4 Tests, 1 Midterm, 1 Final

Same as all the other classes I guess. If you work hard and participate in class, Matsui-sensei will notice and will forgive you once or twice if you ever forget the homework :)

Tests every 2 chapters, 2 midterms + oral, 1 final + oral. Daily vocab quizzes and one homework assignment each night. Same as every other first year Japanese class.

I always recommend classes from the EALAC Japanese department to anyone remotely interested in East Asia or Japan. 1 Columbia University: Arts & Sciences Fall 2021 Course: JPNSUN3005_002_2021_3-THIRDYEARJAPANESEI : JPNSUN3005_002_2021_3 - THIRD YEAR JAPANESE I Instructor: Kyoko Loetscher

Matsui sensei, as we call her in class, is fantastic. She is an incredibly kind caring teacher, who will be patient with you in your questions. If you have the chance, I highly recommend taking Japanese with her. The workload is manageable, and even if you get behind she will not penalize you but instead help you catch up!

Miss. Kyoko Loetscher, or Matsui-sensei (as we call her) is truly a wonderful teacher. She is sweet, funny, and very approachable. She understands those sometimes quirky questions we can make about language, and will explain everything in a way that will be simple and effective. She makes the class feel comfortable, and will make sure that nobody gets left behind. Matsui-sensei is more than willing to go out of her way and help each student. Other past students to which I've talked to always remember her with much affection. Her classes will start with the daily quiz, for which you can a few spare minutes to revise before she starts. Then she announces the homework, and begins the powerpoints presentations which always involve reading aloud as a group and then individual practices with (non-intimidating) interrogations. I guess she sounds like an ideal teacher with this review. I personally think she is, but if I had to say something about her it would be....... mm.... I don't know really, If you're too advanced in Japanese, you might find the class a bit boring or slow, but her comments are always funny. In all honesty, I highly recommend her, and especially to those students who have never been exposed to formal lessons on japanese :) Go for it!

Matsui-sensei is simply fucking fantastic. She explains lessons well without the intimidating, expectant stare as the whole class waits in silence for you to spit out that verb conjugation. Also, she always makes sure to repeat important information in English so that you won't misunderstand grammar rules, homework directions, etc. Class starts off reviewing the previous day's lesson with some partner practice. Then Matsui-sensei lectures on the new lesson and some more partner practice ending with her quizzing each person, just remember a half-decent sentence you said to your partner and you'll be fine. Class ends with a quick review of tomorrow's assignments and then the vocab quiz. Oh and everything and done with the help of a Powerpoint, for all you visual learners. In short, I wish she taught every year of Japanese so I can have her again and again.