An assignment that best proves my language development in JAPN 302 is the Reading & Writing Practice Assignment (RWPA) #1. In the RWPAs, there is a short passage relating to a specific topic (daily routine for #1). Below the passage is a list of potentially unknown vocabulary (A) used in the passage. This is usually new vocabulary specific to the topic that can be used later on. Below that, there are three sets of questions (B-D). B consists of simple questions to check understanding and rephrase some of the vocabulary used. In each of the RWPA, there are 2+ sentence patterns used. C’s questions require the usage and understanding of these patterns to form answers for each one. D asks questions relating to the comprehension of the passage, often requiring inferencing and critical thinking. After the sets of questions, there are spots to write a first and second draft similar to the passage, as well as reflections for each draft. The first draft is to apply the sentence patterns and vocabulary used in the passage to a real-life experience/opinion. After writing the first draft, the teacher gives feedback and corrections to prepare for the writing of the second draft. This draft is more fleshed out and longer than the original, expanding on the points within the first and fixing any errors.

As I mentioned before, RWPA #1 is about daily routines. Most of the vocabulary is pretty simple, but it introduced two sentence patterns: 「V-ると、~ 」and 「V-ながら、~」. Before starting this assignment, I had understood 「ながら」, but the 「V-ると」 sentence pattern was new to me. I understood the basic meaning of the pattern, but I had a difficult time differentiating it from 「V-たら」since they both describe something happening after another thing. I also learned that when using 「ながら」, the second action you list is the main one, or the one you want to draw attention to. C’s questions were pretty easy for me since they just involved rewording the question, but it took more time to complete D. The questions asked about the narrator in the passage and required inferencing based on what he said, so you not only had to understand the passage, but consider the meaning behind their words and explain why you thought what you did in Japanese.

For my first draft, I wrote about my daily routine. For example, I talked about the times I did things, what classes I had, and my steel drum practice. While the passage was mostly grammatically correct, it didn’t have a lot of flow, and I didn’t expand on any individual part a lot, so it ended up feeling bland. This was the main thing I mentioned in my reflection that I wanted to improve upon. For the second draft, I made sure to write more sentences explaining each topic and make the sentences longer by adding things like adverbs. After I read the feedback on what I should improve upon, I was able to identify some of the weaknesses in my writing and write a more detailed, flowing draft. For example, I gave the specific times that I tried to do certain work rather than just saying what work I did throughout the week. I still had some structural and flow problems in the second draft, but I feel like it turned out a lot better than the first one. After I got feedback for my second draft, I wrote a reflection about the writing process from the first draft to the second one, and mentioned many of the things I have just explained.

I think the RWPAs are really helpful in learning and improving my Japanese, because they allow me to learn a topic step by step, write a draft about it, and be able to improve that draft with feedback on the weaknesses within my writing.