Japanese Language & Cultures: Elementary - LAN00090C

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Module summary

Learning a language can be a transformative and enriching experience. Both the process and the outcomes are beneficial at various levels, from increased neuroplasticity to improving your overall academic performance, fostering empathy and intercultural awareness, and enhancing your career opportunities. This course is aimed at students who have a very basic knowledge of Japanese. Over the course of a semester, it will steadily build the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to learn Japanese and communicate in familiar everyday situations. It will focus on developing a communicative competence at elementary level and provide a foundation for further study.

Related modules

Japanese Language and Cultures: Beginner or equivalent 

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 1 2024-25
B	Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

The module aims are:

• to further develop skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing

• to develop interactive skills in familiar situations

• to build up a range of Japanese characters and establish their application.

Students will engage, individually and in groups, in activities and tasks emphasising three core communicative skills:

1. reception activities (oral, audio-video and reading comprehension);

2. production activities (oral and written production);

3. interaction activities (oral, written and online interaction).

The mediums of instruction are English and Japanese.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module students should be able to:

• Understand familiar everyday phrases and expressions in predictable settings.

• Produce phrases and series of sentences about familiar everyday subjects.

• Communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.

• Recognise basic cultural conventions associated with everyday social exchanges.

• Write words and sentences relevant to the subjects covered in Japanese.

Module content

Topic may include:

• describing feelings and conditions;

• introduction to the non-polite forms;

• introducing people and exchanging personal information;

• talking about one's family;

• expressing likes and dislikes;

• counting various objects;

• talking about transport and travel;

• exchanging emails and other types of messages.

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)	60.0
Oral presentation/seminar/exam	40.0

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)	60.0
Oral presentation/seminar/exam	40.0

Module feedback

Feedback on exams and essays as per University regulations.

Indicative reading

Course materials and guided readings will be provided by the module convenors via the VLE at the start of the semester.