- Department: Language and Linguistic Science
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: H
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
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 basic knowledge of Japanese. Over the course of a semester, it will steadily build the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to learn Japanese and take part in everyday routine exchanges. It will focus on developing a communicative competence at lower intermediate level and provide a foundation for further study.
Japanese Language and Culture: Elementary or equivalent
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Semester 1 2024-25 |
B | Semester 2 2024-25 |
The aims of this module are:
to extend key skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
to develop interactive skills in everyday concrete situations
to build up a wider range of kanji characters, and further establish their applications in reading and writing.
Students will engage, individually and in groups, in communicative activities and tasks emphasising three modes of communication:
reception activities (oral, audio-video, and reading comprehension),
production activities (oral and written production),
interaction activities (oral, written, and online interaction).
The mediums of instruction are English and Japanese.
By the end of this module students should be able to:
Understand short texts dealing with a wider range of everyday topics involving concrete situations.
Produce simple texts on familiar topics and give impressions and opinions, using basic everyday vocabulary and expressions.
Manage simple, routine exchanges of ideas and information on familiar topics.
Recognise basic cultural conventions associated with everyday social exchanges and apply them appropriately.
Convey the main point(s) involved in short, simple conversations or texts on everyday subjects of immediate interest.
Write sentences and texts, making use of a variety of Japanese scripts.
Reflect upon language use and justify linguistic choices.
Self-monitor and self-regulate their own learning and resources.
Identify and apply adequate strategies to prevent or overcome breakdowns in interaction and production activities.
Topics may include:
talking about one's skills,
experiences and aspirations;
giving advice;
giving, and receiving presents;
giving, receiving and asking for help;
expressing gratitude and apologies;
discussing plans for trips and events;
talking about favourite places and special days
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 60 |
Oral presentation/seminar/exam | 40 |
None
The written exam will include one or two questions aimed at assessing students’ ability to reflect on language use and justify their responses and choices when using the language (in English) and a task related to students’ ability to monitor their own learning.
The oral exam will include strategic competence among the assessment criteria in production and interaction activities.
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) | 60 |
Oral presentation/seminar/exam | 40 |
Feedback on exams and essays as per University regulations.
Course materials and guided readings will be provided by the module convenors via the VLE at the start of the semester.