Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

This module is a continuation from JPN1065 (HE Entry Level) Japanese I, and students are expected to have the basic understanding and knowledge of Japanese. Students with a GCSE or equivalent in Japanese could take this module.
Students whose first language is Japanese, and received secondary education taught in Japanese, cannot take this module.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module builds upon the foundation in language systems provided in JPN1065, while continuing
to develop reading, listening, writing and speaking skills. You will learn new grammar (see below for
details) and a further 200 characters (kanji), making a total of approximately 350. By the end, you will be communicating with confidence, both orally and in writing, in simple everyday situations.

You will obtain level N5 of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).

The aims of the module are:

(1) To build upon the basic foundation in the language systems provided in JPN1065 with a view to
further study.

(2) To allow students to continue to develop receptive (reading and listening) and productive (writing and speaking) skills.

(3) To continue to provide students with skills necessary to become better language learners.

Outline Of Syllabus

Every week you will have eight contact hours, seven of which are timetabled synchronous teaching hours. They are divided as follows:

1. Grammar & Speaking (4 hrs):
We shall cover the grammatical points listed in the syllabus, which include: particles, demonstratives, interrogatives, predicate, verbs (verb groups, inflections, transitive, intransitive, etc.), adjectives, numbers, counters, polite style of speech, desiderative, “te” form, affirmative, negative, past, non-past. All points will be explained through the analysis of sentence patterns (bunkei) and will be reinforced by speaking practice such as role-play and pair work.

2. Writing (1hr):
One hour will be devoted to developing skills in reading and writing, using the grammatical points,
sentence patterns and vocabulary studied from our core textbook earlier on each week. Kanji will be taught thoroughly in class to enhance students’ learning. Translation of basic sentences (English into Japanese and Japanese into English) will also be practised.

3. Reading (1hr):
We shall cover extra reading tasks using a reading textbook to reinforce your reading skills. You will be guided by the teacher as to how you should complete tasks and submit your work.

4. Listening & Speaking (1hr):
The teaching of aural and oral skills will be focused on enabling you to practise the grammatical points and sentence patterns through listening and speaking exercises.

Also, every week you will have two structured guided learning hours:

1. Listening (1 hr):
We shall provide you with weekly listening task sheets to enable you to practice listening exercises. You are expected to complete the task sheets, check the answers and conduct reflective learning before online submission.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of the module students will have:
(1) Competence in writing and reading hiragana, katakana and a total of approximately 350 kanji;
(2) In-depth knowledge of the grammatical points listed in the outline of syllabus;
(3) Correct pronunciation and accent;
(4) Competence in expressing the following notions and functions in the target language: expressing abilities with the appropriate potential form; reporting indirect and direct speech/thoughts; creating complex sentences with subordinate clauses (relative clauses, temporal clauses, conditional clauses); giving and receiving; talking about habitual actions; talking about state resulting from specific actions; expressing simultaneous actions; expressing intention; giving suggestions/advice; making conjectures; giving orders and prohibitions. Please note that this is a partial list.
(5) Ability to use both a polite style and a plain style according to the appropriate social context (linguistic register).
(6) Ability in translating simple sentences from Japanese into English and from English into Japanese.

Intended Skill Outcomes

At the end of the module students will be able to:
(1) Understand basic conversational Japanese spoken clearly (listening);
(2) Communicate in a more complex manner within everyday situations (speaking);
(3) Understand simple descriptions, instructions and narrations (reading);
(4) Write connected sentences related to everyday situations and personal experiences (writing);
(5) Employ basic self-study skills (language learning).

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Key grammatical structures, sentence patterns, vocabulary are practised using an integrated communicative approach in practical classes delivered in seminar style. Oral and aural skills (i.e. speaking and listening) as well as writing and reading are practised throughout the course in task-based activities.

Vocabulary tests, grammar tests and kanji tests will take place regularly up to 5 times a week and will be assessed wither in the classroom or online.

In order to ensure that 112 hours of independent guided study takes place, each contact hour is followed by homework assignments. Many derive from the compulsory workbooks accompanying the core textbook. Additional materials may be distributed in class and are considered an integral part of the homework assignments. There is a minimum homework submission requirement of 70%, with this percentage being calculated every 6 weeks. Where appropriate, individualised formative feedback is provided (e.g. for writing assignments involving a creative element).

This module is taught and assessed in English and Japanese (including hiragana, katakana and kanji scripts). English will be applied for the following activities:
1. Explanation of grammatical structures;
2. Translation from English to Japanese and from Japanese to English.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The formal examination provides a summary assessment as well as a chance to review progress before continuing onto JPN2010. Handwriting skills of Japanese characters are deemed essential at this stage of learning and assessed in the written exam.

Writing skills are also assessed by the writing assignment. Handwriting skills of Japanese characters are deemed essential at this stage of learning and assessed in the written assignments.

Listening skills are assessed as part of oral examination. This exam will test the students' ability to listen and understand (authentic) sources and to respond appropriately in oral form. This test provides summative information to staff and student on student's achievement in listening in the module.

Speaking skills are assessed in formal examination. This assessment will test students' ability to produce and present their own output orally and to discuss with a target language speaker directly and spontaneously. Alternative to this examination is online synchronous exam.

Regular vocabulary, grammar and kanji tests are necessary in order to allow students to acquire competence in a steady and growing fashion. It also gives students the possibility to have constant feedback on their performance.

General Notes

N/A