Module MLAN1471: JAPANESE STAGE 4

Department: Centre for Foreign Language Study (MLAN)

MLAN1471: JAPANESE STAGE 4

Prerequisites

• • Successful completion of Japanese Stage 3 or equivalent level of Japanese corresponding to JLPT N4-3. Subject to decision by the module’s language coordinator.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• Any Core Language Module offered by the School of Modern Languages and Cultures.

Aims

• To develop further knowledge of the Japanese language.
• To develop students’ skills to do research in Japanese and about Japan.
• To enable students to improve their Japanese language skills effectively.
• To enable students to communicate competently on a variety of general and more specific topics.
• To deepen students’ understanding of contemporary Japanese society and institutions.
• To develop further presentation skills in Japanese.
• To develop further writing skills

Content

• Functional and notional topics studied at this level will be partly determined by the course book and partly be informed by up-to-the minute current affairs and will address issues such as Japanese politics, socio-economic aspects of contemporary Japan, popular culture in Japan etc.
• Course book materials will be supplemented with multimedia sources. Independent and individual research on the internet will be fostered.
• Group discussion exercises will promote the basis for the development of confidence, flexibility and fluency in conversations.

Learning Outcomes

• On successful completion of this module learners will have:
• greater knowledge and understanding of a range of key aspects relating to Japan’s social, economic and political structures;
• greater knowledge and understanding of Japanese cultures and society gained through the study of cultural products;
• greater knowledge and understanding of the main Japanese linguistic principles, structures and registers;
• Ability to recognise and interpret approximately 350 – 450 kanji.
• Ability to sit JLPT N2.

• On successful completion of the module learners will have:
• critical skills in the analysis of cultural products, including the expression and discussion of views relating to a wide range of cultural, social or political issues;
• ability to conduct unprepared conversation covering issues related both to familiar and unfamiliar topics (current affairs, customs and social issues);
• understanding of, and reporting on, the main points of clear standard speech and using authentic aural passages on current affairs, customs and social issues in Japan;
• application of a range of grammatical principles;
• conducting an independent research project in the target language - including the presentation of an oral and written summary of the research;1
• effective use of references such as grammars and dictionaries;
• effective use of a range of language learning techniques and skills by independently developing strategies to extend lexis and knowledge of grammar.

• On successful completion of this module learners will have:
• oral communication skills, gained through the delivery of presentations;
• written communication skills, including the ability to organise ideas in a logical and coherent sequence in sustained prose and analyse arguments critically;
• skills in the acquisition and interpretation of information from a variety of paper, audio-visual and electronic resources;
• Information Technology skills, including word-processing, the use of electronic resources, and the use of IT both as a means of communication and as an aid to learning.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• This module is delivered through seminar style classes and multimedia lab sessions.
• Contact time will be used to introduce new material and provide the students with high quality target language input from the module tutor and multimedia sources.
• In preparation for each session students will be expected to revise new material and complete formative language exercises.
• The assessment scheme for this module is designed to test students' level of attainment in language production (speaking and writing) and reception (listening and reading).
• In order to reflect the continuous nature of the language learning process the module will be assessed by a combination of formative and summative in-course assessment and by formal written examination.
• As part of this module students are required to complete a small project which will include an oral presentation and a written component.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Regular homework/assignments will be given to the students to practise and consolidate what they have done in class and to prepare the following session, some of which will be submitted and marked as formative assignments and regular feedback will be given to the students accordingly.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University