Module JPNS1012: JAPANESE LANGUAGE 1

Department: Modern Languages and Cultures (Japanese)

JPNS1012: JAPANESE LANGUAGE 1

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• • Japanese Stage 1 (MLAN1151)

Aims

• To provide an introduction to all aspects of the Japanese language
• To provide a thorough grounding in the major grammatical features of Modern Japanese
• To build up vocabulary and develop skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking

Content

• The module consists of six contact hours per week including grammar lectures, pronunciation and spoken language practice, kana and kanji reading and writing practice, listening comprehension, reading comprehension, composition and translation;
• students will be provided with audio materials/tasks that support work in class, will submit homework generated by the practical lessons, and will take formative tests with written feedback based on the format of the summative examinations.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will acquire a basic vocabulary and a knowledge of the major grammatical features of Modern Japanese.

• Students should be able to converse, write and read in Japanese at an appropriate level for an elementary student, and be able to use proficiently the major grammatical patterns of Modern Japanese.

• Students will develop their skills as language learners, their ability to organise their own study and, on completion of the course, will be able to communicate at a rudimentary level in the target language in both oral and written form.

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

• In order to enable students to achieve competence in all the main language skills, a variety of practice methods will be employed: oral work, translation, composition, text reading, comprehension and language laboratory exercises.
• These methods will allow students to become familiar with essential grammatical concepts and vocabulary, and use them in different learning contexts.
• Summative assessment of reading/writing and aural comprehension skills and of grammatical knowledge will take the form of end-of-year examinations.
• Oral skills will be summatively assessed by means of activities carried out in class during the year, including group work.
• Formative assessment for this module will include a combination of self-assessed, peer-assessed and tutor-assessed exercises during the year.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

In addition to weekly exercises as specified by the teachers there will be formal formative assessments as below. Apart from the 10 minute weekly vocabulary / writing tests, these will be given a formal mark which will be recorded; marked scripts will be returned to students as below: Vocabulary/ kanji & kana test Weekly 10 mins Peer marked for instant return; Grammar & Composition test TW10 1 hour TW11; Listening Comprehension test TW15 1 hour TW16; Oral TW17 10 mins TW18; Comprehension/Translation test TW19 1 hour TW20

■ 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