Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2024-2025

Module JPNS1012: JAPANESE LANGUAGE 1B

Department: Modern Languages and Cultures (Japanese)

JPNS1012: JAPANESE LANGUAGE 1B

Type Open Level 1 Credits 40 Availability Available in 2024/2025 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • • Any CFLS-coded Japanese Language modules

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.
  • The teaching and resources in this module reflect a commitment to linguistic and cultural diversity. It positions the richness of the Japanese-speaking world at the core of its syllabus’

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Students will acquire a basic vocabulary and a knowledge of the major grammatical features of Modern Japanese.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • 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.
Key Skills:
  • 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

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Grammar, Translation and Kanji exercises 42 2 per week 1 hour 42
Comprehension and Composition 42 2 per week 1 hour 42
Oral Practice 21 1 per week 1 hour 21
Listening Practice 21 1 per week 1 hour 21
Reading and Preparation 274
Total 400

Summative Assessment

Component: Written Examination Component Weighting: 60%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Grammar, Composition and Translation Exam 3 hours 100% Yes
Component: Listening Comprehension Component Weighting: 20%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Listening Comprehension 1 hour 100% Yes
Component: Oral Assessment Component Weighting: 20%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
In-class continuous assessment of oral skills 100% 10-minute oral examination

Formative Assessment:

In addition to weekly exercises (kana/kanji & vocabulary), as specified by the teachers, there will be formal formative assessments: Listening Comprehension test and / or Comprehension/Translation test. These will be recorded. Marked scripts will be returned to students.


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