Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2026-2027
Module JPNS3012: Japanese Language 4
Department: Modern Languages and Cultures (Japanese)
JPNS3012: Japanese Language 4
| Type | Tied | Level | 3 | Credits | 40 | Availability | Available in 2026/2027 | Module Cap | None. | Location | Durham |
|---|
| Tied to | T202 |
|---|---|
| Tied to | LA01 |
| Tied to | LA02 |
| Tied to | LA03 |
| Tied to | LMV0 |
| Tied to | LMVA |
| Tied to | LMVP |
Prerequisites
- Japanese Language 2B (JPNS2012), Japanese Language 2A (JPNS 2161) or equivalent qualification, subject to decision by the module language coordinator.
Corequisites
- None.
Excluded Combination of Modules
- None.
Aims
- The focus of this module is proficiency in oral and written Japanese. It aims to develop students' an ability to write and speak correct Japanese in expressing ideas in a broad range of topical issues, explored from different (e.g. historical/ cultural) perspectives context.
- To encourage individual talents and proclivities and help students to achieve their maximum potential
Content
- Teaching will concentrate on the following:
- Use of advanced grammatical constructions and appropriate register forms (e.g. plain, -masu, honorific)
- Topic-based discussion and composition related to contemporary Japanese culture and society
- Translation Japanese <> English
- News and current affairs comprehension (written and audio-visual)
- Oral expression
- The teaching and resources in this module reflect a commitment to linguistic and cultural diversity. This positions the richness of the Japanese-speaking world at the core of its syllabus’
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge:
- By the end of this module students should gain an understanding of modern Japanese society in a broad historical and cultural context
Subject-specific Skills:
- By the end of this module the students should be able to demonstrate communicative competence in grammatically correct Japanese with appropriate use register of and the ability to perform contextual and linguistic analyses of original texts.
Key Skills:
- By the end of this module the students should be able to discuss topical or general issues confidently and fluently in Japanese, to express their own ideas in written form and be able to translate a wide range of original texts into the target language.
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Weekly seminars which give students practice in translating, analysing and commenting on Japanese original texts.
- Independent learning will be structured around the preparation for seminars and research for the cultural context.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total/Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language Classes | 80 | 4 per week | 1 hour | 80 | Yes ■ |
| Oral | 20 | 1 per week | 1 hour | 20 | Yes ■ |
| Aural | 20 | 1 per week | 1 hour | 20 | Yes ■ |
| Preparation and Reading | 280 | ||||
| Total | 400 |
Summative Assessment
| Component: Written Assessment | Component Weighting: 60% | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| Assignment | 25% | ||
| On Campus Written Examination | 2 hours | 75% | |
| Component: Oral Assessment | Component Weighting: 20% | ||
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| Assignment | 25% | ||
| Oral Examination | 15 minutes | 75% | |
| Component: Aural Assessment | Component Weighting: 20% | ||
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| Assignment | 25% | ||
| Aural Examination | 1 hour | 75% | |
Formative Assessment:
In addition to weekly exercises (kanji & vocabulary), as specified by the teachers, there will also be formative assessments: Listening Comprehension and / or written test(s). These will be recorded.
■ Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.