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JPNS1012: JAPANESE LANGUAGE 1B

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Open
Level 1
Credits 40
Availability Available in 2023/24
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Modern Languages and Cultures (Japanese)

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations 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

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Grammar, Translation and Kanji exercises 422 per week1 hour42Yes
Comprehension and Composition422 per week1 hour42Yes
Oral Practice211 per week1 hour21Yes
Listening Practice211 per week1 hour21Yes
Reading and Preparation274 
Total 400 

Summative Assessment

Component: Written Examination Component Weighting: 60%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Grammar, Composition and Translation Exam3 hours100Yes
Component: Listening ComprehensionComponent Weighting: 20%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Listening Comprehension1 hour100Yes
Component: Oral AssessmentComponent Weighting: 20%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
In-class continuous assessment of oral skills10010-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.

More information

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