Japanese Beginners

Module title	Japanese Beginners
Module code	FLJ1130
Academic year	2024/5
Credits	30
Module staff	Mrs Yumiko Moore (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	20

Module description

Japanese Beginners is intended for those who have little or no previous knowledge of Japanese and provides an introduction to the Japanese language and culture in a general context. It is also suitable for those with a GCSE (Grade C or below) in Japanese. The emphasis is on enabling you to communicate orally in Japanese. Japanese Beginners can be taken towards achieving ‘with proficiency in Japanese”. See: http://humanities.exeter.ac.uk/flc/undergraduate/proficiency/

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module offers an introduction to Japanese language and culture, and is broadly equivalent to A1/A2 Basic User level of the Common European Framework. The module aims to:

Provide you with a solid foundation of the basic grammatical structures of the target language thus enabling you to communicate effectively across the four key language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) at an elementary level on a variety of general topics

Enable you to give and understand information and to achieve a confident elementary level of communicative competence in everyday situations

Provide an introduction to the customs, culture and society of the regions/countries in which the languages are spoken and to develop your awareness of the general social and cultural background of the language

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Demonstrate a sound grasp of the basic grammatical structures of the target language
2. Read and comprehend simple written and aural texts and extract specific, predictable information related to every-day situations

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. Communicate effectively on a variety of general topics requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters, both orally and in writing
4. Understand the principles of learning a foreign language intensively and organise your learning with guidance from the tutor

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. Use available learning aids in a variety of media, such as a reference grammar and bilingual dictionary, to consolidate your learning
6. Communicate at a basic level in the target language
7. Work productively with others as part of a team, within a set structure
8. Make progress through developing skills of self-study and application and develop an awareness of, and sensitivity to a foreign culture

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

The module provides a systematic approach to acquiring essential grammar structures in a communicative context and in accordance with the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

Grammar:

Hiragana (46 characters), Katakana (46 characters), Kanji (101 characters)
Formal style present sentences using 'desu', 'desuka' and 'ja arimasen'
Informal style present sentences using 'da' and 'ja nai'
Formal style past sentences using 'deshita', 'deshitaka' and 'ja arimasendeshita'
Informal style past sentences using 'datta' and 'ja nakatta'
Verb conjugations, Adjective conjugations, Question sentences using 'nan', 'nani', 'doko', 'itsu', 'dare', 'donna', 'dore' and 'dooshite'
Demonstrative forms 'Ko-So-A-Do'
Particles 'no', 'de', 'ni', 'e', 'ga', 'o', 'wa', 'mo', 'ka', 'to', 'kara', 'made', 'ne' and 'yo'
Conjunctions 'ga', 'kara', 'demo', 'sorekara', 'soshite' and 'dakara'
Adverbs 'amari', 'chotto', 'ichiban', 'mada', 'moo', 'totemo', 'zenzen', 'sukoshi', 'tokidoki', 'yoku', 'taitei'
Invitation sentences using 'mashoo', 'mashooka' and 'masenka'
Describing the location of people and objects using 'ni-ga-imasu/arimasu'
Asking for and giving permission 'mo iidesu(ka)'
Denying permission 'wa ikemasen'
Expressing opinions 'to omou'
Reporting speech 'to iu'

Topics:

Greetings, Introducing Oneself, Hiragana: A-gyoo & Ka-gyoo, Telling the Time
Numbers (0-100), Age (issai, nisai, etc.), Hiragana: Sa-gyoo, Ta-gyoo, Na-gyoo
Stating Name, Age, Nationality etc., Countries/Majors/Family, Occupations
Hiragana: Ha-gyoo, Ma-gyoo, Ya-gyoo, Shopping, Numbers: 100-90,000
At the Restaurant, In The Classroom, Hiragana: Ra-gyoo, Wa-gyoo, Describing One's Daily Routine, Weekends and Free time, Making Personal Arrangements, Katakana: A-gyoo, Kagyoo, Sa-gyoo, Kanji (pp.262-263), Describing Where Things Are and Locations - Katakana: Ta-gyoo, Na-gyoo, Ha-gyoo, The First Date, Locations, Day/Week
Katakana: Ma-gyoo, Ya-gyoo, Ra-gyoo, Wa-gyoo, Mary'sWeekend, Kanji (pp.266-267)
Travel, Likes and Dislikes, At the Post Office, Kanji (pp.270-271), Writing Short Postcards
Making Requests, Giving and Asking for Permission, Stating that Something Is Forbidden
A Day in Robert's Life, Directions, Kanji (pp.276-277), Bulletin Board, Talking About the Family
Describing People, Parts of the Body, Kanji (pp.282-283), Writing Letters to Family/Friends
Casual Conversations, Planning A Party/A One-day trip, Questionnaires and Reports, Kanji (pp.292-293)
Making A Guess About the Childhoods of the People, Colours, Food and Drink, Writing A Diary, Kanji (pp.292-293)

Teaching methods are based on interactive language development tasks, such as pair/group work and role-playing, and include the study of short texts, oral development work and listening comprehension exercises. Learning activities are supported by various media, including audio, video/DVD, and, where appropriate, computer software. The module is taught as far as possible in the target language.

You will be expected to spend time studying outside the class (between 3-5 hours per week) and we provide guidance, facilities and materials to help you develop your expertise as an independent language learner. For this module, you will be asked to consolidate your class work by learning vocabulary and structures, and by reading, watching or listening to material in Japanese. You will also be expected to complete the exercise book/workbook on a self-study basis, prepare exercises and activities for the class, to write short assignments and generally acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies. You will receive regular feedback on your progress from class activities, homework assignments etc. You will also receive formal feedback on the in-class tests, including suggestions for what and how to improve and identifying your own strategies for improvement.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
88	212	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching	88	Language classes
Guided independent study	212	Consolidate class work by learning vocabulary and structures, and by reading, watching or listening to material in Japanese. Prepare exercises and activities for class, write short assignments and generally begin to acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies. Learning activities are supported by various media, including audio, video/DVD, and computer software where appropriate

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
4 formative tasks covering some or all of the following areas: grammar, writing, listening, reading, speaking.	Variable	1-8	Written and oral feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
50	25	25

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Portfolio	50	As described on the ELE page	1-8	Written and oral feedback
Written examination	25	1.5 hours	1-6, 8	Written and oral feedback
Oral Examination	25	7-8 minutes	1, 3-6, 8	Written and oral feedback
	0
	0
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Portfolio	Portfolio	1-8	Referral/Deferral period
Written Examination	Written Examination	1-6,8	Referral/Deferral period
Oral Examination	Oral Examination	1,3-6,8	Referral/Deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

You will only be required to retake any failed assessments. Marks for any passed assessments will be carried forward. If you have failed any assessments but managed to pass the module overall, you will not be allowed to retake the failed assessments.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Main course book:

Japan Times, Genki 1 Text, An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese, The Japan Times, 3rd Edition

Recommended materials:

Dictionary: Martin's Concise Japanese Dictionary, Charles E. Tuttle Co, or Oxford Starter Japanese
Dictionary, Oxford University Press, or Kodansha International, Kodansha Communicative English-Japanese Dictionary

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=11278

Key words search

Japanese, beginners, Japan

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	4
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	2010
Last revision date	09/08/2021