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Semester 1

Japanese Language Beginner (ASST08059)

Subject

Asian Studies

College

CAHSS

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

1

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

This course is intended for those with little or no previous knowledge of the language. A placement test and questionnaire on students' background in Japanese language studies will be conducted in the induction session. **Please see Additional Restrictions below**

Course Summary

An integrated introduction to spoken and written Japanese. The course will include kana writing (Japanese phonetic writing), and an introduction to some kanji (Japanese Characters), approximately 90-100. Teaching will be aimed at enabling students to speak, read and write Modern Japanese at a post beginner level, equivalent to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages level A1. The course provides essential grounding for the continuation course Japanese Language Post Beginner and subsequent Japanese language study. A good deal of private study is necessary to meet the requirements of the course. This course is intended primarily for students taking Japanese honours and priority will be given to those students when spaces are limited. Students wishing to enrol on the course as an outside subject are invited to email the course administrator to be placed on the waiting list. This course is not available to native or near-native speakers of Japanese. If in doubt, contact the Course Organiser. A placement test and questionnaire on students' background in Japanese language studies will be conducted in the induction session.

Course Description

Japanese Language Beginner will cover all four language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing). It will introduce the three sets of Japanese characters, grammar and vocabulary at the elementary level of Japanese language, such as numbers, location words, verbs in present and past tenses, adjectives. It also covers useful expressions for daily life such as shopping, ordering at a restaurant, asking for directions, talking about weather. Japanese Language Beginner is taught through a series of classes focused on different aspects of language learning. As offered in the University's Hybrid Model, the majority of activities are provided asynchronously, and they require a lot of individual study. The teaching activities will follow this pattern on a weekly basis: - The Conversation and Grammar class covers the Conversation and Grammar section of the textbook. This is the main class for the course, and the class will be offered synchronously and asynchronously. (LO1, 2,5) - The Reading and Writing class covers the Reading and Writing section of the textbook, including kana and kanji characters. This class will be offered mainly asynchronously. (LO1,3,4) - The Workbook class covers the Workbook of the textbook. This class will be offered mainly asynchronously.(LO1,3) - The Oral class focuses on developing speaking skills including pronunciation and useful phrases in real situations. This class will be offered mainly asynchronously, with an optional short 1-to-1 weekly session. (LO1,2) - The Language Application class covers the group project work and other useful skills for learning Japanese such as how to type Japanese characters and online dictionaries. This class will be offered mainly asynchronously. (LO2,4,5) There will be regular homework assignments throughout the semester. You are also expected to do a set of group work with peer feedback element. Be sure to read the additional class delivery information before enrolling on this course.

Assessment Information

Written Exam 40%, Coursework 40%, Practical Exam 20%

Additional Restrictions

This course cannot be taken alongside any other Japanese Language courses. Auditing this course is not permitted.

view the timetable and further details for this course