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Semester 1

Japanese Language Lower Intermediate (ASST08060)

Subject

Asian Studies

College

CAHSS

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

2

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Visiting Students must pass the placement test for this course (conducted by the end of Week 1). Visiting Students must have completed Japanese Language Pre-Intermediate (ASST08057) or equivalent at grade B or above. **Please see Additional Restrictions below**

Course Summary

A continuation of Japanese Language Pre-Intermediate. Teaching will be aimed at enabling students to speak, read and write Modern Japanese at a lower to mid-intermediate level of the language, equivalent to Japanese Language Proficiency Test level between N4 and N3, or Common European Framework of Reference for Languages level A2/B1. The course provides essential grounding for the third-year Japanese Honours Degree level. This course is intended primarily for students taking Japanese Honours and priority will be given to those students when spaces are limited. This course is not available to native or near-native speakers of Japanese, or complete beginners. If in doubt, contact the Course Organiser. A placement test and questionnaire on students' background in Japanese language studies will be conducted in the first class.

Course Description

Japanese Language Lower Intermediate will continue to cover all four language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) to expand students' socio-cultural knowledge for communication further, and will help them to consolidate the grammar, vocabulary and kanji foundation they studied at the beginners level. The course also helps students to progress to the intermediate level language learning by focusing on more reading skills for comprehending longer, authentic texts in the field of Japanese culture and society. The course will cover more academic types of activities (e.g. reading followed by discussions, group presentations, writing short essays etc, all in Japanese), as well as providing useful speaking practice as a preparation for the third year in Japan. Japanese Language Lower Intermediate is taught through a series of classes focussed on different aspects of language learning. As offered in the University's Hybrid Model, many activities are provided asynchronously, and they require a lot of individual study. The teaching activities will follow this pattern on a weekly basis: - Main textbook class covers the main textbook. This is the main class for the course, and the class will be offered synchronously and asynchronously. (LO1, 2,5) - Translation class covers the basic translation skills for Japanese-English translation. The translation practice includes translating some texts in the main textbook as well as authentic texts from various sources. This class will be offered synchronously and asynchronously. (LO1,3,4) - Writing class covers the essential writing skills for essay writing as well as kanji characters. This class will be offered synchronously and asynchronously. (LO1,3,4) - Grammar tutorial class covers the Grammar workbook of the textbook. This class will be offered synchronously and asynchronously.(LO1,3) - The Oral class focuses on developing speaking skills including pronunciation and useful phrases in real situations, and survival skills and useful vocabulary and phrases in case of emergency. Materials are provided by the instructor. This class will be offered synchronously and asynchronously. (LO1,2) - The Language Project class offers an opportunity to apply their knowledge of the language to a semi-authentic situation through group project work. This class will be offered synchronously and 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 50%, Coursework 40%, Practical Exam 10%

Additional Restrictions

This course cannot be taken alongside Japanese Language Beginner (ASST08059) OR Japanese Language Post Beginner (ASST08058). Auditing this course is not permitted.

view the timetable and further details for this course