A post-Level 4 or equivalent module in Japanese language and culture
Module details
- Offered to Year 3 & Year 4 students
- Thursdays, 16.00-18.00
- Planned delivery: On campus (South Kensington)
- Two-term module, worth 7.5 ECTS
- Available to eligible students as part of I-Explore
- Extra Credit, or Degree Credit where your department allows
Japanese advice
contact the Coordinator:
Dr Yuki Tokumaru
0207 594 8768
Room 322, Sherfield Level 3
Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication
A communicative module for students who have successfully completed Japanese Level 4 or have reached an equivalent standard.
This module aims to:
- develop further the basic language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing;
- revise and consolidate basic grammar, as required, by the class;
- introduce more complex grammatical structures and extend vocabulary.
To be eligible for this module, you need to have done one of the following:
- Successfully completed Japanese Level 4
- Have already achieved the equivalent level by other means
You should be able to write approximately 300 Kanji characters.
This module is not intended for native or near-native speakers.
Please note that students wishing to study Japanese are required to take a placement test at the start of the autumn term to ensure that they are eligible for the level for which they have applied, unless they have already taken the previous level.
Please note: The information on this module description is indicative. The module may undergo minor modifications before the start of next academic year.
Information blocks
On successful completion of this module, you will be better prepared to:
- read and write 85 Kanji characters and the related vocabulary accurately
- deploy basic grammatical structures and vocabulary accurately for basic communication
- produce and respond to simple written texts in Japanese writing system
- express and respond to in speaking the basic information related to everyday life
- comprehend and respond to the information by listening to simple monologues / dialogues
In this module, you will cover the following linguistic structures:
- Revision of structures covering post-beginner levels of language learning
- More complex grammar and alternative modes of expression, including imperative and prohibitive forms, and different types of subordinate clauses
- Reported speech
- Different uses of conditional forms
- Passive forms
- Verb nominalisation
These linguistic structures will be applied to the following topics:
- Asking and explaining the reading and meaning of Japanese words, Kanji and signs
- Office situations
- Giving an instruction and demonstration, including recipes
- Talking about Japanese and other countries’ proverbs and idioms
- Discussing changes in one’s behaviour and ability, as well as possibilities, in an external world
- World events, architects, discoveries and inventions
- Natural phenomena and events
In addition, you will be introduced to a further 100 Kanji characters to widen your range of Kanji characters to an advanced level for reading and writing purposes, plus Kanji characters used in the textbooks should be recognised
In line with modern foreign languages communicative and active learning methodology, in-class activities cover all four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and include pair work (e.g. dialogue practice, information gap exercises and vocabulary/grammar quiz), individual tasks (e.g. forming/writing sentences for various tasks and discovery/formulation of grammatical rules), and group work (e.g. reading aloud new vocabulary for pronunciation practice and reading texts/listening to the audio files for comprehension exercise), following the teacher's introduction on new language items (grammar, vocabulary and Kanji characters).
Homework tasks give you the opportunity to revise and consolidate knowledge and skills covered each week as well as to receive individual feedback. This approach not only ensures you engage with a wide range of tasks, but also supports different learning styles.
- Coursework (6%): Composition 1: 700 Japanese Letters (around one and 3/4 A4 papers) during the second half of the autumn term (1-3 hours for task completion in 1 week time outside of class)
- Examination (5%): In-class Kanji Test in the second last class of the autumn term (12 min)
- Examination (20%): In-class Test for Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading & Listening in the last class of the autumn term (70 min)
- Coursework (7%): Composition 2: 700 Japanese Letters (around one and 3/4 A4 papers) during the first half of the spring term (1-3 hours for task completion in 1 week time outside of class)
- Examination (10%): In-class Kanji Test (12 min) & Listening Test (20 min) in the second last class of the spring term
- Examination (20%): In-class Test for Grammar, Vocabulary & Reading in the last class of the spring term (60 min)
- Coursework (7%): Composition 3: 700 Japanese Letters (around one and 3/4 A4 papers) during the last week of the spring term (1-3 hours for task completion in 1 week time outside of class)
- Practical (25%): Oral Exam outside of class (25 min): Prepared Speech (3.5-4 min) followed by Q&A (related to the speech with another student (3-4 min) and general Q&A with the examiner (10-12 min)
- 7.5 ECTS points awarded on successful completion of the module.
- Available to take for credit towards your degree, where your department allows. Also available for extra credit. The Module options by department page has a full list of the credit options.
- You must be prepared to attend all classes and undertake approximately 3 hours of private study each week in addition to the assessment.
Coursebooks
Minna no Nihongo 2 - Second Edition (main textbook and translation and grammatical notes) by 3A Corporation and Basic Kanji Book Vol. 2 by Bonjinsha, supported by an accompanied CD, other audio materials and additional handouts.