Japanese Beginners Accelerated (LL291)

Summary

Level:

This module is offered to students with no or little prior knowledge of Japanese. Due to the 'accelerated' aspect of the module, evidence of prior linguistic achievement (e.g. a GCSE A* grade in a foreign language) is essential.

Main Objectives:

To develop competence in a range of predictable everyday tasks acquiring essential listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and insight into Japanese society.

Credits:

This is a 24 or 30 CREDIT module.

Teaching:

4 hours language class each week for 21 weeks.
Students are reminded that 1 credit = 10 hours of study, therefore the minimum expected amount of study is 240 hours, which averages over 10 hours per week. A substantial amount of independent study is therefore required. Students can make use of Languages@Warwick (our virtual learning environment) to facilitate this.

Course Texts

<We recommend this book for home study, i.e. it is NOT a core textbook>

Japanese for Busy People: Kana Version Bk. 1, Revised 3rd Edition, AJALT, Kodansha International 2012 ISBN-13: 978-1568363851 (Please note that there are similarly titled books. Please do not buy an old 1995 version or Romanised version.)

<Core textbook for Term 2, i.e. must be bought by students>

Minna No Nihongo 2nd ver : Bk. 1 w/ Cd (2012) ISBN-13: 978-4883196036 (Please note that you need the 2nd edition)

<Additional recommended book>

Minna No Nihongo 2nd ver : Bk. 1 Translation & Grammatical Notes English ver ISBN-13: 978-4883196043

Course Description

The module aims to develop communicative competence in familiar social and work contexts. Students will learn to carry out everyday communicative tasks including describing what they did, do and will do.
Students will also gain insights into some social manners and customs in Japan. Students will also practise reading and writing techniques and 100 kanji will be introduced. The stimulus material (aural, written and visual) not only provides an introduction to Japanese grammar but also gives the students an insight into everyday life in Japan.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:
• General: Carry out communicative tasks with basic language proficiency in familiar social situations, using basic grammar and vocabulary.
• Reading: Understand short texts and letters written in Hiragana, Katakana scripts and basic Kanji.
• Writing: Produce short but coherent texts, such as letters and short stories, using some basic Kanji.
• Speaking: Communicate orally in everyday situations and describe and explain themselves on a familiar topic.
• Listening: Understand short everyday conversations or monologues on familiar topics, such as family, hobbies, holidays.

Syllabus

The syllabus will include the followings:

Communicative situations:
Greetings and Introductions, shopping, describing daily routine and events, describing people and places, talking about likes and dislikes, ordering food and making reservation, asking for permission, making comparison, expressing ability or possibility, expressing opinions, etc.

Grammatical content:
Particles (postpositions), interrogatives, adjectives, verbs, present and past, the te-form of verbs and adjectives, the dictionary form of verbs, modifying clauses, the conditional form of verbs, etc.

Assessment Scheme:

Interim tests (Reading and Writing) (Term 1)

1 oral examination and 1 final examination (Term 3)

Exam summary and Skills weighting: Assessment beginners

Marking criteria (written):Marking criteria (written) Chinese/Japanese levels 1/2

Marking criteria (oral): Marking criteria (oral) levels 1 and 2