BA German and Japanese

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Advanced Readings in Japanese Studies

Course unit fact file
Unit code JAPA32000
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 3
Teaching period(s) Full year
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This course unit is for advanced learners of Japanese. It aims to develop students’ proficiency in accurate understanding of advanced Japanese texts, as well as in discussion and writing in Japanese. Furthermore, the course advances students’ knowledge of Japan, enabling them to get to grips with the perspectives of Japanese authors. During the course, students read unedited Japanese texts on a range of topics. They make oral presentations in Japanese about the texts studied and engage in discussion of the texts and the issues raised in them, also in Japanese. Classes will also translate selected text sections. In addition, the classes will focus on developing students’ abilities to write natural and accurate Japanese. Students will be able to use the vocabulary they have acquired through reading in oral and written work, thus advancing their language abilities in an integrated way.

 

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
JAPA20082 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
JAPA51062 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
JAPA20090 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Japanese Language 8 JAPA51082 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
JAPA32000 Pre-Req_1191

Pre-requisite:

Either a mark of 55 or above in JAPA20082 Japanese Language 6 (New Code JAPA51062 ) or JAPA20092 Japanese Language 8 (New Code JAPA51082), or a certified pass in JLPT N2.

Aims

  • To develop students’ proficiency in accurate understanding of advanced Japanese written texts, including proficiency in translating such texts into English.
  • To develop students’ proficiency in advanced spoken Japanese through oral presentation and class discussion in Japanese.
  • To develop students’ proficiency in writing Japanese.
  • To develop students’ understanding of a range of important aspects of modern Japanese culture and society through engaging with key works by Japanese authors. 

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the course unit, you will have:

  • Acquired knowledge and understanding of native Japanese perspectives on a range of major issues related to modern Japanese society and culture.
  • Demonstrated in-depth knowledge and understanding of native Japanese perspectives on one of these issues, along with the ability to critically assess these perspectives in relation to one another.

Intellectual skills

On completion of this unit, successful participants will have further developed their abilities to:

  • think and argue critically and coherently
  • present information and arguments in a clear and cogent manner, both orally and in writing

Practical skills

On completion of this unit, successful participants will:

  • be able to demonstrate accurate understanding of advanced, unedited Japanese texts
  • have acquired the ability to make a fluent and coherent oral presentation in Japanese about a topic of advanced difficulty
  • have developed skills for oral discussion in Japanese
  • be able to write discursive texts in natural and accurate Japanese on topics of advanced difficulty

Transferable skills and personal qualities

On completion of this unit, successful participants will have further developed their abilities to:

  • work independently
  • think and argue critically and coherently
  • present information and arguments in a clear and cogent manner, both orally and in writing
  • appreciate, understand and critically appraise other societies and cultures 

Employability skills

Analytical skills
The course will develop a range of abilities that are essential for much higher-level employment. These include gathering, critically selecting, and organizing information and ideas; analytical, critical thinking; interpreting and assessing sources; articulating coherent, logical and convincing arguments and supporting them by relevant evidence; articulate participation in oral discussion; working independently and to deadlines.
Other
It will also develop proficiency in advanced spoken and written Japanese, including translation from Japanese into English. In addition, it will develop critical understanding of a different society, which is valuable for employment with an international dimension. It will develop understanding of a number of key aspects of Japanese society which will be invaluable for those seeking employment in Japan or seeking employment where engagement with Japan is important.

Assessment methods

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Assessment task  

Formative or Summative 

Length 

Weighting within unit (if summative) 

Up to four presentations in Japanese (with assessment of oral presentation, question and answer on the presentation, and accompanying written text for the presentation) 

Formative 

Oral presentation: 5 mins, followed by 5 mins Q&A 

Written text: 650 characters (approx. half an A4 page using 12 point font). 

N/A 

Japanese to English unseen translation exercise 

Formative 

90 minutes 

N/A 

Two presentations in Japanese (with assessment of oral presentation, question and answer on the presentation, and accompanying written text for the presentation) 

 

Summative 

Oral presentation: 5 mins, followed by 5 mins Q&A 

 

20% (each presentation 10%) 

Essay on one of the topics covered in the course unit (in Japanese, handwritten). 

Summative 

Between 6 and 10 A4 pages, written double-spaced.  

25% 

In-class summary (written) 

Summative 

90 minutes 

10% 

Examination at end of semester 2 consisting of two parts: (a) Japanese to English translation (b) short essay in Japanese (questions to be about the topics covered in the course). 

Summative 

2 hours 

45% 

 

Feedback methods

Feedback method

Formative or Summative

Oral and/or written comments on formative presentations.

Formative

Oral comments and guidance in class on student comprehension and translation.

Formative

Written corrections and comments on Japanese to English unseen translation exercise.

Formative

Written comments on essay and summative presentations.

Formative and summative

Feedback will be returned within the time limits specified in the relevant Faculty and SALC feedback policies. Students are also welcome to come to see the teacher to discuss their essay assignments and comments on them, on the understanding that this de-anonymises the marking.

 

Recommended reading

A topic list will be supplied at the start of the course, when copies of specified texts and recommended readings for each topic will be supplied by the tutors. The following works are indicative general works that should be consulted to gain an overall perspective on the course.

Kosugi Reiko. 2003. Furiitā to iu ikikata. Keisō Shobō. 

Saitō Tamaki. 1998. Shakai-teki hikikomori – owaranai shishunki. PHP Shinsho. 

Okuchi Keiko. 2005. Futōkō to iu ikikata. NHK Books. 

Hirota Teruyuki. 1999. Nihonjin no shitsuke wa suitai shita ka. Kōdansha Gendai Shinsho. 

小杉礼子著『フリーターという生き方』勁草書房、2003年 

斎藤環著『社会的ひきこもり―終わらない思春期』PHP新書、1998年 

奥地圭子著『不登校という生き方』日本放送出版協会、2005年 

広田照幸著『日本人のしつけは衰退したか』講談社現代新書、1999年

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Assessment written exam 2
Seminars 33
Independent study hours
Independent study 178

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Peter Cave Unit coordinator

Additional notes

 

 

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