BA Sociology and Japanese / Course details

This is an intermediate learners’ level language course which teaches the skills of reception (reading and listening) and production (speaking and writing) in Japanese, and translation of the material learned into English. There is a pre-requisite of Intermediate skills (GCE AS-level and above) in Japanese or equivalent.  

Please note that there are heavy timetabling requirements for both Japanese and for laboratory-based science subjects. Attendance at dedicated catch-up and/or replacement drop-in sessions on Wednesday afternoons (details to be confirmed) may be required in order to allow students from across the university to cover all the materials adequately.

For new students starting their degree in September 2022 or thereafter, this unit is compulsory and as such requires a pass mark of 40% or above at the first sitting in order to progress to the next level of language in semester 2.  Students who fail to meet this requirement will be able to discuss their options with their relevant Programme Director and may be able to move onto the non-language degree award of East Asian Studies.  

Available on: BA Japanese Studies and Combinations involving Japanese with other languages and area studies degrees and BA Modern Language with Business and Management etc. 

Not available as a free choice – but if the level is appropriate the convenor may exceptionally admit an external student

Building on students’ prior learning, it aims to broaden students’ vocabulary (both spoken and written), hone their translation skills and deepen their understanding of grammar. There will also be speaking exercises to acquire communication strategies, and translation exercises between English and Japanese.

This is a course based around a textbook supplemented with additional material and supported by independent study.   

8 hours of tutorials per week (a combination of formal grammar teaching, writing skills, reading, and in-class practice and tests of reading, writing, listening and speaking with exercises (including group and pair-work)). There will be weekly assignments.  

Please note that there are heavy timetabling requirements for both Japanese and for laboratory-based science subjects. Attendance at dedicated catch-up and/or replacement drop-in sessions on Wednesday afternoons (details to be confirmed) may be required in order to allow students from across the university to cover all the materials adequately.

There are timetabled office hours for all staff teaching this unit who are available for consultation.  

All students have access to the Language Centre and should use its resources regularly.  All students are further expected to participate in learning partnerships with Japanese students where possible. 

By the end of this course students should be able to:

• demonstrate a sure grasp of approximately 500 kanji characters and about 2000 vocabulary items.

By the end of this course students should be able to:

• understand themselves as developing learners and be able to engage effectively with the appropriate resources to negotiate understanding.

By the end of this course students should be able to:

• express themselves orally in more advanced role-plays and dialogues on everyday matters and on a wide range of topics relating to Japanese society
• show developing proficiency in reading Japanese texts and viewing and hearing TV and other audio and video material in standard Japanese
• begin to write stylistically appropriate Japanese prose, as well as translate Japanese into appropriate English
• effectively use standard dictionaries and grammar references  
• type Japanese using word-processing packages,

By the end of this course students should be able to:

• show developing confidence in interacting with native speakers.
   

Resit Assessment

Set texts:

The set textbook is Tobira Gateway to Advanced Japanese, along with its two accompanying workbooks, Grammar Power and Power Up Your Kanji.

1. Tobira Gateway to Advanced Japanese: Learning Through Content and Multimedia (Tokyo: Kurosio 2009) (ISBN-10: 4874244475 / ISBN-13: 978-4874244470)
2. Grammar Power: Exercises for Mastery (Tokyo: Kurosio 2012) ISBN 978-4-87424-570-5
3. Power Up your Kanji: 800 Basic Kanji as a Gateway to Advanced Japanese (Tokyo) (ISBN-10: 4874244874 / ISBN-13: 978-4874244876 
    

Recommended texts:

Donna toki  dou tsukau/ Nihongo hyougen bunkei jiten [JLPT N1-N4]  

(Tokyo: Ark 2010) ( ISBN-10: 4757418868 / ISBN-13: 978-4757418868 )

Makino and Tsutsui, A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar (The Japan Times, 1992), ISBN: 978-4789004541.