BA English Language and Japanese / Course details

This is an advanced level language course which teaches receptive skills (reading and listening) and productive skills (speaking and writing) in Japanese. 

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.

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 in JAPA51042 or for those at an equivalent level, this course aims to broaden students’ vocabulary (both spoken and written), hone their communication and analytical skills and deepen their understanding of grammar. There will also be translation exercises between English and Japanese. The module aims to prepare students for a period of residence in Japan by giving them the language skills for reading and for competent spoken and written communication. 

The acquisition of the grammatical. lexical, phonetic, written and communicative aspects of Japanese initially follows the progression of a set textbook (Tobira). However other materials will be selected by the course tutors. Some of the grammar classes in Semester 2 will support students preparing for Japanese Language Proficiency Examination (JLPT) N2 but the JLPT examination itself is not a part of this course. Classes are complemented by an Independent Language Learning Programme (ILLP) which is an integral part of study and assessment. Teaching and learning are supported by a Blackboard environment.

4 hours of tutorials per week (a combination of close reading, grammar analysis, writing skills, reading, and listening and speaking with exercises (including group and pair-work)). There will be regular assignments.  

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

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.

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.  

There is an Independent Language Learning Portfolio component.  

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

• demonstrate control of approximately 1,500 Kanji characters and 5500 vocabulary items.

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

• understand themselves as advanced 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 discussion and debate as well as in conversations on everyday matters and on a wide range of topics relating to Japanese society and language. 
• show proficiency in reading authentic Japanese texts and reports and viewing and hearing TV and other audio and video material in standard Japanese and in some variants 
• write stylistically appropriate Japanese prose, as well as translate Japanese into appropriate English 
• have developed higher level skills in both close and gist reading 
• be engaging confidently with unedited language in a variety of genres  
• translate and use translation tools 

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

• have confidence in interacting with native speakers 

• feel well prepared for residence abroad in Japan 

Resit Assessment

There is a set textbook for this course in semester one.

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

Tobira Gateway to Advanced Japanese: Learning Through Content and Multimedia (Tokyo: Kurosio 20092010) (ISBN-10: 4874244475 / ISBN-13: 978-4874244470) 
 

Grammar Power: Exercises for Mastery (Tokyo: Kurosio 2012) ISBN 978-4-87424-570-5  

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.