Aims

This module provides students with language competence in advanced Japanese, provides students with the basis for community interpreting, trains students in the fundamentals of Japanese translation (Japanese-English, English-Japanese) and offers students a good level in business Japanese. Students will build upon the achievements made during your year abroad in Japan or those made in Level C Japanese. Students will master vocabulary, grammatical structures, writing styles and spoken styles at an advanced level. By the end of the module, students will be writing confidently and naturally in a variety of written-Japanese styles, students will be able to read a vast range of real-world texts, students will have developed the ability to understand a variety of oral sources and students will converse fluently using a sufficiently articulated language. Students will be able to engage with community interpreting, to move towards a career that builds upon the basic knowledge of translation techniques and students will have sufficient knowledge of business Japanese to think about a job in a Japanese company.

The training that students will get and the level that students will obtain is that required in level N1 of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).

Besides the goals state above, this module also aims at:
1) Developing an appropriate level of inter-cultural sensitivity in students, enabling successful interpersonal communication in a range of different situations.
2) Continuing to provide students with the necessary skills to become better language learners.

Outline Of Syllabus

1. Reading
We shall read real-world texts covering a broad range of topics such as: Japanese language, current social and political issues, and Japanese history.

2. Listening
The listening materials will be used: news, documentaries, films.

3.Translation
You will develop skills in translation from English to Japanese and vice versa.

4. Business Japanese.
The module will take you through two manuals of business Japanese. You will learn how to converse and to behave in the professional environment of Japanese companies, how to read and write documents related to business work and you will master a specific vocabulary related to business Japanese. You will also read a Japanese news article every week.

5. Writing
You will develop skills in writing compositions, summaries, interviews, etc.

6. Interpreting
You will develop skills for community interpreting.

7. Speaking.
You will develop skills in making speeches in Japanese, sustaining a discussion in Japanese making clear your arguments and sustaining them in an articulated way, plan and develop little projects that entail presentations in Japanese.

Please note that the syllabus, the course content and the pace may be changed as necessary to reflect students’ needs.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Key grammatical structures, vocabulary and kanji are practised using an integrated communicative approach in practical classes delivered in seminar style. Oral and aural skills (i.e. speaking and listening) as well as writing and reading are practised throughout the course in task-based activities involving individual, pair and group work.

In order to ensure that 128 hours of independent guided study takes place, each contact hour is followed by homework assignments . The homework will include:
- Preparations for readings on a weekly basis
- Writing assignments on a weekly basis
- Grammar exercises on a weekly basis
- Kanji practice on a daily basis
- Preparations for speeches and discussions on a weekly basis
- Listening exercises on a weekly basis
- Preparations and homework for Business Japanese on a weekly basis

There is a minimum homework submission requirement of 70%, with this percentage being calculated every 6 weeks. Where appropriate, individualised formative feedback is provided (e.g. for writing assignments involving a creative element).

This module is taught and assessed mainly in Japanese. English will be used for the following activities: translation from English to Japanese and translation from Japanese to English.

*To improve skills to work in an online environment.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The assessment is designed in such a way as to test all the skills mastered during scheduled learning and teaching activities, structured guided learning and individual study.

One oral examination in Semester 2 (20%) . Students produce and present their own output orally and to discuss with their peers on a given topic.

One written exam for translation in Semester 2 (15%) will assess students’ ability to translate from JPN to ENG.

One 90-minute written exam in Semester 2 (25%) on Reading / Grammar / Kanji characters will test students’ ability to read and write in the target language. This formal examination provides summative information to staff and student on student's achievement in reading / grammar/ Kanji writing skills in the module.

One essay in Semester 2 (20%) will test students’ ability to write in the target language and translation skills from English to Japanese.

One portfolio in Semester 1 and 2 for Business Japanese and listening (20%) helps students assess their progress and identify their strengths and areas for improvement, thus stimulating their independent and reflective learning skills throughout the year.