Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module provides students with academic competence in advanced Japanese. Students will master vocabulary, grammatical structures, writing and speaking styles at a further advanced level. By the end of the module, students will be able to write confidently and naturally in a variety of written Japanese styles; students will be able to read a wide range of real-world texts; students will have developed the ability to converse fluently in a sufficiently articulated language.

In addition to the above objectives, this module also aims to
1) To develop an appropriate level of intercultural sensitivity in students to enable successful interpersonal communication in a range of different situations.
2) To continue to equip students with the necessary skills to become better language learners.

Upon completing this module, students should have acquired the necessary skills to prepare for the JLPT N1.

Outline Of Syllabus

1. Reading
We shall continue to read real-world texts covering a broad range of topics such as current social and political issues, and Japanese history.
2. Interpreting
You will develop skills for community interpreting such as hospital appointments.
3. Business Japanese.
You will develop practical language skills for professional settings, including formal communication, negotiation, and presentation abilities. It also enhances cultural understanding and etiquette, essential for effective interaction in Japanese as well as multi-cultural business environments. You will also read a Japanese news article every week.
4. Writing .
You will further develop skills in writing essays.
5. Interpreting
You will develop skills for community interpreting.
6. Speaking.
You will further develop skills in making speeches in Japanese, sustaining a discussion in Japanese making clear your arguments and sustaining them in an articulated way.

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

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have gained knowledge in:

- synthesising information from a variety of authentic sources with a high number of kanji, comprising extended aural and written input from a variety of demanding discourse types;
- understanding, using and evaluating information from authentic media sources;
- linguistic register (plain Japanese, polite Japanese and honorific Japanese) according to the appropriate social context;
- basics of community interpreting;
- Japanese used in business situation;
- an appropriate level of inter-cultural sensitivity, enabling successful interpersonal communication in a range of different situations, including that of Japanese companies.

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of the module students will:
- be able to understand spoken Japanese on a wide range of topics of general interest, and business, and to appreciate subtle distinctions of usage in spoken Japanese;
- be able to write precise, well-structured Japanese on a wide range of topics of general and personal interest, effectively expressing ideas and opinions in an appropriate style and register;
- be able to understand various types of written Japanese, dealing with a wide range of business subjects;
- be able to work in a Japanese business environment;
- be able to express oneself fluently and accurately in areas of general interest and business; to converse confidently and naturally, using a wide range of expressions, in language and register which are appropriate to the situation;
- have developed basic skills in community interpreting;
- be able to employ sophisticated self-study skills.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Language classes will introduce, model and offer guidance in each of the skills that students are required to practise during the course (including summary, opinion and commentary writing, intensive reading, aural skills, taking part in critical discussions and oral presentations in the target language).

Group work will offer students an opportunity to work in small groups (in the target language) under close supervision of the lecturer. These classes will focus on the skills listed in the outline syllabus.

Teaching will primarily be conducted in the target language.

Work requirements:
- researching materials for oral presentation and discussion;
- writing critical discussions, reports and summaries in the target language;
- practising and revising advanced vocabulary and grammar.

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.

- Community interpreting, students will be assessed on their ability to act as an interpreter in the role play.

- Discussion, students will produce and present their own output orally and to discuss with their peers on a given topic.

- One 150-minute written exam on Reading / Grammar / Kanji characters / Business Japanese 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 / Business Japanese in the module.

- One essay will assess students' ability to research authentic materials on their chosen topic and write in the target language. An oral presentation, followed by a Q&A session, will evaluate their understanding of the topic.

General Notes

N/A