• Inactive for Year: 2024/25

• Module Leader(s): Ms Etsuko Suda
• Other Staff: Dr Jo Lumley

• Owning School: Modern Languages
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Aims

This module is designed to be the core module of Level C Japanese modules. It provides students with comprehension skills of upper intermediate/advanced levels to cope with the linguistic demands of real life in general. Students will increase their knowledge of vocabulary, kanji script and grammatical structures at intermediate and post-intermediate levels. They will be able to read a wide range of un-edited materials (e.g., newspapers, essays, magazines, etc.) dealing with a variety of topics and to translate these materials into English.

The aims of the module are:
1) To provide students with sufficient language competence to cope with the linguistic demands of
real life in general.
2) To develop an appropriate level of inter-cultural sensitivity in students.
3) To continue to provide students with the necessary skills to become better language learners.

Outline Of Syllabus

1. Grammar
You will learn key grammar points and structures from the textbook which overlap items of JLPT
(Japanese Language Proficiency Test) n2. Output in the form of original sentence writing with
accurate use of grammar points is expected of you to demonstrate your understanding of the key
expressions.

2. Reading
Reading materials including newspaper articles and other publications on cultural and social topics
from the textbook will be covered in the seminars to help you to acquire a wide range of vocabulary
and kanji script.

3. Translation
Translation will be studied in this seminar to provide students with further reading competence in the target language.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Grammatical structures, vocabulary and kanji are practised using an integrated communicative approach in practical classes delivered in seminar style.

Reading and translation are practised throughout the course in task-based activities involving individual, pair and group work.

Kanji and vocabulary tests will take place regularly once a week and will be formally assessed. In order to ensure that 134 hours of independent guided study takes place, each contact hour is followed by homework assignments relating to what has just been introduced/practised.

The homework will include:
- Preparations for reading and J-E translation from the core textbook and from material outside the textbook
- Grammar exercises
- Kanji practice

There is a minimum homework submission requirement of 70%, with this percentage being calculated each semester.

Where appropriate, individualised formative feedback is provided.

This module is taught and assessed mainly in Japanese. English will be applied for the following activities:
1. Explanation of grammatical structures
2. Translation

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams

Other Assessment

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The written examinations in Semester 1 and 2 on script/vocabulary/grammar/reading will test students’ ability to understand the key component language skills of the module. These formal exams provide summative information to staff and student on student's achievement in script/reading/grammar in the module, combined with translation assessment.

Translation skills are assessed as part of the written exercise in Semester 2. The translation assignment provides motivation for students' professional development and allows students to monitor their progress. This task will test students’ ability to translate the target language into English.

Regular kanji and vocabulary tests are necessary in order to allow students to acquire gradual improvement.
It also gives students the possibility to receive constant feedback on their performance.

Reading Lists

• JPN4013's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• JPN4013's Timetable