This is an intensive beginner’s language programme. The course is designed to enable students with no previous knowledge of Japanese  to reach a level of lower-intermediate proficiency by the end of the year, and to build towards the use of the language at a high level. Study focuses on the four major language skills

• receptive skills (listening and reading)
• productive skills (speaking and writing)
• mediation skills (translation)
• inter-cultural awareness skills (awareness of cultural diversity)

These skills, as well as the study of the grammatical and lexical patterns of the language are practiced and developed through classwork exercises, online activities and written work, and use of video and audio material.

1. Read, understand and speak the Japanese language to a level comparable with A1-2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR) and  levels N5-N4 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test
2. Engage confidently and with appropriate grammatical correctness and spontaneity about topics that are familiar and routine in the Japanese language
3. Write coherent texts in Japanese on everyday topics with a good degree of grammatical and lexical accuracy, and using a good range of kanji, hiragana and katakana at beginner level.  
4. Read, understand and interpret beginner level Japanese material written in hiragana, katakana and kanji on specific topics relating to everyday life.
5.  Recognise and reproduce approximately 250 kanji.   

The module will be delivered through a range of interactive teaching sessions supplemented by online teaching and learning activities and materials – and may include, where relevant, asynchronous materials such as lecture recordings. Full details on the delivery mode of this module will be available on Learning Central at the start of the academic year – and may be, in part, determined by Welsh Government and Public Health Wales guidance.  

Independent Learning: You will be expected to spend a significant amount of time studying and participating in in individual and collaborative activities outside the live sessions. Materials will be provided on Learning Central which will help you develop your expertise as an independent language learner. You will be asked to consolidate your language learning by learning vocabulary and linguistic structures, and by reading, watching and/or listening to material in the Japanese language. You will also be expected to prepare and complete exercises and activities online, to complete written, listening and oral tasks.  Over the course of the year you will begin to acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies.

1. An understanding of the principles of learning a foreign language intensively and organise their learning with guidance with the tutor
2. Subject-specific language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in the Japanese language at the appropriate level
3. The ability to use language creatively and precisely for a range of purposes and audiences
4. The abilities to extract and synthesize key information from written, spoken and other sources
5. A greater awareness of how languages (including the mother tongue) function
6. The skills to be effective, independent and self-aware Iearners, including active reflection on learning processes and preferences so as to independently develop appropriate strategies and linguistic skills to ensure progression
7. The ability to work creatively and flexibly with others as part of a team
8. Skills in intercultural awareness, understanding and competence, including a critical understanding of other cultures and practice other than one’s own
9. Enhanced skills in effective communication, presentation and interaction – both in an online environment and face-to-face
10. Extended and refined vocabulary and skills by engaging with the Independent Learning Portfolio
11. Enhanced digital literacy skills including the ability to engage with appropriate language learning technology
12. The ability to identify, assess and make good use of appropriate reference materials (e.g. dictionaries;  online resources; self-study tool)

The key language skills are receptive (reading and listening), production (speaking and writing), mediation (translation between two languages) and intercultural awareness. Developing these skills involves acquiring metalinguistic and lexical competence, i.e. studying the building blocks of the language including grammatical and lexical patterns and structures. All of these skills are assessed through continuous assessment over the course of the module which reflects the progressive and accumulative nature of language learning.

The method(s) of assessing the learning outcomes for this module are set out in the Assessment Table, which also contains the weightings of each assessment component.

Mapping of Assessments to Intended Learning Outcomes:

Online test assesses ILOs 1, 2

Class test 1 assesses ILOs 1, 2, 4, 5

Essay assesses ILOs 1, 3, 5

Class test 2 assesses ILOs 1, 5

Oral Examination assesses ILOs 1, 2

Written exam assesses ILO 1,2,3,4,5

Reassessment

You may be required to resit one or more of the assessments in this module if you fail the module. The Examination Board will advise you which assessments you need to resit during the August resit period. Resit assessments that are not supported by extenuating circumstances will be capped at the pass mark applicable to your programme.

The course will focus on:

• Introducing the fundamentals of grammar
• Introducing sentence structures
• Building a range of vocabulary relevant to daily life, as specified in the European Common Framework of Reference, level A1-2 and and  levels N5-N4 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
• Introducing different registers
• Introducing the cultural contexts of the Japanese cultures
• Making the most of independent learning and learning technologies

Grammar, Listening & Speaking

Reading & Writing

Lesson 1

Topic: Introduction & Greetings

• Introduce ourselves
• Ask and tell people name, majors at school, time etc.

Learn and practice hiragana

Lesson 2

Topic: Shopping

• Ask and answer how much things cost
• Do shopping
• Order food in a restaurant

Learn and practice katakana

Lesson 3

Topic: Making a Date

• Talk about daily activities
• Extend, accept and refuse invitations

Reading topic: Daily Life

Learn and practice kanji

Lesson 4

Topic: The First Date

• Ask and describe where things/people are
• Talk about things that happened in the past
• Talk about habitual actions in the past

Reading topic: Mary’s weekend

Learn and practice kanji

Lesson 5

Topic: A trip to Okinawa

• Make offers and invitations
• Describe people and things
• Talk bout likes and dislikes
• Talk about travel

Reading topic: Travel

Learn and practice kanji

Lesson 6

Topic: A Day in Robert’s Life

• Make requests
• Offer help
• Ask for and give permission
• Give reasons for doing/not doing something
• Talk about rules and regulations

Reading topic: My Favourite Restaurant

Learn and practice kanji

Lesson 7

Topic: Family Picture

• Talk about families and friends
• Describe how people and dressed and how they look

Reading topic: Mary’s letter

Learn and practice kanji

Lesson 8

Topic: Barbecue

• Talk casually
• Request not to do
• Express thoughts and opinions
• Talk about things we like/dislike to do
• Report someone’s speech

Reading topic: Japanese Office Workers

Learn and practice kanji

Lesson 9

Topic: Kabuki

• Talk casually about the things that happened in the past
• Express thoughts and opinions about past events
• Report someone’s speech
• Order food in a restaurant or shop
• Give reasons

Reading topic: Sora’s Diary

Learn and practice kanji

Lesson 10

Topic: Winter Vacation Plans

• Compare things and people
• Talk about means of transportation and the time required
• Talk about future plans
• Describe changes in states
• Ask about tours and make reservations

Reading topic: The Folktale ‘Kasajizo’

Learn and practice kanji

Lesson 11

Topic: After the Vacation

• Express what we want to do
• Introduce friends to each other
• Talk about our experiences
• Ask and talk about hometowns

Reading topic: Looking for Friends/Members

Learn and practice kanji

Lesson 12

Topic: Feeling ill

• Give and ask for an explanation
• Describe symptoms of illness
• Complain about something being too much
• Give advice
• Express what we have to do

Reading topic: Tanabata festival

Learn and practice kanji 

Lesson 13

Topic: Looking for a Part-time Job

• Say what we can or cannot do
• Express first impressions
• Give several reasons
• Talk about part-time job experiences

Reading topic: Interesting Experiences in Japan

Learn and practice kanji

Lesson 14

Topic: Valentine’s Day

• Express what we want
• Give and receive presents
• Talk about uncertain things
• Talk about Valentine’s Day and special days

Reading topic: Personal Advice Column

Learn and practice kanji

Lesson 15

Topic: A Trip to Nagano

• Suggest doing something together
• Describe people or things in detail
• Make preparations
• Make plans for the trip with friends

Reading topic: My Favourite Place

Learn and practice kanji

Lesson 16

Topic: Lost and Found

• Talk about doing a favour
• Apologise
• Express our hopes and wishes
• Describe lost items

Reading topic: The Manga Doraemon

Learn and practice kanji

Lesson 17

Topic: Grumble and Gossip

• Tell what we hear from others
•  Point out similarities
• Talk about hypothetical situations
• Grumble about our situations

Reading topic: Yoko Ono (Biography)

Learn and practice kanji

Lesson 18

Topic: John’s Part-Time Job

• Describe the states of things
• Express our regret
• Talk about failure
• Talk with manager at a workplace

Reading topic: College Life

Learn and practice kanji