This module aims to refine students’ linguistic and cultural competencies acquired in Japanese at previous levels. By fortifying productive (written and oral), receptive (aural and reading) and mediation (translation, précis, textual analysis) and intercultural awareness skills, students will achieve capacity for graduate employment or higher degrees of specialisation. To accomplish this, they will work with a variety of oral, aural and textual materials, primarily aimed at consolidating communicational skills in the Japanese language. Students will use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes, while also fine-tuning their transferable skills.

1. Read, understand and speak  Japanese to a level comparable with B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR) and level N2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test
2. Express themselves fluently and spontaneously in formal contexts without much obvious searching for expressions.
3. Collect, select, evaluate and information or interpretations of material on a specific topic for oral presentation.
4. Collect, select, evaluate and present information or interpretations of material on a specific topic in writing.
5. Mediate between source and Japanese language by means of translating and/or interpreting across a wide range of topics.
6. Interpret and analyse on aspects of the cultures, communities and societies where the language is used.

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 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 and to engage with tutors and peers through discussion boards and forums. Over the course of the semester you will begin to acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies.

This module will be delivered in Japanese.

Language skills

• Express themselves fluently and spontaneously in Japanese on a wide range of topics and registers.
• Understand a wide range of longer texts and recognise nuances in meaning and use.
• Write clear, well-structured, detailed texts in Japanese on complex subjects.
• Refine knowledge and understanding of language varieties, register, genre, nuances of meaning and language use.
• Use Japanese flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.
• Engage in online exchanges between several participants, effectively linking their contributions to previous ones on the thread.

Intercultural awareness, understanding and competence

• Critically understand other cultures and practices other than student’s own.
• Articulate to others the contribution that the Japanese culture has made at a regional and global level.
• Appreciate and evaluate critically student’s own culture.

Language-related skills

• Develop awareness and understanding of student’s own approaches for learning Japanese language.
• Develop awareness and understanding of student’s own learning style and learning opportunities of the Japanese language.

Generic skills

• Use Japanese language creatively and precisely for a range of purposes and audiences.
• Extract and synthesise key information from written, spoken and other sources.
• Organise and present ideas within the framework of a structured and reasoned argument.
• Develop digital literacy.
• Develop problem-solving skills.
• Use Japanese language source materials appropriately.
• Make effective use of language reference materials such as grammars, standard and specialised dictionaries.
• Write and think under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Manage own learning.
• Effective communication, presentation and interaction.
• Ability to work creatively and flexibly with others as part of a team.
• Linguistic mediation skills.

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

Aural: assess LOs 1, 3, 5

Written Essay: assesses LOs 4, 5, 6

Oral: assesses LOs 1, 2, 4,  5

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE:

One piece of written coursework (100%), for a maximum of 40%

Students will work with a main textbook as well as variety of materials. The materials used will be appropriate to the needs and areas of interest of all students. The module will equip students with a semi-specialised vocabulary and new insights on a selection of the following domains: Art, Business and Administration, Culture and Heritage, History, IT, Law, Literature, Media, Politics and Popular Culture. Various forms of expression will be practised. This could include orally, through interviews, presentations and discussions; and in writing, through reports, essays and discussion forum.