Prospectus

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Japanese 2 Pre-Intermediate

Course
2023-2024

Admission requirements

This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies programme who have passed Japanese 1 Beginners.

Description

Japanese 2 Pre-Intermediate is an integrated Japanese language course, which aims to develop fundamental proficiency in skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Introduction and explanation will be provided about a wide range of the elementary grammatical structures, expressions, vocabulary, “Kanji” characters (about hundred more, in addition to those studied during Japanese 1 Beginners). Students are provided with the opportunity to practice and perform orally and in writing in a culturally appropriate manner in a variety of social situations. This course will cover Lessons 6 through 11 of the “Tobira” textbook.

Course objectives

At the end of the course, students will be expected to perform sufficiently in all four skills at a basic level of proficiency, which is equivalent to A1+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This is a level where one can deal with common aspects of daily life (see the course syllabus provided through Brightspace for details).

Skill CEFR Level
Reading A2
Writing A1+
Listening A2
Speaking A1+

Timetable

The timetables are available through My Timetable.

Mode of instruction

Tutorials

Three two-hour tutorials every week, with the exception of the midterm exam week. Attending all tutorial sessions is compulsory. If you are unable to attend a session, please inform your tutor in advance, providing a valid reason for your absence. Being absent will result in a lowering of the participation grade with 1.0% for every absence after the first three times.

Assessment method

Assessment

  • Online preparatory quizzes;

  • In-class grammar and writing quizzes;

  • End-of-term writing assignment;

  • End-of-term in-class oral presentation;

  • An oral exam and a written exam.

Weighing

Partial grade Weighing
Reading 20%
Writing 20%
Listening 20%
Speaking 20%
Participation 20%

End Grade

  • To successfully complete the course, please take note that the End Grade of the course is established by determining the weighted average of the in-class oral and listening performance, and written exams.

  • The End Grade needs to be a 6.0 or higher to pass the course.

Resit

If the End Grade is insufficient (lower than a 6.0), there is a possibility of retaking the full 80% of the exam material (exams, quizzes, Midterm Exam and Final Exam). No resit for the tutorial (participation and homework) is possible.

The BA International Studies program does not allow students to resit passed (constituent) examination(s) within the language courses. Language acquisition is, primarily, accomplished through in-class acquisition activities and practical assignments which contribute to the (final) examination. The diverse structure of the language courses and characteristics of language acquisition therefore withhold the possibility to resit a passed examination.

Exam review and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Reading list

Main Texbook (Required):

  • TOBIRA I: Beginning Japanese, Tokyo: Kuroshio publishers, ISBN 978-4-87424-870-6

  • TOBIRA II: Beginning Japanese, Tokyo: Kuroshio publishers, ISBN 978-4-87424-900-0

Workbook: None

Registration

  • Enrolment for the workgroup through My Studymap is mandatory.

  • No enrolment needed for the language exams.

Contact

Remarks

This course uses an integrated communicative language learning method. Therefore active participation in the classroom activities is essential for successful learning outcomes.