Admission requirements
This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies who have passed Japanese 1 Beginners.
Description
This is an integrated language course for beginners, with a communicative approach. Special attention will be paid to the use of the language in practical everyday situations and the focus will be on listening, speaking and reading and writing.
The target of the course is as follows;
A student can
1. deal with common aspects of everyday living such as travel, lodgings, eating and shopping.
2. ask questions to the station employee, for example, about how to get to the destination, how to ride the train, etc., and understand a few simple answers.
3. communicate in simple and routine tasks using simple phrases to ask for and provide things, to get simple information and to discuss what to do next.
4. get simple information about travel, use public transport: buses, trains, and taxis, ask and give directions, and buy tickets.
5. discuss everyday practical issues in a simple way when addressed clearly, slowly and directly.
6. understand short simple personal letters.
7. look at short simple texts in, for example, a travel brochure or guide book, and find the necessary information such as facts about the major sights and stores.
8. describe plans and arrangements, habits and routines, past activities and personal experiences.
9. deal with common aspects of everyday living such as travel, lodgings, eating and shopping.
10. learn basic Kanji for reading simple texts.
Students will be introduced to: – Japanese pronunciation, – a wide range of elementary grammatical structures and sentence patterns, – basic kanji characters (145 in vol. 1 of the course book) and – vocabulary terms and expressions that are closely tied to students’ everyday lives and communicative situations in Japanese contexts.
For more details, refer to online resources accompanying the course book:
Syllabus of the Grammar and Dialogue section (in Japanese): Grammar and Dialogue section
Kanji characters introduced in the Reading and Writing section: Reading and Writing section
Course objectives
CEFR target levels: Speaking: A1-2, Listening: A1-2, Reading: A1, Writing A1 as applicable and as described in the Japan Foundation Standard for Japanese Language Education:
Japanese Language Education > A1-A2
By the end of volume 2, students will acquire approximately 1,700 basic words and 317 kanji characters, including 254 of the 284 kanji listed for Level 3 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (as administered until 2010).
Timetable
The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website.
Mode of instruction
Three two hour tutorials every week
Attending lectures and tutorials is compulsory. If you are not able to attend a lecture or a tutorial, please inform the tutor of the course. Being absent without notification can result in a lower grade or exclusion from the final exam or essay.
Course Load
Total course load: 280 hours (10 EC)
Attending classes: 72 hours (6 hrs per week over 12 weeks)
Preparing classes, exams and extra activities : 208 hours
Assessment method
There is no re-sit test during the course
Use of the target language to communicate with correct pronunciation, vocabulary items and grammar, In-class oral performance (Listening/ Dictation/speaking) 40 %
Use of course contents, including vocabulary items, Kanji/grammar. Written exam and quiz 60%
Use of the target language to write with suitable vocabulary items and grammar. Writing assignments 10% 1 time
The resit will be a written exam of two hours, and will test if the students have reached the end level of this semester. This exam consists of the following components:
Reading and writing;
Written dialogue;
Vocabulary and grammar.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used. For tutorial groups: please enroll in blackboard after your enrolment in uSis
Students are requested to register on Blackboard for this course.
Reading list
1) Genki Textbook I & II [Second Edition], The Japan Times, ISBN: 978-4-7890-1440-3 & 978-4-7890-1443-4
2) Genki Workbook I & II [Second Edition], The Japan Times, ISBN: 978-4-7890-1441-0 & 978-4-7890-1444-1
Genki website: http://genki.japantimes.co.jp/index_en
Local bookstore: van Stockum (http://www.vanstockum.nl/)
The Japan Times book club: http://bookclub.japantimes.co.jp/en/index.jsp
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact
Ms. K. Khosla, email k.khosla@hum.leidenuniv.nl