JAPN 1001 - Japanese IA

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2021

Japanese IA is designed for beginners with little or no previous knowledge of Japanese. This course is also ideal for those who wish to consolidate their basic knowledge of Kanji, vocabulary and grammar. The course offers instruction and practice in the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking, while introducing the basic grammar and vocabulary of modern Japanese as well as the basic writing system, hiragana, katakana and beginners kanji. In classes, emphasis will be placed on developing students' basic communication skills in both spoken and written Japanese to build a solid foundation at the beginner level. The aims of the course are: i) to enhance and consolidate the introductory grammar; ii) to expand knowledge and use of vocabulary in both conversational and written contexts; iii) to develop communication skills/strategies; iv) to become familiar with hiragana, katakana and basic kanji; v) to become efficient and independent language learners. Entry criteria for students with Year 12 SACE grades can be found at: https://arts.adelaide.edu.au/asian/study/language/

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code JAPN 1001
    Course Japanese IA
    Coordinating Unit Asian Studies
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 4 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites No assumed knowledge of Japanese is required. This course is for (total) beginners with little or no previous knowledge of Japanese.
    Assessment Weekly Online Quiz (10%), Script (hiragana) & Vocabulary Test 1 (10%), Script (hiragana & Katakana) & Vocabulary Test 2 (15%), Mid-semester Test (25%), Final Oral Examination (10%), Final Written Examination (30%)
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Masaki Shibata

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Enhance and consolidate the introductory grammar and expand knowledge
    and use of vocabulary in both conversational and written context
    2 Become familiar with hiragana, katakana and basic kanji
    3 Develop communication skill/strategies
    4 Develop the skills required for collaborative work with peers
    5 Become efficient and independent language learners
    6 Equip students with skills to use online sources for Japanese language studies
    7 Develop an understanding of and respect for cultural difference and diversity combined
    with a knowledge and understanding of the issues involved in intercultural
    communication
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,3
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1,2,3,6
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    3,4
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    4,5,6
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    7
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    4,5,7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Textbooks

    1. Sugu kakeru! Kirei ni kakeru! Hiragana Katakana Renshuu nooto(Tokyo: Aruku, 2014)

    2. Minna no Nihongo Shokyū I:Honsatsu (Tokyo: 3A Corporation, 2nd edition)

    3. Minna no Nihongo Shokyū I:Translation & Grammatical Notes (Tokyo: 3A Corporation, 2nd edition)

    4.Minna no Nihongo Shokyū I:Kanji (Tokyo: 3A Corporation, 2nd edition)

    5. Minna no Nihongo Shokyū I:Hyoojun-mondai-shuu (Exercises) (Tokyo: 3A Corporation, 2nd edition)

    6. Minna no Nihongo Shokyū I:Kaite Oboeru Bunkei Renshucho(Sentence Pattern Workbook I) (Tokyo: 3A Corporation, 2nd edition)

    7. Minna no Nihongo Shokyū I:Shokyu de Yomeru Topikku 25 (Reading Comprehension)  (Tokyo: 3A Corporation, 2nd edition)

    The above books are sold at Books Kinokuniya WebStore https://australia.kinokuniya.com/.

    Recommended Resources
    At this beginner level, a dictionary is not an essential item since the vocabulary and kanji that students need to learn are listed in Translation & Grammatical Notes and the Kanji book. There may be cases, however, when students feel the need to look elsewhere for other words and grammatical points for the assignments and their independent study. The following reference books are useful for study outside classroom at this course level.

    Essential Kanji – 2,000 basic Japanese characters, 1987, O’Neill, P.G., New
    York: Weatherhill.

    A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar, 1989, Makino, S. & Tsutsui,
    M., Tokyo: Japan Times.

    In addition, many useful online Japanese-learning sites, including online dictionary/translation sites are also available on the Internet – a list of useful Japanese learning web-links can be found under the ‘e-learning links’ tab on MyUni.

    Online Learning
    The couse will utilise several e-learning learning resources via the MyUni platform and students will be given a practical session using such resources.

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    To create language compatible learning environments where students feel free to interact and contribute to the class we endeavour to use relevant situational material to construct ‘real’ example sentences in a variety of pair or group activities in Japanese 1A.

    This approach allows us to provide real world communication situations while emphasising the relevance and the importance of learning new grammar and vocabulary in Japanese.

    Teaching props, guest visitors and audio visual teaching aids may be used to teach vocabulary and grammar. Focus is given to understandings of Japanese language, culture and intercultural relationships throughout the course.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    1 x 2-hour lecture (or equivalent) per week 24 hours per semester
    1 x 2-hour tutorial (or equivalent) per week 24 hours per semester
    4 hours vocabulary study per week 48 hours per semester
    3 hours language practice per week 36 hours per semester
    2 hours test/assignment preparation per week 24 hours per semester
    TOTAL WORKLOAD 156 hours per semester
    Learning Activities Summary
    Schedule
    Week 1 Greetings, Introduction, and Hiragana
    Week 2 Greetings, Introduction, Hiragana and Katakana
    Week 3 Katakana, Script (hiragana) & Vocabulary Test 1
    Week 4 Chapter 1, Katakana
    Week 5 Chapter 2, Review of Hiragana & Katakana
    Week 6 Kanji 1&2, Script (hiragana & Katakana) &

    Vocabulary Test 2
    Week 7 Chapter 3
    Week 8 Chapter 4
    Week 9 Kanji 3 & 4, Mid-semester Test
    Week 10 Chapter 5, Kanji 5
    Week 11 Final Oral Test
    Week 12 Final Test
    Specific Course Requirements
    Success in foreign language learning is a cumulative process and does require regular practice to consolidate your knowledge and to develop
    your language skills via face-to-face interactions. Therefore, it is naturally expected that you attend all classes (4 hours/week) and participate in a variety of language learning activities in class.

    Students are also strongly encouraged to use online learning tools and resources available on MyUni.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Through the in-class activities and assignments, students will work in small groups in a virtual learning space using the MyUni platform.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Learning Outcome Time/Date
    Weekly online quiz Formative
    and summative
    10% 1,2,3,5,6,7 Every week 
    Script (hiragana) & Vocabulary Test 1 Formative
    and summative
    10% 1,2,3,5,6,7 Week 3
    Script (hiragana & Katakana) &

    Vocabulary Test 2
    Formative
    and summative
    15% 1,2,3,5,6,7 Week 6
    Mid-semester Test Formative
    and summative
    25% 1,2,3,5,6,7 Week 9
    Final Oral Test summative 10% 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 Week 11
    Final Test summative 30% 1,2,3,5,6,7 Week 12

    The weekly online quizzes are assigned during your tutorial class. The content of the online quizzes is directly related to the content delivered in your lecture and tutorial class.

    Assessment Detail
    Assessment details will be avaiilable on MyUni
    Submission
    Students must submit their assignments online via Turnitin.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.