Course Title: Japanese 1

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2010

Course Code: LANG5485

Course Title: Japanese 1

School: 365T Global Studies, Soc Sci & Plng

Campus: City Campus

Program: C1049 - Certificate I in Language (Japanese)

Course Contact : Ms. Barbara White

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5211

Course Contact Email:barbara.white@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Mon - Chie Hama in 51.03.10, Wed - Mizue Aiko in 51.03.06

chie.hama@rmit.edu.au
mizue.aiko@rmit.edu.au


Hiroko Ohashi ( hiroko.ohashi@rmit.edu.au)
Program Co-ordinator
Japanese Language Programs
Phone: +61 3 9925 3975/2328

Nominal Hours: 180

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This course makes up the year-long Certificate I in Language (Japanese). Through closed and then open-ended learning activities you will establish a basis for development of communicative skills in the spoken and written language, emphasizing the former. On completion of this program you will have elementary speaking and listening skills in Japanese to assist you in a very limited range of everyday situations. The 2 scripts of hiragana and katakana and approximately 90basic kanji characters  will be taught. Practical knowledge of the culture, in a wide range of personal and social situations and context will be introduced. Student-centred drilling, practical and communicative activities and tasks encourage you to be responsible for your own learning, to be creative and critical in your application of knowledge of the language to communication with people of a different cultural tradition, and to build on your knowledge and interest to a level where learning can continue in daily life.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

LOTE 563 Japanese 1


Learning Outcomes


1. Participate in a short, basic conversational exchange

2. Provide basic personal information and elicit similar information from others

3. Participate in a simple transactional exchange to provide or obtain a product or service

4. Give spoken information about a person, place, product or service

5. Demonstrate understanding of spoken information

6. Complete a simple form

7. Write a short note or message

8. Identify key information on common signs or simple notices

9. Read a short, simple information text


Details of Learning Activities

Class time is devoted to a variety of activities at introducing, drilling, learning experiences practising, consolidating and developing aspects of language which are
then available for you to use communicatively. This process includes presentation of new language through explanation, on-line and audio material and text; mechanical oral and written exercises and drills, leading to creative oral and written tasks, aim to give you practice in adapting and using the introduced language for your own communicative purposes.

Much of the rote learning work necessary to language learning is assigned as homework. Your active participation in the course, by means of regular preparation of class topics and revision, wider reading about the country and culture, and seeking out own opportunities to practise, is necessary if successful learning is to take place.

Classes provide most of the limited opportunities you have to use newly-learnt language. Classes are designed to use the four skills(speaking, listening, reading, and writing) together in an integrated manner.  However,  the assessment of each skill will be assigned to a specific teacher to maintain consistency. Attendance at all classes is therefore essential.

Feedback on the balance and focus of the subject from you is welcome. Students and staff meet each semester and Course Experience Questionnaires are distributed from week 13. 


Teaching Schedule

W1(19/7)  Review of L1-4
                     Lesson 5                                                                                

W2(26/7)   Lesson 5

W3(2/8)     Lesson 5                                                                               RMIT Open Day (8/8)

W4(9/8)       Lesson 5                Kanji test L5

W5(16/8)   Lesson 6               Oral presentation 1

W6(23/8)   Lesson 6               Reading and Writing Task 1 submission
                                                                                                                      JLPT Application
                                                                                                                       Friday 27 August
                                                                                                                       http://www.jpf.org.au/
                                                                                                                       http://www.jsh.org.au/index.php?q=jlpt

30/8Mid-semester Break                                                                       Speech Contest (5/9)

W7(6/9)       Lesson 6              Kanji test L6

W8(13/9)    Lesson 7              Listening Test


W9(20/9)      Lesson 7

W10(27/9)   Lesson 7             Kanji test L7

W11(4/10)   Lesson 8             Exam information
                                                      Oral presentation 2

W12(11/10) Lesson 8             Reading and Writing Task 2 submission

W13(18/10) Lesson 8            Kanji test L8

W14(25/10) Lesson 5~8        Revision & Kanji practice


W15 (1/11) 
(Monday  1/11)                          Written  Exam
(Wednesday 3/11)                    Oral/Aural Exam

*The above program is subject to change.


 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

TEXT RESOURCES:

Befu, H., Eades, J. S. and Gill, T. (ed.) Globalization and social change in contemporary Japan Rosanna, Vic. : Trans Pacific Press, 2000

Hendry, J., Understanding Japanese society New York : Routledge, 2003.

Martinez., D. P. (ed.) Modern Japanese culture and society London : Routledge, 2007.

Mouer, R. and Kawanishi H.. A sociology of work in Japan New York : Cambridge University Press, 2005.

Nathan., J. Japan unbound : a volatile nation’s quest for pride and purpose Boston ; New York : Houghton Mifflin, 2004.

Sugimoto, Y. An introduction to Japanese society Cambridge, U.K. ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2003.

Sugimoto, Y. and Mouer, R. Images of Japanese society : a study in the social construction of reality London ; New York : Kegan Paul, 2002.

INTERNET RESOURCES:

ESSENTIAL Genki website (offers additional useful materials to use including self-study materials and related links:
http://genki.japantimes.co.jp

RMIT Learning Hub/Blackboard:
You are enrolled in LANG 5485 Japanese 1 Class2414
*Follow the link to view "previous semester’s course registrations" followed by "View all",and you will find you course listed in "Semester 1 (TAFE First Half), 2010".

www.rmit.edu.au/learninghub


Listening practice:

www.japanesepod101.com

Dictation quizzes for Japanese speech:
http://sp.cis.iwate-u.ac.jp/sp/lesson/j/index.html

Japan-related activities in Melbourne :
www.melbourne.au.emb-japan.go.jp/

News:
www.japantimes.co.jp/topnews.html

Japan Insight:
http://jin.jcic.or.jp/insight

Japan’s Official Site:
www.mofa.go.jp

Bookshop specialising in Japanese language texts:
www.languageint.com.au

Updates on scholarships/events:
www.rmit.edu.au/languages


Overview of Assessment

Your language skills will be assessed using speaking tasks, listening tasks, reading tasks, script tests and short written assignments. The final result is obtained by combining the results of all progressive assessment tasks (this includes class based tasks as well as tasks completed outside of class) with the mid-year and end-of-year examination. Both progressive assessment and exams cover the learning outcomes as described above.



Assessment Tasks

PROGRESSIVE ASSESSMENT 50%
Regular tasks conducted throughout the semester, including:
*oral presentation (2) 15%
*script tests (4) 15%
*reading and writing tasks (2) 10%
*listening test (1) 10%

Test times are included in the course guide, details announced in class. You cannot perform at other times without legitimate reason, such as submission of a medical certificate, or a documented work-related commitment, an assessment task conducted during classes from which you were absent. In such instances, you must CONTACT YOUR LECTURER IN ADVANCE, OR WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE MISSED ASSESSMENT to apply for a deferred assessment. A deferred assessment is to be completed at the next scheduled assessment date. You cannot sit deferred listening tasks. Please plan your vacations carefully, taking into consideration assessment/exam dates, as a vacation is not considered a legitimate reason.



END-OF-SEMESTER (Year) EXAMINATIONS 50%
Written examination 30%
May include:

*reading comprehension
*grammar application
*writing

Details announced in class

Oral/aural examination 20%
*guided conversations or role plays or interview
*3 listening comprehension exercises

Examinations are held in normal class times in week 15. Oral/aural examinations will be of 1.5 hours duration. Written examinations 2 hours duration.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Oral tasks are graded according to the following five criteria, each given equal weight.
1 Grammatical accuracy : Do you have the basic grammatical knowledge and vocabulary to complete the task?
2 Adequacy of vocabulary for purpose: Are you using appropriate vocabulary for the task?
3 Intelligibility and fluency: Do you have clear pronunciation? Is your delivery carried out smoothly? Are you fluent in your delivery with few hesitations?
4 Adequacy of content: Have you fulfilled the task appropriately? Are you able to use repair strategies, if necessary?
5 Interactive skills: Are you making eye contact with your partner/interviewer and using non-verbal skills appropriately?


Written tasks are graded according to the following six criteria, each given equal weight.
1 Relevance and adequacy of content : Response is adequate to the topic
2 Organisation :Essay (where appropriate) has an introduction, body, and conclusion
3 Cohesion :Sentences are semantically accurate
4 Adequacy of vocabulary for purpose : A wide range of vocabulary is used appropriately, including from lessons covered in the course.
5 Grammatical accuracy: A wide range of grammatical forms are used, including correct tense, particle and word order are used
6 Script : Appropriate script is used and written correctly

Grades
0 - 49%    NN
50 -59%   PA
60-69%    CR
70-79%    DI
80-100%  HD


Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Please check Blackboard (in your Learning Hub. Class : 2414)) and your RMIT Student Email regularly for important program information.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview