Course Title: Japanese - Level 2

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2012

Course Code: LANG5729

Course Title: Japanese - Level 2

School: 365T Global Studies, Soc Sci & Plng

Campus: City Campus

Program: C2202 - Certificate II in Japanese

Course Contact : Hiroko Ohashi

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 3975

Course Contact Email:hiroko.ohashi@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Mizue Aiko 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

Certificate I in Japanese, up to 180 hrs prior study, or equivalent. The ability to read and write the hiragana and katakana scripts and 90 basic kanji characters is essential.

Course Description

This course makes up the year long Certificate II in 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. Your knowledge of basic 90 kanji will be consolidated with further teaching of approximately 120 new kanji characters. You will be able to speak and understand Japanese in a predictable range range of workplace and everyday situations. Practical knowledge of the culture, in a wide range of personal and social situations and context will be introduced. Practical and communicative student-centered 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:

LOTE967 Japanese - Level 2


Learning Outcomes


1. Participate in a casual conversation on a familiar topic including past, present, and
future events
2. Conduct routine spoken transactions
3. Identify specific information in short oral texts
4. Write a short recount which includes a description
5. Identify specific information in a short written 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. Attendance at all classes is therefore essential.
Feedback on the balance and focus of the subject from you is welcome. Students and staff meet to consult once in the semester and Course Experience Questionnaires are distributed from week 12, of each semester.


Teaching Schedule

Teaching Schedule (for Semester One only ) *Subject to Change*

W1 Revision,
       Lesson 13Lesson 13(kanji)
W2 Lesson 13
W3 Lesson 13kanji test L13(2.5%)
W4  Lesson 14
W5 Lesson 14Oral task 1(10%)
W6  Lesson 14 kanji test L14 (2.5%)
mid-semester break
W7 Lesson 15
W8 Lesson 15Listening test (10%)Lesson 15
W9  Lesson 15kanji test L15 (2.5%)
W10Lesson 16Oral task 2 (10%)
W11  Lesson 16 Writing task due (10%)
(exam information sheet available)
W12 Lesson 16
W13RevisionRevisionkanji test L16 (2.5%)
W14Aural, Oral examWritten exam


All tasks downloadable from Blackboard. You are enrolled in LANG 5729 Japanese 2 Class 2232


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Banno, E. et. al.  (2011) Genki II, Japan Times

Banno, E. et. al.  (2011) Genki II Workbook, Japan Times


References

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.





Other Resources

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 5486 Japanese 2 Class 2416
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/japanese


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

Assessment Tasks
The final end-of-year result is obtained by combining the results of all progressive assessment tasks with the end-of-semester examination marks for Semester 1 and 2. Results for Semester 1 may be made available through the Blackboard in the Learning Hub. An official result with transcript will be available at the end of the program ( November 2012)

PROGRESSIVE ASSESSMENT 50%
Regular tasks conducted throughout the semester, including:
*oral tasks (2) 20%
*script tests (4) and written task (1) 20%
*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 EXAMINATIONS 50%
Written examination 30%
May include:
*reading comprehension
*grammar application
*writing

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

Details announced in class. Examinations are held in normal class times in week 14. Oral/aural examinations will be of 1.5 hours duration. Written examinations will be of 2 hours duration.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Assessment criteria (details in class) *Some criteria would not be applicable depending on task used

Learning Outcome 1
Discourse strategies to open, close, change topics and clarify, requests repetition or confirmation
Use of interactive skills (e.g. taking turn, making eye contact)
Appropriate and adequate vocabulary
Grammatical structures/Language Functions
Pronunciation & Fluency
Ask and answers questions appropriately

Leaning Outcome 2
Initiates or responds to discourse appropriately
Use of interactive skills (e.g. taking turn, making eye contact)
Uses culturally appropriate politeness markers courtesy expressions and body language
Asks questions or provides information about the product or service
Clarifies, requests repetition or confirmation where needed
Record any relevant details correctly
Uses mostly correct grammatical structures and vocabulary
Uses mostly correct pronunciation

Learning outcome 3
Demonstrates understanding of key pieces of information

Learning outcome 4
Relevant to the task e.g. particular grammar functions, lengths (Appropriate length 350ji), contents
Uses standard layout and writing conventions for task.
Presents information in a logical sequence
Constructs noun groups with appropriate adjectives
Uses a variety of appropriate grammatical/language functions includes relevant tense or time markers and some cohesive devices.
Uses a variety of vocabulary appropriate to set task
Uses appropriate and correct script

Learning outcome 5
Identifies the context and general purpose of text
Locates specific pieces of information
Correctly interprets any accompanying diagrammatic text.
 


Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) - The completion of this course will prepare you towards sitting Level N5 in the internationally recognised Japanese Language Proficiency Test. The Test is held yearly at RMIT on the first Sunday of December. More details from May in http://www.rmit.edu.au/languages

Course Overview: Access Course Overview