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Foreign language C for translators and interpreters 1 (Japanese)

Code: 101471
Credits: 9
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Translation and Interpreting OP 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Akiko Kawauchi
Email :
akiko.kawauchi@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course, and students are not expected to have any prior knowledge of Japanese.

Objectives

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the most basic linguistic knowledge of the phonetic, morphological, lexical, and syntactic structure of the Japanese language, laying the groundwork for translation.

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Recognise the writing system and basic lexis, and understand basic written expressions related to their immediate and specific environment.
  • Use the writing system and basic lexis, and produce basic written expressions related to their immediate and specific environment.

Learning outcomes

  1. Applying lexical, morphosyntactic, textual, rhetorical and linguistic variation related knowledge: Applying graphic, lexical, morphosyntactic, textual and linguistic variation related knowledge.
  2. Applying lexical, morphosyntactic, textual, rhetorical and linguistic variation related knowledge: Applying graphic, lexical and morphosyntactic basic knowledge.
  3. Applying lexical, morphosyntactic, textual, rhetorical and linguistic variation related knowledge: Applying graphic, lexical and morphosyntactic knowledge.
  4. Applying lexical, morphosyntactic, textual, rhetorical and linguistic variation related knowledge: Applying graphic, lexical, morphosyntactic and textual related knowledge.
  5. Implementing strategies in order to understand written texts from different fields: Implementing strategies in order to understand basic written expressions related to the immediate environment.
  6. Implementing strategies in order to understand written texts from different fields: Implementing strategies in order to comprehend information of short and simple written texts related to the immediate environment.
  7. Implementing strategies in order to understand written texts from different fields: Implementing strategies in order to comprehend written texts about general topics.
  8. Implementing strategies in order to understand written texts from different fields: Implementing strategies in order to comprehend verbal texts of a certain complexity about personal and general topics of well-known areas.
  9. Implementing strategies in order to understand written texts from different fields: Implementing strategies in order to comprehend a diverse typology of written texts about general topics of well-known areas.
  10. Implementing strategies in order to understand written texts from different fields: Implementing strategies in order to comprehend a diverse typology of written texts of a certain complexity about general topics from a wide variety of fields and registers.
  11. Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of written texts of several fields: Comprehending information of short and simple written texts about subjects related to the immediate environment.
  12. Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of written texts of several fields: Comprehending the essential information of written texts about general topics.
  13. Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of written texts of several fields: Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of written texts of a certain complexity about personal and general topics of well-known areas.
  14. Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of written texts of several fields: Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of a diverse typology of written texts about general topics of well-known areas.
  15. Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of written texts of several fields: Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of a diverse typology of written texts about general topics from a wide variety of fields and registers.
  16. Applying lexical, morphosyntactic, textual, rhetorical and linguistic variation related knowledge: Applying graphic, lexical, morphosyntactic, textual and linguistic variation related knowledge.
  17. Applying lexical, morphosyntactic, textual, rhetorical and linguistic variation related knowledge: Applying graphic, lexical and morphosyntactic knowledge.
  18. Applying lexical, morphosyntactic, textual, rhetorical and linguistic variation related knowledge: Applying graphic, lexical, morphosyntactic and textual related knowledge.
  19. Implementing strategies in order to produce written texts of different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Implementing strategies to use the basic graphic and lexical system in order to produce simple written expressions related to the immediate environment.
  20. Implementing strategies in order to produce written texts of different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Implementing strategies in order to produce really short and simple written texts about topics related to the immediate environment.
  21. Implementing strategies in order to produce written texts of different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Implementing strategies in order to produce written texts about topics related to the immediate environment.
  22. Implementing strategies in order to produce written texts of different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Implementing strategies in order to produce written texts about general topics.
  23. Implementing strategies in order to produce written texts of different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Implementing strategies in order to produce written texts of a certain complexity about personal and general topics of well-known areas.
  24. Implementing strategies in order to produce written texts of different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Implementing strategies in order to produce a diverse typology of written texts of a certain complexity about general topics of well-known areas.
  25. Producing written texts that are appropriate to their context and possess linguistic correctness: Producing basic written expressions related to the immediate environment with linguistic correctness.
  26. Producing written texts that are appropriate to their context and possess linguistic correctness: Producing really short and simple texts about topics related to the immediate environment with linguistic correctness.
  27. Producing written texts that are appropriate to their context and possess linguistic correctness: Producing written texts about general topics that are appropriate to their context.
  28. Producing written texts that are appropriate to their context and possess linguistic correctness: Producing written texts of a certain complexity about personal and general topics from well-known areas and with specific communicative purposes, following standard modes of discourse.
  29. Producing written texts that are appropriate to their context and possess linguistic correctness: Producing a diverse typology of written texts about general topics of well-known areas with specific communicative purposes and following standard modes of discourse.
  30. Producing written texts from different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Producing simple academic texts, following standard models of discourse.
  31. Solving interferences between the working languages: Solving interferences from the language combination with a certain degree of control.
  32. Applying lexical, morphosyntactic, textual, rhetorical and linguistic variation related knowledge: Applying phonological, lexical and morphosyntactic basic knowledge.
  33. Applying lexical, morphosyntactic, textual, rhetorical and linguistic variation related knowledge: Applying phonological, lexical and morphosyntactic knowledge.
  34. Applying lexical, morphosyntactic, textual, rhetorical and linguistic variation related knowledge: Applying phonological, lexical, morphosyntactic and textual related knowledge.
  35. Implementing strategies in order to understand verbal texts from different fields: Implementing strategies in order to understand basic verbal expressions related to the immediate environment.
  36. Implementing strategies in order to understand verbal texts from different fields: Implementing strategies in order to understand simple and clear verbal texts about general topics.
  37. Implementing strategies in order to understand verbal texts from different fields: Implementing strategies in order to understand clear verbal texts about general topics.
  38. Implementing strategies in order to understand verbal texts from different fields: Implementing strategies in order to comprehend verbal texts about personal and general topics of well-known areas.
  39. Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of verbal texts of several fields: Comprehending the information of clear and simple oral texts of general topics.
  40. Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of verbal texts of several fields: Comprehending the sense of clear verbal texts about general topics.
  41. Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of verbal texts of several fields: Comprehending verbal texts about personal and general topics of well-known areas.
  42. Comprehending the communicative purpose and sense of verbal texts of several fields: Comprehending a diverse typology of verbal texts of general topics of well-known areas.
  43. Applying lexical, morphosyntactic, textual, rhetorical and linguistic variation related knowledge: Applying phonological, lexical and morphosyntactic knowledge.
  44. Implementing strategies in order to produce verbal texts from different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Implementing strategies in order to produce basic verbal expressions related to the immediate environment.
  45. Implementing strategies in order to produce verbal texts from different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Implementing strategies in order to produce really short and simple verbal texts about topics related to the immediate environment.
  46. Implementing strategies in order to produce verbal texts from different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Implementing strategies in order to produce simple verbal texts about general topics.
  47. Implementing strategies in order to produce verbal texts from different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Implementing strategies in order to produce verbal texts about personal and general topics of well-known areas.
  48. Implementing strategies in order to produce verbal texts from different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Implementing strategies in order to produce verbal texts of a certain complexity about personal and general topics of well-known areas.
  49. Producing verbal texts that are appropriate to their context and possess linguistic correctness: Producing basic verbal expressions related to the immediate environment.
  50. Producing verbal texts that are appropriate to their context and possess linguistic correctness: Producing basic verbal texts about general topics that are appropriate to their context.
  51. Producing verbal texts that are appropriate to their context and possess linguistic correctness: Producing verbal texts about personal and general topics of well-known areas.
  52. Producing verbal texts that are appropriate to their context and possess linguistic correctness: Producing verbal texts of a certain complexity about personal and general topics of well-known areas.
  53. Producing verbal texts from different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Producing basic verbal texts with specific communicative purposes, following standard models of discourse.
  54. Producing verbal texts from different fields and with specific communicative purposes: Producing verbal texts with specific communicative purposes, following standard models of discourse.

Contents

To cover the course content, the first half of the textbook Tobira 1: Beginning Japanese will be used. The following aspects of the language will be studied:

  • Phonology: pronunciation of phonemes and syllables in standard Japanese.
  • Writing system: fundamentals of reading and writing the syllabaries (hiragana and katakana) and approximately the first 50 kanji.
  • Vocabulary: family, basic urban facilities, adjectives, etc.
  • Grammar: basic structures, temporal expressions, and the identification and location of things and people. Students will learn standard formal conjugation, basic particles, the past tense, and some counters.
  • Communication and culture: talking about family, inviting someone, talking about past actions, ordering in a shop or restaurant, briefly describing objects and impressions, explaining how to do something, describing places, etc.
  • Introduction to basic aspects of Japanese culture related to the language.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Written / oral communicative exercises 8 0.32
Written / oral grammar exercises 10 0.4
Independent study 125 5
Introduction of new content 20 0.8
Reading comprehension exercises 15 0.6
Written grammar exercises 20 0.8
Study of the writing system (hiragana, katakana, and kanji) 7 0.28
Written expression exercises 15 0.6

The course content will be gradually acquired through the analysis and conceptualisation of new grammatical structures; the reading, comprehension, and reformulation of dialogues; the completion of complementary activities and reinforcement exercises specific to each lesson (written, grammatical, oral, etc.), and they will be consolidated by means of in-class tests based on the textbook.

It is important that students attend class regularly, and it is essential that they dedicate time each week to prepare new material, do exercises and review what they have learned in class. This level of student commitment is assumed in order to follow the pace of the course.


Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Assignments 10% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34
Grammar test 1 25% 1 0.04 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 43
Oral test 10% 1 0.04 1, 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54
Grammar test 3 20% 1 0.04 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 43
Grammar test 1 25% 1 0.04 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 43
Japanese script tests (hiragana and katakana) 10% 1 0.04 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Continuous Assessment

Assessment is continuous throughout the subject. Students must provide evidence of their progress by completing various tasks and tests. Task and test deadlines will be indicated in the course schedule on the first day of class. The information on assessment activities and their weighting is a guide. The subject lecturer will provide full information when teaching begins.

Review

When publishing final grades prior to recording them on students' transcripts, the lecturer will provide written notification of a date and time for reviewing assessment activities. Students must arrange reviews in agreement with the lecturer.

Missed/failed assessment activities

Students may retake assessment activities they have failed or compensate for any they have missed, provided that those they have actually performed account for a minimum of 66.6% (two thirds) of the final grade for the subject and that they have a weighted average mark of at least 3.5. In case of retaking, the maximum grade will be 5 (Pass).

The lecturer will inform students in writing of the retake procedure involved when publishing final grades prior to recording them on transcripts. The lecturer may set one assignment per failed or missed assessment activity or a single assignment to cover a number of such activities. Under no circumstances may an assessment activity worth 100% of the final mark be retaken or compensated for. In the case of retake, the maximum grade will be 5 (Pass).

Classification as "not assessable"

In the event that the assessment activities a student has performed account for 25% or less of the final grade for the subject, their work will be classified as "not assessable" on their transcript.

Misconduct in assessment activities

Students who engage in misconduct (plagiarism, copying, personation, etc.) in an assessment activity will receive a mark of “0” for the activity in question. In the case of misconduct in more than one assessment activity, the student involved will be given a final grade of “0” for the subject. Assessment activities in which irregularities have occurred (e.g. plagiarism, copying, impersonation) are excluded from retake.

Use of artificial intelligence

In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted at any stage of the assessment activities. Any work that includes AI-generated content will be considered a breach of academic integrity and will be graded a 0, regardless of any disciplinary proceedings that may be initiated.

Single assessment

This subject may be assessed under the single assessment system in accordance with the terms established in the academic regulations of the UAB and the assessment criteria of the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting.

Students must make an online request within the period established by the faculty and send a copy to the lecturer responsible for the subject, for the record.

Single assessment will be carried out in person on one day during week 16 or 17 of the semester. The Academic Management Office will publish the exact date and time on the faculty website.

On the day of the single assessment, teaching staff will ask the student for identification, which should be a valid identification document with a recent photograph (student card, DNI/NIE or passport).

Single assessment activities

The final grade for the course will be calculated according to the following percentages:

• Grammar and language proficiency test: 55%

• Kanji test: 20%

• Writing: 12.5%

• Oral test: 12.5%

Grade revision and retake procedures for the subject are the same as those for continual assessment. See the section above in this Study Guide.

Bibliography

1. Textbook

The textbook that will be regularly used in class is the following (you are required to have it):

  • Tobira 1: Beginning Japanese 1, Editorial Kuroshio, Tokyo, 2021

2. Reference books

(1) A dictionary is not required for this course; however, the following free mobile apps may be useful (there are many others available):

  • Nihongo (Japanese)
  • Jisho

(2) For specific questions, the following bibliographical works may be useful (they are available in the UAB library):

  • Heisig, James W.; Bernabé, Marc; Calafell, Verònica. Kana para recordar. Barcelona: Herder, 2002.
  • Makino, Seichi; Tsutsui, Michio. A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar. 『日本語基本文法 辞典』The Japan Times.
  • Matsuura, Junichi; Porta Fuentes, Lourdes. Nihongo. Japonés para hispanohablantes. Bunpoo. Gramática. Barcelona: Herder, 2002.

3. Websites of interest

(1) Textbook website

  • https://tobirabeginning.9640.jp/contents1/

(2) Vocabulary, conversation, grammar exercises, etc.

(3) Reading comprehension resource

  • Free Tadoku Books https://tadoku.org/japanese/en/

Software

No specific software is used in this course.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE