Second Foreign Language and Culture 1 (Japanese)
Code: 108338Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Translation and Interpreting | FB | 1 |
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
- CM09 (Integrate the knowledge and skills of the second language to produce oral and written texts adapted to a given communicative context.) Integrate the knowledge and skills of the second language to produce oral and written texts adapted to a given communicative context.
- KM12 (Identify the lexical, morphosyntactic and phonological characteristics of the second language.) Identify the lexical, morphosyntactic and phonological characteristics of the second language.
- KM13 (Recognise the characteristics of different textual genres of the second language.) Recognise the characteristics of different textual genres of the second language.
- KM14 (Recognise cultural characteristics of second language societies.) Recognise cultural characteristics of second language societies.
- SM15 (Apply strategies to understand written or oral texts in the second language.) Apply strategies to understand written or oral texts in the second language.
- SM16 (Analyse the cultural aspects present in oral and written texts in the second language.) Analyse the cultural aspects present in oral and written texts in the second language.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading comprehension exercises | 10 | 0.4 | KM12, KM13, KM14, SM15, SM16 |
| Introduction of new content | 20 | 0.8 | KM12, KM14, SM16 |
| Study of the writing system (hiragana, katakana, and kanji) | 7 | 0.28 | CM09, KM12, SM15 |
| Written expression exercises | 5 | 0.2 | CM09, KM12, KM13 |
| Written grammar exercises | 10 | 0.4 | KM12 |
| Independent study | 75 | 3 | CM09, KM12, KM13, KM14, SM15, SM16 |
| Written / oral grammar exercises | 10 | 0.4 | CM09, KM12, SM16 |
| Written / oral communicative exercises | 8 | 0.32 | CM09, KM12, KM13, KM14, SM15, SM16 |
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.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral test | 10% | 1 | 0.04 | CM09, KM12, KM14 |
| Japanese script tests (hiragana and katakana) | 10% | 1 | 0.04 | KM12 |
| Grammar test 1 | 25% | 1 | 0.04 | CM09, KM12, KM13, KM14, SM15, SM16 |
| Grammar test 3 | 20% | 1 | 0.04 | CM09, KM12, KM13, KM14, SM15, SM16 |
| Assignments | 10% | 0 | 0 | CM09, KM12, KM13 |
| Grammar test 1 | 25% | 1 | 0.04 | CM09, KM12, KM13, KM14, SM15, SM16 |
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.
- Erin ga chōsen! Nihongo dekimasu https://www.erin.jpf.go.jp/en/
- JF Nihongo e-learning Minato https://minato-jf.jp
- Joshu http://laits.utexas.edu/japanese/joshu/index.php
- Let’s study Japanese! Nihongo 123 http://nihongo123.com/Home/Public/login.html
- Marugoto Plus https://a1.marugotoweb.jp/en/
- Marugoto-no-kotoba http://words.marugotoweb.jp/
- Nihongo dokushu kontentsu http://el.minoh.osaka-u.ac.jp/flc/jpn/jpn_data/index.html
(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
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (SEM30) Seminaris (30 estudiants per grup) | 1 | Japanese | first semester | morning-mixed |