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Language II: Modern Japanese

Code: 108381
Credits: 12
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
East Asian Studies FB 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Maria Elena Hernández García
Email :
elena.hernandez@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Maria Elena Hernández García
Takato Shi Hanawa

Group languages

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

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites to take this course, although students must have assimilated the content of Language I: Modern Japanese in order to complete it successfully. Some of the materials used in this course are only available in English, so a good knowledge of this language will be useful.

Objectives

The function of this subject is to further students’ knowledge of the most basic and essential aspects of the phonetic, morphological, lexical, syntactic, semantic and pragmatic structure of the Japanese language and to continue developing the four basic communication skills. It is essential to assimilate the subject’s content to be able to continue learning Japanese in the subsequent academic years. Throughout the semester, special attention will be paid to uses of language that are linked to the gender of speakers.

Learning outcomes

  • CM03 (Communicate coherently, orally and in writing, in one of the languages of East Asia.) Communicate coherently, orally and in writing, in one of the languages of East Asia.
  • CM04 (Integrate the knowledge and skills of the specialised language (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) to produce oral and written texts adapted to a specific communicative context.) Integrate the knowledge and skills of the specialised language (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) to produce oral and written texts adapted to a specific communicative context.
  • KM04 (Identify the graphic, lexical, morphosyntactic, pragmatic and phonological characteristics of the specialty language (Chinese, Japanese or Korean).) Identify the graphic, lexical, morphosyntactic, pragmatic and phonological characteristics of the specialty language (Chinese, Japanese or Korean).
  • SM04 (Use linguistic, cultural and pragmatic knowledge to be able to communicate in professional contexts in the language of specialisation.) Use linguistic, cultural and pragmatic knowledge to be able to communicate in professional contexts in the language of specialisation.
  • SM05 (Understand the communicative intention and meaning of texts written in a specialised language (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) in different genres and fields.) Understand the communicative intention and meaning of texts written in a specialised language (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) in different genres and fields.

Contents

  • Furthering knowledge and understanding of the phonetic, morphological, lexical and semantic structure of Japanese. Introduction of pragmatic and situational aspects of the language.
  • Interacting orally in different everyday situations (asking where something is or how to get to a place, making offers or proposals, etc.).
  • Expressing, in a very basic way, what one wishes, what one wants or does not want to do, one’s own tastes, obligations, etc.
  • Learning new kanji, bringing the total up to about 200.
  • Reading short, simple didactic texts related to the semantic fields and everyday situations studied, and extracting specific information from some more complex texts.
  • Writing short texts explaining or describing specific things (a room, a landscape, etc.) or narrating real or fictitious events (a trip, a social gathering, etc.).

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Grammar exercises (oral/written) 21 0.84 KM04
Use of audiovisual materials 7 0.28 CM03, CM04
Oral expression 7 0.28 CM03, SM04
Communication exercises (oral/written) 15 0.6 CM03, CM04
Individual study 90 3.6 CM04, KM04
Written exercises 20 0.8 CM03, CM04
Reading comprehension (kanji) 8.5 0.34 KM04
Reading comprehension 10 0.4 SM05
Introduction of new content 94 3.76 CM04, SM04

The students' work will revolve around the two textbooks Minna no Nihongo I and Basic Kanji Book I (see Bibliography), and the main emphasis will be on the introduction and explanation of content and the development of communication skills. Tasks that can be performed individually and require more time will be carried out as supervised activities.

Students are expected to not only acquire a mechanical command of Japanese but also to be able to use what they learn to communicate effectively. It is hoped that they will develop a positive attitude towards communication, taking full advantage of their knowledge to express themselves and to try to understand oral and written texts in Japanese.

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
Grammar and vocabulary exam 2 15% 2 0.08 KM04
Kanji tests 25% 6 0.24 KM04
Grammar and vocabulary exam 1 15% 2 0.08 KM04
Presentation 7.5% 1 0.04 CM03, CM04, SM04
Oral exam 7.5% 1 0.04 CM03, CM04
Grammar and vocabulary exam 3 20% 2 0.08 KM04
Written tasks 10% 13.5 0.54 CM03, CM04, SM05

Continuous assessment

Students must provide evidence of their progress by completing various tasks and tests. These activities are detailed in the table at the end of this section of the Study Guide.

Review

When publishing final marks 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 subject's final mark and that they have a weighted average mark of at least 3.5.

The lecturer will inform students of the procedure involved, in writing, when publishing final marks 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 case of retaking, maximum grade will be 5 (Pass)

Classification as \"not assessable\"

In the event of the assessment activities a student has performed accounting for just 25% or less of the subject's final mark, 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 mark of “0” for the subject. Assessment activities in which irregularities have occurred (e.g. plagiarism, copying, impersonation) are excluded from recovery.

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 teacher 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 presented as a valid identification document with a recent photograph (student card, DNI/NIE or passport).

Single assessment activities

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

  • Grammar and vocabulary exams: 50%
  • Kanji tests 25%
  • Composition: 12,5%
  • Oral assessment: 12,5%

Grade revision and resit procedures for the subject are the same as those for continuous assessment. See the section above in this study guide.

Use of AI technologies

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.

Bibliography

1. Textbooks

The two textbooks that will be used in class on a daily basis, with the assumption that students own them, are:

  • Minna no Nihongo I. Tokyo: 3A Network, 2012, 2nd ed. ISBN: 978-4883196036.
  • Basic Kanji Book vol.1. Tokyo: Bonjinsha, 2015, 2nd ed. ISBN: 978-4893588821.

The following books will be used occasionally:

  • Minna no Nihongo. Kanji I (English Edition). Tokyo: 3A Network, 2000.
  • Minna no Nihongo. Hyōjun mondai shū. Tokyo: 3a network, 1999.
  • Minna no Nihongo. Traducción y notas gramaticales. Tokyo: 3a network, 1999.

2. Reference books

2.1. For specific matters, the following books may be of use:

  • Effective Japanese Usage Guide. A Concise Explanation of Frequently Confused Words and Phrases. Kodansha. For students with an intermediate level. It has explanations in English and many examples in Japanese, with comments about the differences between easily confused Japanese words. The parts written in Japanese have furigana, and the sentences given as examples are transcribed in rōmaji. It can be found in the Biblioteca d’Humanitats.
  • Dictionary of Basic Japanese Usage for Foreigners [Gaikokujin no tame no kihongo yōrei jiten], Cultural Affairs Agency. Examples of related words. It does not have furigana, but many of its texts are written in hiragana. It can be found in the Biblioteca d’Humanitats.
  • Makino, S.; Tsutsui, M. A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar. The Japan Times. Basic grammar book with explanations in English and many examples that are transcribed in rōmaji and translated. It can be found in the Biblioteca d’Humanitats.
  • Matsuura, Junichi; Porta Fuentes,Lourdes. Nihongo.Japonés para hispanohablantes. Bunpoo. Gramática. Barcelona: Herder, 2002.
  • Taishūkan: Dictionary of Usage of Basic Japanese Verbs (Diccionari d'ús dels verbs bàsics de la llengua japonesa). For students with an intermediate or advanced intermediate level. It explains the different uses of basic Japanese verbs, and much of it is written in Japanese. It can be found in the Biblioteca d’Humanitats.

2.2.  Reading comprehension:

3. Virtual resources

3.1. Dictionaries:

3.2. Other useful resources:

Software

No specific software will be used.

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
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Japanese second semester morning-mixed