Japanese I: Language Proficiency

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

• communicate using basic vocabulary and express their thoughts and opinions about well-known topics
• use communicative strategies to interact with other speakers in simple conversation
• handle the difference between the standard level of politeness and informal language in speech and writing
• express oneself in a way appropriate to the situation
• use the most common informal inflections of the copula, verbs and adjectives
• use a number of basic auxiliary verbs and endings
• combine sentences using the most common conjunctions
• read and write texts in which the most basic kanji ideographs are used.

The course consists of two modules, which are highly integrated:

1. Oral Language Proficiency (7.5 credits): Working with various practical exercises, the students enhance their ability to carry out meaningful communication in Japanese about everyday topics. They work individually and in groups with oral exercises that are aimed at developing swiftness and accuracy in the use of the language. Studying different sentence patterns and expressions, they expand their knowledge of Japanese grammar.
2. Written Language Proficiency (7.5 credits): Through practical writing and reading exercises, the students develop further their basic competence in the written Japanese language and they expand their knowledge about the ideographs. Retelling and expressing simple opinions about the contents of the texts studied, they also train their oral ability.

In both of the modules, the students gain knowledge of aspects of the cultural and social background of the vocabulary and expressions.

At the end of the course, students will have a command of most of the grammar and a major part of the vocabulary included in the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) level 5.

The students are assessed continuously through their oral performance at seminars, written submissions, computerized online tests, recording tasks and minor written and oral tests.

Japanese is used as the language of tuition. English or, where appropriate, Swedish is used as support language. Teaching is done in the form of class discussions and group activities.

The Swedish grades U–VG.

To receive the grade of VG on the whole course VG is required on both modules.

Reporting of grades:

• Module 1: Oral Language Proficiency (7.5 credits)
• Module 2: Written Language Proficiency (7.5 credits).