MODERN LANGUAGE CENTRE
MODULE SYLLABUS
Title and code number:
Japanese Stage 2
(4AALJN02/5AALJN02/
6AALJN02/7AALJN02)
Credit/Value:
Credit Levels 4 - 6 = 15 credits
Credit Level 7 = 20 credits
Prerequisite for entry:
Japanese 1, or Japanese GCSE (Grade
B or below), or A1 level of the CEFR, or
equivalent
Course delivery
Credit levels 4 - 6:
2-hour class x 22 weeks over two
semesters
Credit level 7: as above, plus ten onehour Applied Linguistics lectures over
two semesters.
Students are expected to spend an
additional 4-8 hours a week in private
study depending on the Credit Level.
See website for semester dates,
timetable and teachers’ surgery hours:
www.kcl.ac.uk/mlc
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE MODULE
At Credit Levels 4, 5 and 6 this module aims to enable students to:
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develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in Japanese in a
range of predictable situations and contexts
interact in a simple way orally and in writing in Japanese
develop strategies for coping with unfamiliar language or unexpected
responses, such as asking for repetition or clarification
use Japanese to reinforce/further their knowledge of other disciplines
acquire linguistics skills, tools and knowledge to become independent lifelong learners by using Japanese for academic activities and personal
enrichment
develop an insight into the nature of language, culture and society and a
greater degree of intercultural competence
work towards the acquisition of a “fifth language skill”, which will enable
students to reflect on different cultural values to help them develop
intercultural sensitivity
take responsibility for the nature and quality of their learning
act with limited autonomy, under direction or supervision, within defined
guidelines
In addition to those above, at Credit level 7, students will:
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be introduced to Applied Linguistics concepts
research and critically analyse Linguistics-related topics using a wide range of
sources and present them using clearly structured, original text
LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE MODULE
This course is broadly equivalent to A2 Basic User, Waystage level of the
Common European Framework. Students will be able to demonstrate intellectual,
transferable and practical skills appropriate to a Credit level 4 module and in
particular will demonstrate the ability to:
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use a restricted factual knowledge base and range of vocabulary in areas of
most immediate relevance such as basic and personal information, shopping,
local geography etc.
participate in short conversations in routine contexts on topics of interest
understand utterances and frequently used expressions related to areas such
as basic personal information, shopping, local geography, etc.
describe in simple terms aspects of student’s background, immediate
environment and matters in areas of immediate need
write short simple notes, messages and personal letters (e.g. thanking
someone for something, apologizing, confirming an arrangement)
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read and assess fairly short, straightforward texts with assistance, and
engage in evaluative thinking using given criteria
objectively compare some aspects of the new culture to their own using the
tools of intercultural learning
use TEL as a mean of communication, as an aid to collaborative and
individual learning
be self-critical as a learner by using, for example, the MLC Language
Learning Tips document
At Credit Level 5 and 6, in addition to the language learning outcomes above,
students will also:
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develop the skills to work more independently by designing and
completing an e-Portfolio, recording individual language learning
progress
compare and review their progress and their project with other students
through a presentation exercise, fostering a collaborative learning
experience in the class
these tasks are compulsory but do not count towards the final mark;
failure to submit the work may result in students being withdrawn from the
module or prevented from sitting the examinations
At Credit Level 7, in addition to the language learning outcomes above, students
will also:
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research an applied linguistics topic, evaluating and extracting information for
relevance and validity from a range of complex written and spoken sources
engage in evaluative, analytical thinking and complex problem solving etc.
using their own knowledge and skills
work autonomously, with minimal direction from the teacher.
CLASS DELIVERY AND TEACHING METHODS
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Although every class is designed taking into consideration the above
objectives, the structure of particular sessions may vary. The general
approach to all Modern Language Centre classes is communicative - the
language is dealt with in real life situations and students are encouraged to
participate and to interact creatively and flexibly with others as part of a team.
Japanese will be used to communicate in class and students will be asked
to participate in classroom activities and to contribute to short role-plays,
and other language-centred activities.
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CREDIT LEVEL 4, 5, 6 and 7
TOPICS – LEXICAL CONTENT
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Family and friends
Weekend plans, holiday plans and future plans
Leisure time and hobbies
Telephone conversations
Description of feelings
Questionnaires
Written correspondence (letters, emails and postcards)
Travelling and transport
The weather
Description of people
Revision and consolidation of topics from the previous level
LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS - PRAGMATICS
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Describing places and people
Describing and comparing objects and events
Talking about feelings and emotions
Conveying messages
Talking about hobbies / free time
Expressing preference
Giving an informal speech
Speaking about projects and plans
Describing changes
Talking about past experiences
Describing medical symptoms
Giving instructions and advice
Explaining cause and effect
Reading and writing simple letters, postcards and e-mails
GRAMMAR AND USE OF LANGUAGE
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Revision and consolidation of all grammar aspects introduced at Stage 1
Verb TE-form + IMASU
Connective form of adjectives
Verb stem + NI IKIMASU / KIMASU / KAERIMASU
Verb NAI-form + DE KUDASAI
Plain form + TO OMOIMASU
Plain form + TO IIMASU
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Verb dictionary form + NO GA ……
Modifying clauses, noun modification
MADA Verb TE-form + IMASEN
Adjectives: comparatives and superlatives
Adjective + NO
Verb plain form + TSUMORI DESU
Adjective + NARIMASU
Verb TA-form + RI Verb TA-form + RI SHIMASU
Verb TA-form + KOTO GA ARIMASU
Plain form + N DESU
Verb stem + SUGIMASU
Adjective base + SUGIMASU
Verb stem + TAI DESU
Verb TA-form / NAI-form + HOO GA II DESU
NODE
~ NAKEREBA IKEMASEN
~ DESHOO
Kanji: 82 Chinese characters
CREDIT LEVEL 5 and 6 ONLY – Additional tasks
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E-Portfolio in English or in the target language
Presentation exercise in class
CREDIT LEVEL 7 ONLY - Additional tasks
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Applied Linguistics lectures will be available online
Lecture topics will be given separately
One assessed essay in English (1500 words) based on the lectures
COURSE BOOK(S)
 Banno, E. et al (2011), GENKI- I (L7-12), SECOND EDITION, the Japan
Times
 Banno, E. et al (2011), GENKI- I, WORKBOOK (L7-12), SECOND EDITION,
the Japan Times
Relevant materials taken from a variety of sources will be provided by the
teacher.
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RECOMMENDED MATERIAL FOR SELF-STUDY
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Kanji File on KEATS
GENKI ONLINE, Self-study room, http://genki.japantimes.co.jp/self_en
Makino, S & Tsutsui, M, ‘A dictionary of basic grammar’, The Japan Times
Bunt, J, Oxford Japanese Grammar & Verbs (dictionary), Oxford University
Press
 Bunt, J & Hall. G, The Oxford Starter Japanese Dictionary, Oxford University
Press
 The Japan Foundation (DVDs with textbook), ‘Erin ga Choosen, Nihongo
dekimasu’
 The Japan Foundation, ‘Erin’s Challenge! I can speak Japanese’,
https://www.erin.ne.jp/en/
IT resources for independent learning:
 KEATS material + MLC resources on-line
LANGUAGE RESOURCES CENTRE (LRC)
In order to support independent learning and contact with the culture of the
language, use of the resources in the Language Resources Centre (K-1.072, first
basement) is encouraged.
During the first few weeks of the course, teachers will arrange an induction
session for the class in the LRC for students to familiarize themselves with the
facilities. During Term I and Term II free workshops will be organised at the LRC
on How to get the most of your language classes. For a list of topics as well as
dates and times, including the opening hours of the LRC, please go to the
website: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/olc/index.aspx
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is compulsory for all language modules (SSCs). If attendance fails to
unsatisfactory levels students may be removed from the module or prevented
from taking the assessment.
For further information on attendance requirements of the module please see the
website:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/study/modules/compuls.aspx
If students miss a class because of illness or other urgent personal problems, it is
their responsibility to catch up on the content of the missed class(es).
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ASSESSMENT
For all details regarding deadlines and dates for assessment see the website
www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/study/modules/assess/bymod/index.aspx
Formative Assessment:
Formative assessment takes place during Reading Week in Term II. This does
not count towards the final mark, but failure to submit the work may result in
students being withdrawn from the module or prevented from sitting the
examinations. It is strongly recommended that students complete the formative
assessment as it will provide them with feedback on their progress.
Test (2 hours)
0%
Feedback
All pieces of formative assessment are normally returned to students within 2
weeks, and teachers will provide feedback in groups and/or individually. In
addition students can book an individual surgery session. Contact details and
applicable surgery hours can be found here:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/people/index.aspx
Final (summative) Assessment
Oral exam (15min)
40% - if UG student
30% - if PG student
Exam period: Period 2
Written exam (2 hours)
60% - if UG student
40% - if PG student
Exam period: Period 2
Linguistics essay (1500 words)
30% - PG students
only
Submission period: Period 2
For more details on the final assessment for this module, including dates, please
see: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/study/modules/assess/bymod/index.aspx
No dictionaries or notes are allowed during the final examination. A past paper is
available on KEATS.
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WEEK BY WEEK SYLLABUS
TERM I
WEEK
st
1
week
nd
2
week
3rd
week
4th
week
5th
week
LEARNING
RESOURCES
 Genki I
Lesson 1-6
 Genki I Lesson 7
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Genki I Lesson 7
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Genki I Lesson 8
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Genki I Lesson 8
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji +
10 Kanji)
CONTENT/TOPICS
GRAMMAR
 Course Introduction
 Talking about summer
holiday
 Family and friends
 Description of people
 Key grammar points from lessons
1 to 6
 Weekend plans
 Counting people
 Verb stem + NI ikimasu / kimasu /
kaerimasu
 Counter for people
 Plain form (non-past)
 Verb NAI-form + de kudasai
 Informal speech
 Leisure time and
hobbies
6th
week
7th
week
8th
week
9th
week
10th
week
11th
week
12th
week
 Verb TE-form + imasu
 Connective form of adjectives
 Verb dictionary form + NO GA…..
 Particles: GA and WA
Reading week
 Genki I Lesson 8
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Genki I Lesson 8
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Genki I Lesson 8
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Genki I Lesson 9
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Genki I Lesson 9
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Expressing opinions
 Plain form + TO omoimasu
 Telephone
conversations
 Plain form + TO iimasu
 nani+ KA, nani+ MO
 Making a
questionnaire and
writing a report
 Informal speech
 Plain form + TO iimasu / itte
imasu
 Describing people
 Colours
 Modifying Clauses
 Plain form (past tense)
 Mada Verb TE-form + imasen
Revision/catch-up classes or one-to-one
tutorial support as agreed with the teacher
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TERM II
WEEK
1st
week
2nd
week
3rd
week
4th
week
5th
week
LEARNING
RESOURCES
 Genki I Lesson 10
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Genki I Lesson 10
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Genki I Lesson 10
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Genki I
Lesson 10-11
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Genki I Lesson 11
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
6th
week
7th
week
8th
week
9th
week
10th
week
11th
week
CONTENT/TOPICS
GRAMMAR
 Making comparisons
between two items
 Travel and transport
 Making comparisons
among three or more
items
 Holiday
 Future plans
 Comparative sentence structure
 Adjective + NO
 Particle: DE
 Superlative sentence structure
 Talking about changes
 Describing hopes and
aspirations
 Adjective + narimasu
 Verb stem + tai desu
 Talking about a past
experience
 Verb TA-form RI verb TA-form RI
shimasu
 Verb TA-form + koto ga arimasu
 Verb plain form + tsumori desu
Reading week: Formative assessment
 Genki I
Lesson 11-12
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Genki I Lesson 12
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Genki I Lesson 12
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Genki I Lesson 12
 Kanji practice
sheet (4 Kanji)
 Genki I
Lesson 7-12
 Explaining the reasons
for which you do
something
 Illnesses
 Giving
advice
or
making suggestions
 Plans
 Schedule
 Plain form + N desu
 Verb stem + sugimasu
 Adjectivve base + sugimasu
 Weather forecast
 Making a prediction
 ~ deshoo
 Revision for the
examination
 Key grammar points from lessons
1 to 12
 Verb TA-form + hoo ga ii desu
 Particle: NODE
 ~ nakereba ikemasen
The syllabus may vary according to students’ needs.
Term times and teaching dates can be found here:
(http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/study/modules/dates.aspx)
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