This module aims to refine students’ linguistic and cultural competencies acquired in Japanese at previous levels. By fortifying productive (written and oral), receptive (aural and reading) and interpretative (translation, précis, textual analysis) skills, students will achieve capacity for graduate employment or higher degrees of specialisation. To accomplish this, they will work with a variety of oral, aural and textual materials, primarily aimed at consolidating communicational skills in the target language. Students will use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes, while also fine-tuning their transferable skills

• Express theselves fluently and spontaneously in formal contexts without much obvious searching for expressions.
• Collect, select, evaluate and present information or interpretations of material on a specific topic for oral presentation.
• Collect, select, evaluate and present information or interpretations of material on a specific topic in writing.
• Show an ability to mediate between source and target language by means of translating and/or interpreting across a wide range of topics.
• Evidence knowledge of aspects of the cultures, communities and societies where the language is used.
• Refine knowledge and understanding of language varieties, register, genre, nuances of meaning and language use.
• Make effective use of language reference materials such as grammars, standard and specialised dictionaries.
• Recognise and produce around 2,000 kanji in spontaneous language use.

This module will be delivered in the target language. It will be taught over two semesters (Autumn and Spring), with four contact hours per week. Electronic learning materials will be available for students at any time in order to facilitate participation and reinforce face-to-face sessions.

This final year language module will equip students with a semi-specialised vocabulary and new insights on a selection of the following domains: Media, Law, Politics and International Relations, Business and Administration, Business and trade, Publishing and Education, Culture and Heritage.

Various forms of expression will be practised. This could include orally, through interviews, presentations and discussions; and in writing, through reports, press releases, summaries, abstracts, blogs and emails.

The student's preparatory work and participation will be paramount in view of getting well prepared for future work experience.

Language skills

• Express themselves fluently and spontaneously in the target language on a wide range of topics and registers.
• Understand a wide range of longer texts and recognise nuances in meaning and use.
• Write clear, well-structured, detailed texts in the target language on complex subjects.
• Use the target language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.

Intercultural awareness, understanding and competence

• Critically understand other cultures and practices other than student’s own.
• Articulate to others the contribution that the culture has made at a regional and global level.
• Appreciate and evaluate critically student’s own culture.

Language-related skills

• Develop awareness and understanding of student’s own approaches for learning the target language.
• Develop awareness and understanding of student’s own learning style and learning opportunities of the target language.

Generic skills

• Use language creatively and precisely for a range of purposes and audiences.
• Extract and synthesise key information from written, spoken and other sources.
• Organise and present ideas within the framework of a structured and reasoned argument.
• Develop digital literacy.
• Develop problem-solving skills.
• Use target language source materials appropriately.
• Write and think under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Manage own learning.
• Effective communication, presentation and interaction.
• Ability to work creatively and flexibly with others as part of a team.
• Linguistic mediation skills.

Portfolio (30%) to consist of:

• Aural assessment - 10% - autumn semester
• Written assignment 1 - 10% - autumn semester
• Written assignment 2 - 10% - spring semester

Oral exam - 30% 

Written exam - 40% - 2 hours - Spring examination period.

​THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE:

In the event of failure of the module, a student will have the opportunity to resit the failed element or elements in the August resit period, for a maximum of 40%

Students will work with a main textbook as well as variety of materials. The materials used will be appropriate to the needs and areas of interest of all students.

Kondoh, A. and Maruyama, C. (2008) For Pre-Advanced and Advanced Learners of Japanese Images of Japan “Text” [2nd Edition], Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press.

Kondoh, A. and Maruyama, C. (2008) For Pre-Advanced and Advanced Learners of Japanese Images of Japan “Tasks, Vocabulary and Sentence Patterns” [2nd Edition], Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press.

The other core materials will be provided and uploaded on Learning Central.

Academic Japanese kenkyuukai (2016) Kaiteeban daigaku ・daigakuin ryuugakusee no nihongo ② sakubun hen, Tokyo: Aruku.