31211 - Japanese Language and Linguistics 2

Academic Year 2022/2023

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Foreign Languages and Literature (cod. 0979)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students acquire skills in basic Japanese linguistics, as well as in syntactic-grammatical structures and complex communication. They are able to manage daily conversations and they can write and read intermediate texts thanks to the mediation skills they acquire during the course. They develop active and passive translation skills and they are proficient in all the other linguistic skills by positioning themselves between the levels A2 and B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference, Level N4 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) organized by the Japan Foundation.

Course contents

Students acquire the necessary language skills of the second year through a syllabus divided into three main steps: 1) grammar andJapanese-Italiantranslation with Prof. Vitucci, 2) conversation, reading and text comprehension with the Japanese lecturer, 3) kanji, conversation and reading with the Japanese tutor.Students will deal with the above mentioned contents through diversified teaching materials which will be calibrated on the actual level of their Japanese knowledge.

Readings/Bibliography

Basic Textbooks

- Manabou! Nihongo 1 – Shokyū 1 – Zanichelli, Bologna (2019) (Unità 16-20).

- Manabou! Nihongo 2 - Shokyū 2 - Senmon Kyōiku Shuppan, Tōkyō (2008) (Unità 21- 34 + 39, 40).

- Kanji Look and Learn – The Japan Times, Tōkyō (2009). Manual and workbook.

(textbooks must be purchased in advance)

Lecture notes

- Prof.Kōno lecture notes from Manabou! Nihongo (1-2).

- Prof. Arakawa lecture notes (Kanji and Texts)

(lecture notes will be available during the course at ECRIRE Via Cartoleria, 18 / A - Tel 051 238 424)

Dictionaries

- The Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary - Jack Halpern - Kodansha, Tōkyō.

- Shogakukan Japanese- Italian and Italian-Japanese Dictionaries – Shogakukan, Tōkyō.

- Bilingual Dictionary - Hoepli, Milan (2013).

- Il Giapponese coi Manga - Kappalab, Ferrara (nuova edizione 2013).

Subsidiary manuals and textbooks

- Grammatica giapponese –Mastrangelo M., Ozawa N., Saito M., Hoepli, Milano (2006).

- A dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar – Makino S., Tsutsui M., The Japan Times, Tōkyō (1986).

- Eserciziario Orale di Giapponese moderno –Vitucci F., Clueb, Bologna (2012).

- Il Giapponese per viaggiatori – Vitucci F., Kappa Edizioni, Bologna (2011).

- La didattica del giapponese attraverso la rete - Teoria e pratica glottodidattica degli audiovisivi - Vitucci F., Clueb, Bologna (2013).

Teaching methods

The course will include seminar classes with the teacher and Japanese conversation and writing practice with the Japanese lecturer and tutor. Classes will be characterized by an intense interaction. An active participation is required in order to develop a linguistic self-consciousness through all the exercises presented in class by the teacher.

Assessment methods

Final exam: written and oral.

The test will be divided into the four following sections: grammar test (20 minutes); ideograms test (25 minutes), writing skills (90 minutes) reading comprehension, (70minutes). The final score will be the average of each part of the written exam. need to pass each and every part of the test in order to arrive at a final assessment.

THE WRITTEN EXAM REMAINS VALID FOR ONE YEAR.

STARTING FROM THE A.Y. 2021/22 FOR THE STUDENTS OF THE CURRENT YEAR WILL BE INTRODUCED AN ONLINE TEST FOR THE GRAMMAR MODULE (PROF. VITUCCI) AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST SEMESTER .



The oral examination intends to determine: 1) the ability to read texts from the manuals without the support of hiragana, and 2) the ability to rework orally written contents (text, images), 3) the ability to manage free oral conversation by maintaining an adequate interaction, correct grammar and vocabulary through role play and presentation of themselves. Total time required: 20 minutes. A global knowledge of the topics will be evaluated as excellent, while an excessive dependence on texts and manuals without any interpretative support will be evaluated with a positive but low score. The proven and repeated difficulty in creating logical and descriptive connections between phenomena and contents will produce an insufficient evaluation.

Students who have passed N4 Level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test or have attended a Japanese language course in Japan will be awarded with an evaluation bonus.



Examples of scores:

Maximum scores (30 - 30 cum laude) in case candidates have: 1) assimilated all the contents related to the grammar, 2) has achieved a full understanding of the ideograms, 3) been able to develop their own translation style balancing contextual elements of source language and target language, 4) successfully handled oral conversation.

Intermediate scores (24-29) in the case candidates have: 1) partially assimilated language contents, 2) have achieved a decent understanding of the module on the ideograms, 3) been able to develop their own translation style though showing slight difficulties, 4) discreetly managed oral contents.

Minimum scores (18-23) in the case candidate have: 1) sufficiently assimilated Japanese language contents, 2) achieved a sufficient albeit poor understanding of ideograms, 3) been able to develop their own translation style but showing adaptation difficulties, 4) have not demonstrated a sufficient ability in oral conversation.

Insufficient score (less than 18) in case candidates could not: 1) assimilate the contents related to Japanese grammar and syntax, 2) show a sufficient understanding of ideograms, 3) develop their own translation styles, 4) manage oral conversation in Japanese.

Teaching tools

Audiovisual materials and subsidiary material. Projector will be also utilized to display summaries, concepts, fragments of text, images and video excerpts.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Vitucci