31313 - Japanese Linguistics and Language 3

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students acquire a good capacity for a comparative analysis of the main dynamics in intercultural communication and develop intermediate/advanced linguistic competences focused on real working environments. They are able to analyze complex texts and manage communication in specific and complex linguistic situations. They develop active and passive translation skills and they are proficient in all the other linguistic skills by positioning themselves between the levels B1 and B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference Level N3 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 four main steps:

1) grammar and Japanese linguistics (sociolinguistics) with Prof. Lo Cigno

2) 3-A: conversation, reading and text comprehension with prof. Kono,

3) 3-B:kanji, conversation and reading with the prof. Kiyohara

4) 3-C: Reading comprehension with prof. Kiyohara.

Readings/Bibliography

Basic Textbooks

- TRY! N2 (chūkyū) Revised Version (2014) ASK. Japanese edition.

Level up Nihongo Bunpō (chūkyū) Myeongja Heo, Miyazaki Keiko - Kuroshio Shuppan, Tōkyō (2013). JAPANESE VERSION

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

(textbooks must be purchased in advance)

Lecture notes

- Prof.Kōno lecture notes

- Prof. Kiyohara lecture notes (Kanji and Texts)

(to be downloaded from virtuale)

Dictionaries

- Applicazione iOs: Imiwa

- Applicazione Android: Yomiwa/Aedict

Additionale sources:

- Self master series 7: Jōken hyōgen - Hasunuma A., Arita S., Maeda N., Kuroshio Shuppan, Tokyo (2001). (solo secondo anno)

- Tsukaeru Nihongo Bunpō Gaidobukku - Nakanishi K. et al, Hitsuji shobō, Tokyo (2020).

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

- Grammatica d'uso della lingua giapponese –Oue J., Manieri A., Hoepli, Milano (2019).

- Kurabete wakaru: te-ni-o-wa Nihongo joshi jiten - Ujihara Y. et al, J Risāchi shuppan (2023).

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

Assessment and Evaluation Methods

FINAL EXAM: Written and Oral

(There is no difference between attending and non-attending students.)

Written Examination

The written examination will be taken in class using a laptop or tablet (on which a Japanese keyboard must be installed in advance). It is divided into four sections designed to assess the knowledge and skills acquired during the course:

• Linguistics and grammar test (25 minutes)
• Kanji and vocabulary test (25 minutes)
• Reading comprehension and written production test (90 minutes)

The final written grade will be calculated as the average of the grades obtained in each section. In order to pass the written examination, students must pass every individual section.

Please note:
a) The written examination remains valid for the entire calendar year.
b) The use of smartphones is strictly prohibited.
c) The teaching staff cannot be held responsible for any technical malfunctions or internet connection problems.

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or temporary/permanent disabilities

Students are encouraged to contact both the University’s dedicated support office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it) and the instructor as early as possible in order to identify the most effective strategies for attending classes and/or preparing for examinations.

Requests for accommodations must be submitted at least 30 days before the examination date by emailing the instructor and copying:

• disabilita@unibo.it (for students with disabilities)
• dsa@unibo.it (for students with Specific Learning Disorders)

Midterm Assessments

Two midterm assessments are scheduled for the Grammar and Kanjimodules (Lo Cigno – Kiyohara) for students enrolled in the current academic year.

• The Grammar test will take place at the end of the first semester (online).
• The Kanji test consists of two parts:
  • the first at the end of the first semester, simultaneously with the Grammar test (online);
  • the second during the first written examination session (May).

Please note: Midterm assessment results remain valid for all three examination sessions of the relevant academic year.

Oral Examination

The oral examination is intended to assess:

• the ability to read texts from the course textbook without the aid of hiragana readings;
• the ability to orally re-elaborate written content (texts and images);
• linguistic competence (appropriate and confident interaction, accurate grammar and vocabulary, and the use of more sophisticated language) through free conversation, role-playing activities, and discussion of simple topics chosen by the student.

Expected duration: approximately 10–15 minutes.

Students are reminded that attendance at the scheduled examination time is mandatory, regardless of their position on the examination list.

A comprehensive and integrated understanding of the topics covered in the course will be evaluated as excellent achievement. Competence that remains overly dependent on the materials provided and lacks independent interpretation will receive a positive but not outstanding evaluation. Persistent difficulty in establishing logical and descriptive connections among concepts and phenomena will result in an insufficient grade.

JLPT Bonus

A grading bonus will be awarded to students who:

• have passed Level 3 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), or
• have attended a Japanese language course in Japan lasting at least one academic term (approximately three months),

within one year prior to the examination.

Please note: The certificate must be presented to the instructor in its original form upon successful completion of the oral examination.

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 Stefano Lo Cigno