69537 - Japanese Language and Culture

Learning outcomes

Students will learn basic elements of the Japanese language and culture. Moreover, they are expected to to become able to understand and produce written texts and spontaneous oral discourses (in communicative contexts of everyday life).

Course contents

Review exercises of the materials of the first previous courses, Basic Japanese and Japanese Language, and introduction of new materials (L.9-L.11 of Genki I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese).

The exercises focus on various skills: conversation, reading and listening comprehension, simple compositions.  The students continue to use the computer in Japanese (the students write compositions about various topics and utilize online tools to read Japanese texts). Additionally, they familiarize themselves with some aspects of Japanese history and culture.

Readings/Bibliography

Textbooks
Genki I : An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese - second edition (Japan Times)
Genki I Work Book - second edition  (Japan Times)

Materials distributed in classe

Optional references
< Dictionaries >
Dizionario Hoepli Giapponese. (Hoepli)
Kodansha's Furigana English-Japanese Dictionary (Kodansha)

< Grammar >
Mastrangelo, M., Ozawa, N. & Saito, N. (2016). Grammatica Giapponese (Hoepli)

Teaching methods

 mix of lectures and exercises in classroom and online, homeworks

Assessment methods

The final grades will be decided, based on the results of written & oral exams and composition assignments.

The modality of final exams will be determined in the end of the first semester by considering the development of the situation relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Teaching tools

class handouts, audio-visual aides, online resources

Office hours

See the website of Motoko Ueyama