Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Lingue e Letterature straniere e Culture moderne

Objectives

The course aims to provide basic knowledge of elementary-level  Japanese language.

In particular: elementary grammar skills, elementary reading and comprehension skills for the metalinguistic analysis of written texts and their translation into Italian; writing and translation skills in Japanese; basic oral production.

At the end of the course students will acquire the four communicative skills provided by the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) and should be placed between levels A1 and A2 (level N5 towards level N4 of the JLPT - Japanese Language Proficiency Test).

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course students will acquire good skills in grammar, vocabulary and spelling (kanji) through lectures and practice with native speakers. They will be able to manage conversations and compose or read more elementary texts.

Outcomes:

- to acquire the knowledge of the basic grammatical structures of elementary-level Japanese
- to complete the knowledge of elementary-level writing system (nearly 250 kanji between the main course and the lettorato) and vocabulary (900 new words).
- to know and understand the functioning of the basic grammatical structures of elementary-level Japanese
- to know and understand variations in the register and communication pragmatics of elementary-level Japanese
- to know and understand key concepts and the essential terminology required to describe in a scientific way the phenomena studied during the class

Programme

LANGUAGE MAIN COURSE: 54 hours of which:

36 hours: grammar

Elementary level grammar. Particular attention will be paid to the analysis and uses of verb tenses, pospositions, adverbs and adjectives.

18 hours: reading and translation

Written comprehension and translation exercises from Japanese to Italian (conducted on honbun).

LANGUAGE LECTURES (Lettorato): 100/120 hours in total

Writing exercises (kanji);

Writing exercises (sakubun);

Oral production and conversation exercises;

Grammar exercises (workboook of the main text)

Teaching methods

For the 2023-2024 academic year, a "in presence" teaching method will be adopted, involving face-to-face teaching. 

The MOODLE will be used to upload materials used in lectures for presentations and other purposes.

Lectures will NOT be transmitted in streaming neither recorded, but any material used and/or support will be uploaded, together with audio/visual material for those who are unable to attend.

Attendance is not compulsory, but strongly recommended.

Verification of learning

The course of "Japanese Language I" is divided into two semesters. The exam is registered by the teacher responsible of the whole course, Prof. Asuka Ozumi at the end of the concluding exam.

The expected results will be measured in the following way:

1) Written exam as to verify the skills of: grammar, reading and comprehension, translation and written production (written exam of lettorato).

2) Oral exam as to verify the skills of oral comprehension and production (oral exam of lettorato).

3) Oral exam as to check the ability to understand and translate texts and to understand the different grammatical structures in the texts (final oral language concluding exam).

Students are required to pass each exam in the order (1-2-3). The final exam vote will be obtained by the average of the lettorato exam (written and oral average) and the language exam.

E-learning and support materials will be uploaded to the Moodle platform.

Students with physical disabilites or SLD (specific learning difficulties), please refer to the University's support page ( https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-con-disabilitaopen_in_new ) and admission informations ( https://www.unito.it/accoglienza-studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsaopen_in_new ).
The procedures for requesting support during exams can be found here:  https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-e-studentesse-con-disabilita/supporto-studenti-e-studentesse-conopen_in_new

Students with SLD are required to inform the lecturer at the beginning of the course so that, if necessary, an individual study programme tailored to their needs can be arranged, in addition to appropriate compensation and dispensation measures for examinations.

Bibliography

Other useful material related to GENKI textbook, among with APPs, can be downloaded from the following website.  https://genki3.japantimes.co.jp/en/student/

Not compulsory but useful texts:

1) Matilde Mastrangelo, Naoko Ozawa, Mariko Saito, Grammatica Giapponese (seconda edizione), Milano, Hoepli, 2016.

2) Makino Seiichi e Tsutsui Michio, A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar, The Japan Times, (ed. 2017).