JAPANESE LANGUAGE 3 MOD.1

This course is one of the core components of the third year of the “Japan” curriculum within the degree program “Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa.”
Its learning objectives focus on the development of language skills.
By the end of the course, students will be able to engage in conversation and read or write more advanced texts in authentic communicative contexts.
The expected proficiency level is approximately B1 of the CEFR, or N3 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).
This class is part of the Japanese language program; it builds on the skills developed in “Japanese Language 1” and “Japanese Language 2” and prepares students to continue with “Japanese Language 3.2” in the following semester.

B1 Level – Threshold or Intermediate

1. Knowledge and understanding
to consolidate knowledge of pre-intermediate-level Japanese grammatical structures.
to consolidate knowledge of the pre-intermediate-level writing system (kana and kanji) and vocabulary.
to understand the functioning of intermediate-level Japanese grammatical structures.
to understand variations in register and communicative pragmatics in intermediate-level Japanese.
to understand key concepts and essential terminology required to describe, in scientific terms, the phenomena studied during the course.

2. Applying knowledge and understanding
to demonstrate a general understanding of intermediate-level grammar structures.
to effectively read, understand, and summarise Japanese texts at an intermediate level.
to interact appropriately in communicative situations described by the B1 level of the CEFR.
to comprehend and produce oral and written texts in line with the B1 level of the CEFR.
to translate intermediate-level written texts from Japanese into Italian, following the guidelines provided during the course.
to further refine the use of electronic dictionaries and other translation tools.

3. Making judgements
to express basic concepts and provide examples to support or challenge them in Japanese.
to make autonomous translation decisions based on the instructions given in class.
to critically evaluate common myths and misconceptions about the Japanese language (e.g., presumed untranslatability, opacity, etc.).

4. Communication skills
to demonstrate the written and oral comprehension, production, and interaction skills required at the B1 level of the CEFR.
to interact during class with peers, instructors, and CELs in a critical and respectful manner.

5. Learning skills
to take clear and effective notes.
to consult course materials and recommended references appropriately.
to develop the skills acquired in the course in order to pursue further studies.

Lower Intermediate Japanese (Level N4 JLPT).
Having achieved the learning goals of the "Japanese language 2" class and passed the second-year exam of Japanese language.
Knowledge of the basic categories of sentence analysis.

Translation/Grammmar/Basics of pragmatics (Eugenia Diegoli, 30 hrs); textbook (60 hrs: Yoshida Momoko; 30 hrs: Sembokuya Kayato; 30 hrs: Utsumi Ayuko); group activities (Yoshida Momoko, Utsumi Ayuko).
Attendance, although not mandatory, is strongly recommended.
No additional readings are required for non-attending students.

Mandatory textbook and drill books:
①TOBIRA: Gateway to Advanced Japanese (Oka M., Tsutsui M., Kondo J., Emori S., Hanai Y., Ishikawa S.), Tokyo, Kuroshio Publishers, 2009.
②TOBIRA: Power Up Your KANJI (Oka M., Ishikawa S., Kondo J., Tsutsui M., Emori S., Hanai Y.), Tokyo, Kuroshio Publishers, 2010.
③TOBIRA: Grammar Power - Exercises for Mastery (Tsutsui M., Emori S., Hanai Y., Ishikawa S., Oka M., Kondo J.), Tokyo, Kuroshio Publishers, 2012.

One of the following grammar textbooks is mandatory:
④ Grammatica Giapponese Seconda edizione, (Mastrangelo M., Ozawa N., Saito M.), Milano, Hoepli, 2012.
⑤ Grammatica di Giapponese Moderno (Kubota), Venezia, Cafoscarina, 1989.

⑥ Suggested electronic dictionary:
CASIO “XD-Y7400" (http://casio.jp/exword/products/XD-Y7400/ ) or a less recent model in the 7400 series including Japanese-Italian dictionaries.
or, alternatively,
CASIO “XD-Y6500" (http://casio.jp/exword/products/XD-Y6500/ ) or a less recent model in the 6500 series including classical Japanese dictionaries.

Suggested online tools:
jalea.unive.it (grammar); a4edu.unive.it (japanese-italian online dictionary).

NB: The texts to translate will be provided by the teacher in class.

The course in "Japanese Language 3.1" runs from September to December (one semester).
At the end of the first semester, students are expected to take a final examination (Japanese Language 3.1), which includes:
1. computer test of KANJI and GRAMMAR
2. computer test of IBUNWAYAKU (translations of short sentences from Japanese to Italian)
3. written test of DICTATION
4. written TRANSLATION test (Japanese-Italian/Japanese-English). Original text length: 350-400 characters. Dictionary allowed - 60 minutes;
The translation test will be assigned based on: the student's curriculum (economic) and materials analysed in class
5. an ORAL speaking test (FLA).

The final grade will be the average of the oral test (5) and the average of the written tests (1,2,3,4).
Passing Japanese 3.1 is a prerequisite for taking Japanese 3.2.
The 12 cfu associated with the course will be awarded upon passing the final exam.

written and oral

A. Scores in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of: Sufficient knowledge and applied comprehension of the program;
B. Scores in the 23-26 range will be awarded in the presence of: Fair knowledge and applied comprehension of the program;
C. Scores in the 27-30 range will be awarded in the presence of: Good or excellent knowledge and applied comprehension of the program;
D. Honors will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and applied comprehension of the program.

Interactive classes with both Italian and native speaker teachers.
An active participation is required in order to develop a linguistic self-consciousness through the exercises presented in class by the teacher.
Students may find some online language drills in the personal MOODLE materials of each Foreign Language Assistant.

"Classe 1" course (AL-MZ division) is intended for students specialising in the "humanities" area.
The full programme of the Foreign Language Assistants' courses can be found in their personal "MOODLE" materials.