JAPA414-25S1 (C) Semester One 2025

Advanced Japanese Language A

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 February 2025
End Date: Sunday, 22 June 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 2 March 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 11 May 2025

Description

The purpose of this course is to prepare students to, on the one hand, conduct research using Japanese materials and, on the other hand, for the work environment through practical training in writing, oral communication and giving spoken presentations in Japanese. In addition, the course aims to provide some ‘authentic,’ real-life experience in using Japanese, and to build community links, through engagement with the Japanese Community/Community of Practice and Learning Community. Students will be given the opportunity to further develop their communicative competence, including translation and interpreting skills, and a variety of other skills through project and assignment work. JAPA414 will build upon the prerequisite courses, JAPA 326 Advancing Japanese B and JAPA305 Japanese Language 3.

The following areas are given special attention:
1. To improve students’ reading comprehension of a variety of texts written for native-speaker
readers;
2. To extend the knowledge of Japanese grammar and vocabulary in as many different
areas as possible;
3. To improve the ability to summarize and report verbally on a broad range of topics in
Japanese;
4. To improve writing and verbal communication skills in Japanese;
5. To improve students’ ability to work effectively between the two languages
(English and Japanese).

Learning Outcomes

As a student in this course you will acquire increased knowledge and understanding of Japanese
culture and society. You will also acquire skills in all four areas of the language, with an emphasis
on oral presentations, reading, and writing. On successful completion of this course, the student
should:
❖ be familiar with, and able to critically evaluate, various aspects of contemporary
Japanese society and current affairs and relate them to biculturalism in Aotearoa NZ
❖ be able to converse in Japanese on a broad range of Japan-related topics
and on biculturalism in Aotearoa NZ
❖ be able to read and comprehend a variety of texts written for native-speaker readers.
❖ have acquired competency in summarizing and reporting verbally in Japanese
❖ have gained competency in writing reports and essays in Japanese
❖ have acquired some competency in applying translation and interpreting skills to
work effectively between the two languages, Japanese and English
❖ have acquired research, analysis and writing skills & other competencies readily
transferrable to a variety of disciplines
❖ Have advanced intercultural awareness and sensitivity

Also, students will
❖ develop an understanding of the influence of global conditions on Japan, and be
competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts – attributes that are sought
by employers and that can be used in a range of applications;
❖ have a familiarity with ethnic diversity and indigenous cultures in Japan, and a heightened
3
awareness and understanding of the cultural landscape and biculturalism in Aotearoa NZ;
❖ develop specific linguistic skills for oral and written presentations in Japanese that will
enhance their opportunities for a successful career;
❖ have had opportunities to engage with members of the Japanese community as well as the
wider Community of Practice and Learning Community, and to reflect on their own role
and performance within those communities.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

Employable, innovative and enterprising

Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

Biculturally competent and confident

Students will be aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, and its relevance to their area of study and/or their degree.

Engaged with the community

Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.

Globally aware

Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

JAPA326 with at least a B pass, or
ARA course BLJA702 with at least a B pass, and subject to approval of the Programme Director.

Restrictions

JAPA317, JAPA407

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 10:00 - 12:00 James Logie 517
17 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Friday 13:00 - 14:00 Rehua 429
17 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun

Course Coordinator

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences Head of Department

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Assignments (4) 30%
Participation & Engagement 10%
Short essay 18%
Project 42% Product (30%) Facebook tasks (3%) In-class presentations (4%) Reflection report (5%)

Textbooks / Resources

There is no required textbook for the course. Students will be provided with handouts for class
readings. Students will be expected to study and research around the set class topics
independently, and to make extensive use of relevant resources in the university library.

• Unseen short articles (in-class handouts)
• Seen chapters in books and articles (provided in advance)

Other material, which may be helpful, can be found in the Library Subject Guide for Japanese:
https://canterbury.libguides.com/japa.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,084.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All JAPA414 Occurrences

  • JAPA414-25S1 (C) Semester One 2025