CourseSpecifications
Valid as from the academic year 2024-2025

Modern Japanese I (A005166)

Course size
Credits 10.0

(nominal values; actual values may depend on programme)
Study time 300 h

Course offerings and teaching methods in academic year 2024-2025
A (semester 1)
Dutch, English, Japanese Gent

Lecturers in academic year 2024-2025
Holvoet, Marlies
Horckmans, Mieke
Uenishi, Hideaki
Niehaus, Andreas

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LW21
LW21
LW21
LW21

Offered in the following programmes in 2024-2025
Bachelor of Arts in Oriental Languages and Cultures(main subject Japan)
Elective Set Languages of Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe

staff member
staff member
staff member
lecturer-in-charge
crdts
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Teaching languages
Japanese, English, Dutch
Keywords
Modern Japanese
Position of the course
This basic course teaches students the basic structures of the modern Japanese standardlanguage (hyōjungo)and the elementary vocabulary of the modern Japanese standardlanguage. The course teaches students to understand and have simple conversations with anative speaker in the modern Japanese standard language. The course teaches them the twoJapanese phonetic writing systems (katakana and hiragana) and the elementary characters(kanji) of modern written Japanese. Students are taught how to translate texts of an elementarylevel (Japanese-Dutch, Dutch-Japanese).
Contents
This course offers an introduction to the basic grammar and elementary vocabulary of themodern Japanese standard language. By means of basic dialogues that handle situations ofeveryday life, the general polite formal spoken language (teineitai) is analysed and taught. Thestudents are being familiarized with the two syllabic phonetic writing systems and also with theelementary Sino-Japanese characters. The students are also presented with an historical
overview of the development and evolution of the Japanese writing system.
Initial competences
Knowledge of grammar.
Final competences
1 To have elementary oral and written knowledge of the Japanese language.
2 To be able to make elementary translations from Dutch to Japanese and vice versa.
3 To be able to apply elementary knowledge of grammatical analysis.
4 To be able to analyse and use the basic structures of the modern Japanese standard
1 language (hyo-jungo).
5 To master the elementary vocabulary of the modern Japanese standard language (speaking,1 reading, writing, understanding).
6 To be able to understand and have simple conversations with a native speaker in the
1 modern Japanese standard language.
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7 To be able to read and write the two Japanese phonetic writing systems (katakana and1 hiragana).
8 To be able to read and write the elementary characters (kanji) of modern written Japanese.
Conditions for credit contract
Access to this course unit via a credit contract is unrestricted: the student takes into consideration the conditions mentioned
in 'Starting Competences'
Conditions for exam contract
This course unit cannot be taken via an exam contract
Teaching methods
Seminar, Lecture
Extra information on the teaching methods• During the lectures theory is provided. The teaching of the theory (vocabulary, grammar) isdone by the lecturer.
• The seminars with practicing and applying the theory under guidance. The students aretrained in speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Basic dialogues and simple
conversations are trained by means of a role play.
• Independent work: The students also receive a portfolio with exercises that have to be madeindividually.
Study material
Type: Handbook
Name: Genki I, An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese. Tekstboek + werkboek
Indicative price: € 70
Optional: noOnline Available : No
Available in the Library : Yes
Available through Student Association : Yes
Usability and Lifetime within the Course Unit : intensive
Usability and Lifetime within the Study Programme : intensive
Usability and Lifetime after the Study Programme : occasionallyReferences
Makino, Seiichi; Tsutsui, Michio: A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar. Tokyo, The Japan
Times 2009.
Course content-related study coaching
All theoretical elements of language acquisition are immediately set into practise. Therefore
conversation exercises, listening exercises and writing exercises are provided. The classexercises offer the students a continuous feedback. The results of the oral and written
exercises are discussed individually. Students can make listening exercises on UFORA.
Assessment moments
end-of-term and continuous assessment
Examination methods in case of periodic assessment during the first examination period
Oral assessment
Examination methods in case of periodic assessment during the second examination period
Oral assessment
Examination methods in case of permanent assessment
Written assessment
Possibilities of retake in case of permanent assessment
examination during the second examination period is possible
Extra information on the examination methods
The non-periodical examination is written (50%) and the periodical exam oral (50%). The oral
examination stresses speaking and listening skills.
Calculation of the examination markNon-periodical exam written (50%) and periodical exam oral (50%). Students have to passeach part of the periodical evaluation in order to pass the exam.
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Facilities for Working Students
1. Student attendance during educational activities is required2. Possible rescheduling of the examination to a different time in the same academic year
3. Feedback can be given by email or during an appointment during office hours
For more information concerning flexible learning: contact the monitoring service of the facultyof Arts and philosophy(Approved)3