Japanese
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide some of the basic knowledge and skills of the Written and Spoken Japanese language. It is aimed at students who have never studied Japanese. In particular, the goal is to get students to know:
· hiragana and katakana syllabaries;
· about 170 ideographic characters (kanji);
· reading all the words that appear in Units 1-19 of the textbook Minna no Nihongo I Honsatsu;
· the basic grammatical rules and the most important main expressions for communication, contained in the first 19 units of the textbook Minna no Nihongo I Honsatsu.
Students will learn the lexical and morphological elements of the basic constructions and expressions of the Japanese language, and the principles of their composition. In addition, the course will teach to recognize such constructions in written and spoken texts, and to establish their relationship with speech and situation. Students will learn to evaluate which constructions are most appropriate to the various communication situations and to use them to express themselves orally and in writing.
· hiragana and katakana syllabaries;
· about 170 ideographic characters (kanji);
· reading all the words that appear in Units 1-19 of the textbook Minna no Nihongo I Honsatsu;
· the basic grammatical rules and the most important main expressions for communication, contained in the first 19 units of the textbook Minna no Nihongo I Honsatsu.
Students will learn the lexical and morphological elements of the basic constructions and expressions of the Japanese language, and the principles of their composition. In addition, the course will teach to recognize such constructions in written and spoken texts, and to establish their relationship with speech and situation. Students will learn to evaluate which constructions are most appropriate to the various communication situations and to use them to express themselves orally and in writing.
Expected learning outcomes
Recognition, understanding and correct use in simple communicative situations of grammar, vocabulary and basic constructions of the Japanese language in communication situations of medium complexity.The level reached is around N5 on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) scale, and corresponds approximately to the CEFR A1 level.
Lesson period: year
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
LANGUAGE
The program corresponds to the grammar topics, lexicon and kanji contained in the first 19 Units of the textbook 'Minna no nihongo I Honsatsu (2nd ed.)'. In short, it consists in the following topics. A general introduction to Japanese grammar; copular expressions and use of the forms of the dummy word family DESU; the constructions of one-, two- and three-place verbs; case particles and the realization of Grammatical relations and Semantic relations (adjuncts); focus particles WA and MO; quantifiers; the morphology and grading of adjectives; the basic verbal morphology; forms and constructions to express possession, permission, prohibition and request; temporal, final, causal, volitional, declarative sentences and related conjunctions; the basic aspectual forms of the verb; the reading and writing of approximately 170 ideographs (kanji), the reading and meaning of all the vocabulary contained in the first 19 textbook Units.
CULTURE AND MEDIATION
Ten monographic lectures on the cultural basis of widespread misbeliefs and prejudices about Japan, as held by both non-Japanese people and the Japanese themselves.
The program corresponds to the grammar topics, lexicon and kanji contained in the first 19 Units of the textbook 'Minna no nihongo I Honsatsu (2nd ed.)'. In short, it consists in the following topics. A general introduction to Japanese grammar; copular expressions and use of the forms of the dummy word family DESU; the constructions of one-, two- and three-place verbs; case particles and the realization of Grammatical relations and Semantic relations (adjuncts); focus particles WA and MO; quantifiers; the morphology and grading of adjectives; the basic verbal morphology; forms and constructions to express possession, permission, prohibition and request; temporal, final, causal, volitional, declarative sentences and related conjunctions; the basic aspectual forms of the verb; the reading and writing of approximately 170 ideographs (kanji), the reading and meaning of all the vocabulary contained in the first 19 textbook Units.
CULTURE AND MEDIATION
Ten monographic lectures on the cultural basis of widespread misbeliefs and prejudices about Japan, as held by both non-Japanese people and the Japanese themselves.
Prerequisites for admission
No previous knowledge of Japanese language, of linguistics, and of the school grammar of Italian or English is required. However, students must be proficient in Italian in order to understand the content of lectures and exam instructions.
Teaching methods
The three official course and the seminar concern grammar and will be entirely taught in Italian, following a 'traditional' method: the lecturer will explain in Italian the grammar rules treated in the textbook units by means of notions of linguistics, and writing on the blackboard. No computer material will be projected. Writing classes, also held in Italian, will also use the blackboard. Homework assignment and periodical kanji tests play an important role in the writing/kanji part of the course. Language practice ('Esercitazioni') will be held in Japanese in an interactive way. The teacher will ask individual questions to students, and all students will be actively involved.
Teaching Resources
COMPULSORY TEXTS
(Main textbook, Units 1-19): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū I. Dainihan. Honsatsu (2nd ed.). (Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196036).
(Kanji textbook): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū I. Dainihan. Kanji eigoban. Elementary I. Second Edition. Kanji - English Edition. (Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196838).
(Grammar): Simone dalla Chiesa, Introduzione alla grammatica giapponese. Scene, eventi, verbi, argomenti. (Milano: Lumi, 2019, pp. 110. ISBN 9788867850600).
Other material, build by each individual lecturer and teacher, if any, will be available from the Lumi bookstore or downloadable from the Ariel site of the course.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS (RECOMMENDED)
(Grammar rules): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū I. Giapponese elementare I. Traduzione e note grammaticali - Italiano. (Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196357. Also available in English and many other languages, under different ISBN codes).
(Grammar practice): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū I. Dainihan. Hyōjun mondaishū. Elementary I. Second Edition. Basic Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196067).
(Grammar practice): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū I. Dainihan. Kaite oboeru bunkei Renshūcho. Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Second Edition Sentence Pattern Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196074).
(Kanji practice): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū I. Dainihan. Kanji renshūcho. Elementary I. Second Edition. Kanji Workbook. Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196029.
The following books are reference grammars or can be used as such. They do not make use of the notions, technical terms and linguistic approach followed in the course, but may nevertheless be helpful. They are not in alternative to each other; one can buy them all.
Kubota, Yoko. Grammatica di giapponese moderno. (Venezia: Cafoscarina, 1989. ISBN 9788885613263). This text follows the Japanese school grammar, and is quite 'scientific' from that point of view.
Mastrangelo, Matilde; Ozawa, Naoko; Saito, Mariko. Grammatica giapponese. Seconda Edizione. (Milano: Hoepli, 2016. ISBN 9788820367275). This thorough text explains Japanese with the use of several categories of Italian school grammar.
Oue, Junichi; Manieri, Antonio. Grammatica d'uso della lingua giapponese. Teoria ed esercizi. Livelli N5-N3 del Japanese Language Proficiency Test. (Milano: Hoepli, 2019. ISBN 9788820375546). This text is quite sophisticated from the point of view linguistics, but still uses several notions of Italian school grammar.
(Main textbook, Units 1-19): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū I. Dainihan. Honsatsu (2nd ed.). (Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196036).
(Kanji textbook): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū I. Dainihan. Kanji eigoban. Elementary I. Second Edition. Kanji - English Edition. (Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196838).
(Grammar): Simone dalla Chiesa, Introduzione alla grammatica giapponese. Scene, eventi, verbi, argomenti. (Milano: Lumi, 2019, pp. 110. ISBN 9788867850600).
Other material, build by each individual lecturer and teacher, if any, will be available from the Lumi bookstore or downloadable from the Ariel site of the course.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS (RECOMMENDED)
(Grammar rules): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū I. Giapponese elementare I. Traduzione e note grammaticali - Italiano. (Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196357. Also available in English and many other languages, under different ISBN codes).
(Grammar practice): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū I. Dainihan. Hyōjun mondaishū. Elementary I. Second Edition. Basic Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196067).
(Grammar practice): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū I. Dainihan. Kaite oboeru bunkei Renshūcho. Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Second Edition Sentence Pattern Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196074).
(Kanji practice): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū I. Dainihan. Kanji renshūcho. Elementary I. Second Edition. Kanji Workbook. Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196029.
The following books are reference grammars or can be used as such. They do not make use of the notions, technical terms and linguistic approach followed in the course, but may nevertheless be helpful. They are not in alternative to each other; one can buy them all.
Kubota, Yoko. Grammatica di giapponese moderno. (Venezia: Cafoscarina, 1989. ISBN 9788885613263). This text follows the Japanese school grammar, and is quite 'scientific' from that point of view.
Mastrangelo, Matilde; Ozawa, Naoko; Saito, Mariko. Grammatica giapponese. Seconda Edizione. (Milano: Hoepli, 2016. ISBN 9788820367275). This thorough text explains Japanese with the use of several categories of Italian school grammar.
Oue, Junichi; Manieri, Antonio. Grammatica d'uso della lingua giapponese. Teoria ed esercizi. Livelli N5-N3 del Japanese Language Proficiency Test. (Milano: Hoepli, 2019. ISBN 9788820375546). This text is quite sophisticated from the point of view linguistics, but still uses several notions of Italian school grammar.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will only take place at the end of the two-semester official course. It tests the knowledge build during the three modules of the official course and the skills developed during language practice classes. It is not possible to take a partial exam at the end of each module. There are no interim tests either. The exam consists in a written and in an oral part (thereafter also 'written exam' and 'oral exam'). There is no requirement for sitting the written part of the exam.
In order to sit the oral part of the exam, however, a student needs to have passed the written exam, with a minimum mark of 18/30 (see below on how this mark is obtained) or, alternatively, the early optional test with a score of 70%.
The written part of the exam is itself made of several separate sections, which aim to verify the knowledge of grammar and writing and the capability of actually applying such knowledge to the comprehension of a written text. The oral part of the exam consists in one section only and its aim is to verify a student's skill in using their knowledge in a face-to-face, direct interaction with a Japanese interlocutor, in both speaking and listening.
EARLY TEST (optional)
During the final week of the Second term, a final, optional test will be held. To take it and to pass it is not required in order to sit the written exam. However, those students who will pass the test by scoring a minimum of 80% in the Conjugation section and an average of 21/30 in the whole test will be exempted from sitting the written exam.
Any student who has not yet passed the exam of Lingua giapponese 1 can take the early test, regardless of their enrollment year or of whether they have attended the relevant classes. However, registration is mandatory.
The test will be held online, in the computer classrooms of the Sesto Campus. It is not possible ti take the test from home.
It is made of the following sections:
(1) Conjugation. (20 questions, multiple choice). Pass score 80%
(2) Kanji (20 questions, multiple choice).
(3) Grammar (20 questions, multiple choice).
(4) Comprehension (5 questions, multiple choice).
The pass score and the exemption from sitting the written exam are valid for one academic year.
WRITTEN EXAM
Registration is mandatory.
The written part of the exam is made of several separate sections. Each will take place in a single sitting, one after the other. A certain, specified time is allotted to each section. At the end of the allotted time, the exam sheets will be collected (regardless to their completion) and the exam will proceed to the next test. The whole written exam will last approximately three hours.
VERY IMPORTANT. Barrier sections
In order to obtain the required minimum of 18/30 in the written exam (and be consequently allowed to sit the oral exam), both a score of 80% in the Conjugation section and a minimum score of 18/30 in each of the other sections is needed in every single section, with no rounding-up. For example, a score of 17.75/18 will not be rounded up to 18/18 and will therefore be considered insufficient. This means that failing in just one section will cause failure in the whole written exam.
During the written exam, dictionaries may not be used.
The written exam consists in the following sections.
· Conjugation
This section aims to ascertain students' knowledge of the basic morphology of verbs and adjectives. A list of verbs and adjectives in dictionary form is provided, and students are asked to conjugate them in two given forms. This section is to be completed in an allotted time, along with the previous one (Grammar). In order to pass the test, students will have to write correctly at least 80% of the forms (for instance, if 48 forms are to be written, students will have to correctly write 38 of them in order to pass the test). The score of this section is NOT used in calculating the mean, final grade of the written exam.
· Grammar
This section aims to ascertain students' grammar knowledge (at a basic level), and their capability of recognizing the grammatical structures treated during the course. Students will be asked to fill the blanks in a certain number of sentences (usually thirty). This section is to be completed in an allotted time, along with the next one (Conjugation). The mark is awarded in thirties. The minimum mark required to pass the test is 18/30 with no rounding up. The mark thus obtained will be one of the values used to calculate the mean mark of the written exam.
· Kanji (writing and reading)
This section aims to ascertain students' lexical knowledge, as formed by vocabulary knowledge, character writing and character recognition and reading. Students will be asked to write the ideographic character (kanji) corresponding to several words written in hiragana, and to transcribe into kana whole sentences containing one or more kanji. This section is also to be completed in an allotted time. The mark is awarded in thirties. The minimum mark required to pass the test is 18/30 with no rounding up. The mark thus obtained will be one of the values used to calculate the mean mark of the written exam.
· Reading comprehension
This section aims to ascertain students' capability in navigating through a complex text, understanding its general sense and extracting information from it. Two shorts texts will be to be read and understood. Answers to questions on contents are to be given in the form of double choice (right / wrong).
Bonus points. There is a possibility that students will be asked to voluntarily participate in projects testing new teaching methods. In this case, there will be the possibility of rewarding participation with one or more 'bonus' points to be added to the mark(s) of one or more written test. If this will ever happen, students will be timely informed of the quantity and method of assignment of the bonus points.
· Marks of the written exam
The marks of the above sections (with the exception of the Conjugation section) will be used equally to calculate the mean mark of the written exam. This mark is also awarded in thirties. The mark will be rounded to the closest entire number (for example: 23.49/30 is rounded down to 23/30, whereas 23.50/30 is rounded up to 24/30).
The mark of the written exam will be send to the students' @studenti.unimi.it email address.
It is considered valid for one year. This means that during that year there will be no need to re-take a passed written exam. The subsequent oral exam can be taken at any point during the year of validity.
ORAL EXAM
A separate, specific registration to the oral exam is required.
Only students who will have successfully passed the final test with 21/30 (70%) or the written exam with a minimum of 18/30 in each section (exception: 80% is required for the Conjugation section) will be able to sit the oral part of the exam and be awarded a final mark. The oral exam consists in one section only, whose aim is to verify a student's capability of understanding basic grammar and simple idioms in listening, and of using them correctly in speaking. The contents of the exam are the following.
· Dialoguing in Japanese with a teacher. Students will have to answer several questions concerning their daily life, their study activities, Japanese culture, and the contents of the textbook. Listening and speaking skills will both be evaluated.
The oral exam is also graded in thirties. A minimum of 18/30 is required to pass the exam.
FINAL MARK AND MARK RECORDING
At the end of a passed oral exam, the final mark of 'Lingua giapponese I' will be awarded. It consists in the mean average of the two marks obtained in the written and oral exams. It is expressed in thirties. The mark will be rounded to the closest entire number (for example: 23.49/30 is rounded down to 23/30, whereas 23.5/30 is rounded up to 24/30). The professor in charge of the course will calculate and digitally upload the mark. Students can reject this mark online, after receiving the email that notifies it.
ATTENDANCE
Full attendance of all classes (60-hour main course, practice classes, seminar hours) is highly recommended. Attendance of all classes should start from the very beginning of the first semester (end of September), regardless of the official enrollment status to Unimi. In other words, students should start to attend all classes right away, even before paying enrollment taxes and being admitted to Unimi. This is because missing the first weeks of classes will severely impair a students' understanding of the contents of the remaining part of the course. Students who cannot attend will have to spend more hours studying at home. In this case, it is highly recommended that student use all the support material specified below, not only the main textbook(s) and compulsory material. In any case, students are discouraged to substitute the prescribed textbook(s) and supporting material with other material available in bookstores.
In order to sit the oral part of the exam, however, a student needs to have passed the written exam, with a minimum mark of 18/30 (see below on how this mark is obtained) or, alternatively, the early optional test with a score of 70%.
The written part of the exam is itself made of several separate sections, which aim to verify the knowledge of grammar and writing and the capability of actually applying such knowledge to the comprehension of a written text. The oral part of the exam consists in one section only and its aim is to verify a student's skill in using their knowledge in a face-to-face, direct interaction with a Japanese interlocutor, in both speaking and listening.
EARLY TEST (optional)
During the final week of the Second term, a final, optional test will be held. To take it and to pass it is not required in order to sit the written exam. However, those students who will pass the test by scoring a minimum of 80% in the Conjugation section and an average of 21/30 in the whole test will be exempted from sitting the written exam.
Any student who has not yet passed the exam of Lingua giapponese 1 can take the early test, regardless of their enrollment year or of whether they have attended the relevant classes. However, registration is mandatory.
The test will be held online, in the computer classrooms of the Sesto Campus. It is not possible ti take the test from home.
It is made of the following sections:
(1) Conjugation. (20 questions, multiple choice). Pass score 80%
(2) Kanji (20 questions, multiple choice).
(3) Grammar (20 questions, multiple choice).
(4) Comprehension (5 questions, multiple choice).
The pass score and the exemption from sitting the written exam are valid for one academic year.
WRITTEN EXAM
Registration is mandatory.
The written part of the exam is made of several separate sections. Each will take place in a single sitting, one after the other. A certain, specified time is allotted to each section. At the end of the allotted time, the exam sheets will be collected (regardless to their completion) and the exam will proceed to the next test. The whole written exam will last approximately three hours.
VERY IMPORTANT. Barrier sections
In order to obtain the required minimum of 18/30 in the written exam (and be consequently allowed to sit the oral exam), both a score of 80% in the Conjugation section and a minimum score of 18/30 in each of the other sections is needed in every single section, with no rounding-up. For example, a score of 17.75/18 will not be rounded up to 18/18 and will therefore be considered insufficient. This means that failing in just one section will cause failure in the whole written exam.
During the written exam, dictionaries may not be used.
The written exam consists in the following sections.
· Conjugation
This section aims to ascertain students' knowledge of the basic morphology of verbs and adjectives. A list of verbs and adjectives in dictionary form is provided, and students are asked to conjugate them in two given forms. This section is to be completed in an allotted time, along with the previous one (Grammar). In order to pass the test, students will have to write correctly at least 80% of the forms (for instance, if 48 forms are to be written, students will have to correctly write 38 of them in order to pass the test). The score of this section is NOT used in calculating the mean, final grade of the written exam.
· Grammar
This section aims to ascertain students' grammar knowledge (at a basic level), and their capability of recognizing the grammatical structures treated during the course. Students will be asked to fill the blanks in a certain number of sentences (usually thirty). This section is to be completed in an allotted time, along with the next one (Conjugation). The mark is awarded in thirties. The minimum mark required to pass the test is 18/30 with no rounding up. The mark thus obtained will be one of the values used to calculate the mean mark of the written exam.
· Kanji (writing and reading)
This section aims to ascertain students' lexical knowledge, as formed by vocabulary knowledge, character writing and character recognition and reading. Students will be asked to write the ideographic character (kanji) corresponding to several words written in hiragana, and to transcribe into kana whole sentences containing one or more kanji. This section is also to be completed in an allotted time. The mark is awarded in thirties. The minimum mark required to pass the test is 18/30 with no rounding up. The mark thus obtained will be one of the values used to calculate the mean mark of the written exam.
· Reading comprehension
This section aims to ascertain students' capability in navigating through a complex text, understanding its general sense and extracting information from it. Two shorts texts will be to be read and understood. Answers to questions on contents are to be given in the form of double choice (right / wrong).
Bonus points. There is a possibility that students will be asked to voluntarily participate in projects testing new teaching methods. In this case, there will be the possibility of rewarding participation with one or more 'bonus' points to be added to the mark(s) of one or more written test. If this will ever happen, students will be timely informed of the quantity and method of assignment of the bonus points.
· Marks of the written exam
The marks of the above sections (with the exception of the Conjugation section) will be used equally to calculate the mean mark of the written exam. This mark is also awarded in thirties. The mark will be rounded to the closest entire number (for example: 23.49/30 is rounded down to 23/30, whereas 23.50/30 is rounded up to 24/30).
The mark of the written exam will be send to the students' @studenti.unimi.it email address.
It is considered valid for one year. This means that during that year there will be no need to re-take a passed written exam. The subsequent oral exam can be taken at any point during the year of validity.
ORAL EXAM
A separate, specific registration to the oral exam is required.
Only students who will have successfully passed the final test with 21/30 (70%) or the written exam with a minimum of 18/30 in each section (exception: 80% is required for the Conjugation section) will be able to sit the oral part of the exam and be awarded a final mark. The oral exam consists in one section only, whose aim is to verify a student's capability of understanding basic grammar and simple idioms in listening, and of using them correctly in speaking. The contents of the exam are the following.
· Dialoguing in Japanese with a teacher. Students will have to answer several questions concerning their daily life, their study activities, Japanese culture, and the contents of the textbook. Listening and speaking skills will both be evaluated.
The oral exam is also graded in thirties. A minimum of 18/30 is required to pass the exam.
FINAL MARK AND MARK RECORDING
At the end of a passed oral exam, the final mark of 'Lingua giapponese I' will be awarded. It consists in the mean average of the two marks obtained in the written and oral exams. It is expressed in thirties. The mark will be rounded to the closest entire number (for example: 23.49/30 is rounded down to 23/30, whereas 23.5/30 is rounded up to 24/30). The professor in charge of the course will calculate and digitally upload the mark. Students can reject this mark online, after receiving the email that notifies it.
ATTENDANCE
Full attendance of all classes (60-hour main course, practice classes, seminar hours) is highly recommended. Attendance of all classes should start from the very beginning of the first semester (end of September), regardless of the official enrollment status to Unimi. In other words, students should start to attend all classes right away, even before paying enrollment taxes and being admitted to Unimi. This is because missing the first weeks of classes will severely impair a students' understanding of the contents of the remaining part of the course. Students who cannot attend will have to spend more hours studying at home. In this case, it is highly recommended that student use all the support material specified below, not only the main textbook(s) and compulsory material. In any case, students are discouraged to substitute the prescribed textbook(s) and supporting material with other material available in bookstores.
Unità didattica 1
L-OR/22 - JAPANESE AND KOREAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unità didattica 2
L-OR/22 - JAPANESE AND KOREAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unità didattica 3
L-OR/22 - JAPANESE AND KOREAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Office hours Feb 17th to April 10th: every Monday 1245-1445 and Friday (booking mandatory) 1130-1230. Suspended in case of graduation exams, vacations.
Sesto Campus, Room 5008. If online, use Teams or the link below.
Reception:
To make an appointment, please write to [email protected]