Japanese Ii
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The purpose of this course is an enlargement of the knowledge base and the improvement of related usage skills in spoken and written basic Japanese. A minimum of 120-140 hours of previous Japanese language instruction are required. A good command of the Italian language is also necessary. Students will learn:
· about 200 new ideographic characters (kanji) in both reading and writing, up to a total of about 350 characters;
· all the vocabulary used in the textbook Minna no Nihongo I Honsatsu in Units 1-35, in reading only;
· the basic grammar and the most important expressions required in the daily usage of the language, as introduced in Units 1-35 of the textbook Minna no Nihongo I-II (2° ed.) Honsatsu.
Students will learn the lexical and morphologic components of all the expressions and constructions contained in the textbook, and the combinatory rules regulating their production. They will also learn to identify those structures in both spoken and written texts and to understand the reasons of their use according to context and discourse. On this basis, the students will learn how to evaluate which construction or expression is appropriate to which situation, and to accordingly choose and use the most correct structure.
· about 200 new ideographic characters (kanji) in both reading and writing, up to a total of about 350 characters;
· all the vocabulary used in the textbook Minna no Nihongo I Honsatsu in Units 1-35, in reading only;
· the basic grammar and the most important expressions required in the daily usage of the language, as introduced in Units 1-35 of the textbook Minna no Nihongo I-II (2° ed.) Honsatsu.
Students will learn the lexical and morphologic components of all the expressions and constructions contained in the textbook, and the combinatory rules regulating their production. They will also learn to identify those structures in both spoken and written texts and to understand the reasons of their use according to context and discourse. On this basis, the students will learn how to evaluate which construction or expression is appropriate to which situation, and to accordingly choose and use the most correct structure.
Expected learning outcomes
The recognition, comprehension and context-dependent appropriate use in ordinary, daily-life communicative situations of the basic/intermediate grammar and lexicon of the Japanese language. The level reached is between N5 and N4 on the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) scale, corresponding approximately to A2 on the CEFR scale.
Lesson period: year
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
year
VERY IMPORTANT
During the 1st Semester all classes will be held online on the Teams platform. In order to access the platform you have to first register at the Office 365 site using your @studenti.unimi.it mail address. Then you'll be allowed to download Teams and register. The Teams code to partecipate to Teams activities (that is, to attend classes) are listed in the 'Bacheca' section of the Ariel site for Lingua giapponese I. Click here
https://sdallachiesalg1med.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/home/Default.aspx
Program and texbooks
· The program is not changed.
· Textbooks are unchanged, and the supporting material already available on Teams and Ariel are unchanged too. Obviously new materials, such as grammar cards, video recordings of classes, excercises etc., will be uploaded weekly and kept available. For such uploading, occasionally other sites (teachers' personal sites, Zomm etc,) might be used.
· The lectures of the 'corso ufficiale' and the seminar (prof. dalla Chiesa) will be held in real time on MS Teams as "Meetings", with the aid of pdf material. During each 90-minute lecture, the students will write questions an requests of clarification on the Team chat line. The lecturer will answer those questions by voice in the remaining 30 minutes. In special cases (only) this kind of lecture might be replaced by an upload (a videorecording).
Exams and grading
(0)
If there will be no possibility of holding the WRITTEN part of the exam in a classroom, in the same way as before the Covid emergency, then the whole exam (written and oral parts) will take place differently. How exactly it is still to be decided. Either one single written barrier test will be held in an online environment (probably Moodle SEP) for each examination session (there are only three sessions in the year), followed on MS Teams by the usual oral test (there are several test days in each sessions), or the whole exam will consist in an oral test, to be held in the same way as in the year 2019-2020.
The following is how the exam took place in the academic year 2019-20.
(1) There will be no written exams.
(2) The exams will consist in oral tests only.
(3) Until the current emergency rules are lifted, the exams will be held online on MS Teams, in dedicated Channels. More detailed informations will be available later.
(4) Every student will be allowed to take the exam, regardless if they have already passes the original written part of the exam in the past.
(5) Each exam will be made of several distinct text. The first one or two tests function as 'filters', not unlike the filtering written test of the ordinary written exams. Only students who have already passed a written exam are allowed not to take these filter tests. For all other students taking the filter tests is mandatory. Only those students who pass the first filter test will be allowed to take the second one, and only the students who pass the second filter tests will be allowed to sit for the final, main oral test (conversation).
(6) Students who are stopped along the way may again take all the battery of tests at the next scheduled opportunity.
(7) This means that in one and the same examination session a student can take (and pass) more than one Japanese language exam (for instance, first Japanese 1 and next Japanese 2)
(8) Filter tests do not count for the final marks. Final marks will be calculated on the basis of (a) the actual performance in the oral final test, (b) the profit and partecipation shown during classes and in homework, as judged by the lecturer/instructors. (c) If a student has already passed the written exam in a previous session and the marks of it are still valid, those marks will be taken into account for the final mean mark only if they will actually increase that mark.
The final exam in more detail
(Filter Test 1). For this test students will be asked to orally conjugate several verbs. The actual contents of the test are identical to those of the Written Filter Test 1. This test aims to ascertain a student's knowledge of verbal morphology and the capability to use that knowledge. A 60% of right answers is required to be allowed to sit for Filter Test 2.
(Filter Test 2) For this test students will be asked to write kanji words on the basis of the pronunciation and write in hiragana the pronunciation of kanji words. Actual contents are identical to those of the Written Filter Test 2. This test aims to ascertain a student's lexical knowledge and compliance with orthography rules. A 60% of right answers is required to be allowed to sit for Final Test 3.
(Final test 3) This is the ordinary oral exam.
During the 1st Semester all classes will be held online on the Teams platform. In order to access the platform you have to first register at the Office 365 site using your @studenti.unimi.it mail address. Then you'll be allowed to download Teams and register. The Teams code to partecipate to Teams activities (that is, to attend classes) are listed in the 'Bacheca' section of the Ariel site for Lingua giapponese I. Click here
https://sdallachiesalg1med.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/home/Default.aspx
Program and texbooks
· The program is not changed.
· Textbooks are unchanged, and the supporting material already available on Teams and Ariel are unchanged too. Obviously new materials, such as grammar cards, video recordings of classes, excercises etc., will be uploaded weekly and kept available. For such uploading, occasionally other sites (teachers' personal sites, Zomm etc,) might be used.
· The lectures of the 'corso ufficiale' and the seminar (prof. dalla Chiesa) will be held in real time on MS Teams as "Meetings", with the aid of pdf material. During each 90-minute lecture, the students will write questions an requests of clarification on the Team chat line. The lecturer will answer those questions by voice in the remaining 30 minutes. In special cases (only) this kind of lecture might be replaced by an upload (a videorecording).
Exams and grading
(0)
If there will be no possibility of holding the WRITTEN part of the exam in a classroom, in the same way as before the Covid emergency, then the whole exam (written and oral parts) will take place differently. How exactly it is still to be decided. Either one single written barrier test will be held in an online environment (probably Moodle SEP) for each examination session (there are only three sessions in the year), followed on MS Teams by the usual oral test (there are several test days in each sessions), or the whole exam will consist in an oral test, to be held in the same way as in the year 2019-2020.
The following is how the exam took place in the academic year 2019-20.
(1) There will be no written exams.
(2) The exams will consist in oral tests only.
(3) Until the current emergency rules are lifted, the exams will be held online on MS Teams, in dedicated Channels. More detailed informations will be available later.
(4) Every student will be allowed to take the exam, regardless if they have already passes the original written part of the exam in the past.
(5) Each exam will be made of several distinct text. The first one or two tests function as 'filters', not unlike the filtering written test of the ordinary written exams. Only students who have already passed a written exam are allowed not to take these filter tests. For all other students taking the filter tests is mandatory. Only those students who pass the first filter test will be allowed to take the second one, and only the students who pass the second filter tests will be allowed to sit for the final, main oral test (conversation).
(6) Students who are stopped along the way may again take all the battery of tests at the next scheduled opportunity.
(7) This means that in one and the same examination session a student can take (and pass) more than one Japanese language exam (for instance, first Japanese 1 and next Japanese 2)
(8) Filter tests do not count for the final marks. Final marks will be calculated on the basis of (a) the actual performance in the oral final test, (b) the profit and partecipation shown during classes and in homework, as judged by the lecturer/instructors. (c) If a student has already passed the written exam in a previous session and the marks of it are still valid, those marks will be taken into account for the final mean mark only if they will actually increase that mark.
The final exam in more detail
(Filter Test 1). For this test students will be asked to orally conjugate several verbs. The actual contents of the test are identical to those of the Written Filter Test 1. This test aims to ascertain a student's knowledge of verbal morphology and the capability to use that knowledge. A 60% of right answers is required to be allowed to sit for Filter Test 2.
(Filter Test 2) For this test students will be asked to write kanji words on the basis of the pronunciation and write in hiragana the pronunciation of kanji words. Actual contents are identical to those of the Written Filter Test 2. This test aims to ascertain a student's lexical knowledge and compliance with orthography rules. A 60% of right answers is required to be allowed to sit for Final Test 3.
(Final test 3) This is the ordinary oral exam.
Course syllabus
The program corresponds to the grammar topics, lexicon and kanji contained in 19 Units 20-35 of the textbook 'Minna no nihongo Honsatsu (2nd ed.) Volumes I and II'. In general, it consists in the following topics. Various types of temporal secondary clauses using conjunctions and verbal forms TO, TOKI, -TE and -TARA; the use of the sequential form -NAGARA; relative, conditional, hypothetic and concessive clauses and related verbal forms; coordinative particle SHI; the expression of result by means of -TEIRU and -TEARU; the verbal morphology expressing volition, command and potentiality; the argument structure of clauses expressing potentiality and involuntary perception; sentences ending in NODA; focus particles WA in contrasting clauses and SHIKA; the reading and writing of approximately 200 new ideographs (kanji) for a total kanji knowledge of about 370 characters; the reading and meaning of all the vocabulary contained in the first 35 textbook Units. During the module on 'Basic translation and written comprehension', students will learn how to analyze texts of medium-low complexity and how to render those structures in translation.
Prerequisites for admission
This course requires a minimum of 120-150 hours of previous Japanese education, the knowledge of hiragana, katakana and of least 150 ideographic characters (kanji). A knowledge of the basic notions of linguistics is also required. Moreover, students must be proficient in Italian in order to understand the content of lectures and exam instructions.
Teaching methods
The modules of the official course 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. In the module on 'Basic translation and written comprehension', classes will consist in the reading and analysis of texts by the lecturer, followed by homework assignment. 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 20-25): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū I. Dainihan. Honsatsu (2nd ed.). (Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196036).
(Main textbook, Units 26-35): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū II honsatsu. Dainihan. Honsatsu (2nd ed.). (Tōkyō: 3A Nettowāku. ISBN 9784883196463).
(Kanji textbook): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū I. Dainihan. Kanji eigoban. Elementary I. Second Edition. Kanji - English Edition. (Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196838).
(Kanji textbook): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū II. Dainihan. Kanji eigoban. Minna no Nihongo. Elementary II. Second Edition. Kanji - English Edition. (Tokyo: 3A Nework. 9784883197446).
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.
Recommended additional materials
(Grammar rules): Minna Minna no nihongo. Giapponese elementare I. Traduzione e note grammaticali - Italiano. (Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196357. Also available in English and many other languages, under different ISBN codes).
(Grammar rules): Minna Minna no nihongo. Giapponese elementare II. Traduzione e note grammaticali - Italiano. (Tokyo: Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196975. Also available in English and many other languages, under different ISBN codes).
(Grammar practice): Minna Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū I. Dainihan. Hyōjun mondaishū. Elementary I. Second Edition. Basic Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196067).
(Grammar practice): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū II. Dainihan. Hyōjun mondaishū. Minna no Nihongo. Elementary II. Second Edition. Basic Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196630).
(Grammar practice): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū I. Dainihan. Kaite oboeru bunkei renshuchō. Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Second Edition Sentence Pattern Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196074).
(Grammar practice): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū II. Dainihan. Kaite oboeru bunkei renshuchō. Minna no Nihongo Elementary II Second Edition Sentence Pattern Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196708).
(Kanji practice): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū I. Dainihan. Kanji renshūchō. Elementary I. Second Edition. Kanji Workbook. T(okyo: 3A Nework. 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 20-25): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū I. Dainihan. Honsatsu (2nd ed.). (Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196036).
(Main textbook, Units 26-35): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū II honsatsu. Dainihan. Honsatsu (2nd ed.). (Tōkyō: 3A Nettowāku. ISBN 9784883196463).
(Kanji textbook): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū I. Dainihan. Kanji eigoban. Elementary I. Second Edition. Kanji - English Edition. (Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196838).
(Kanji textbook): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū II. Dainihan. Kanji eigoban. Minna no Nihongo. Elementary II. Second Edition. Kanji - English Edition. (Tokyo: 3A Nework. 9784883197446).
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.
Recommended additional materials
(Grammar rules): Minna Minna no nihongo. Giapponese elementare I. Traduzione e note grammaticali - Italiano. (Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196357. Also available in English and many other languages, under different ISBN codes).
(Grammar rules): Minna Minna no nihongo. Giapponese elementare II. Traduzione e note grammaticali - Italiano. (Tokyo: Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196975. Also available in English and many other languages, under different ISBN codes).
(Grammar practice): Minna Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū I. Dainihan. Hyōjun mondaishū. Elementary I. Second Edition. Basic Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196067).
(Grammar practice): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū II. Dainihan. Hyōjun mondaishū. Minna no Nihongo. Elementary II. Second Edition. Basic Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196630).
(Grammar practice): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū I. Dainihan. Kaite oboeru bunkei renshuchō. Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Second Edition Sentence Pattern Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196074).
(Grammar practice): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū II. Dainihan. Kaite oboeru bunkei renshuchō. Minna no Nihongo Elementary II Second Edition Sentence Pattern Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Nework. ISBN 9784883196708).
(Kanji practice): Minna no nihongo. Shōkyū I. Dainihan. Kanji renshūchō. Elementary I. Second Edition. Kanji Workbook. T(okyo: 3A Nework. 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 average mark of 18/30 (see below on how this mark obtains).
The written part of the exam is itself made of several separate tests, which aim to verify the theoretical knowledge of grammar, the knowledge of writing and the capability of actually applying those two kinds of knowledge to the comprehension and production of texts. The oral part of the exam consists in one test 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.
Written exam
The written part of the exam is made of several separate tests. They will happen in a single sitting, one after the other, in the order described below. To each test a certain, specified time is allotted. 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 tests. In order to obtain the required minimum of 18/30 in the written exam (and be consequently allowed to sit the oral exam), a minimum score of 18/30 is needed in every single test (short essay included), 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 test will cause failure in the whole written exam.
The written part of the exam consists in the following tests.
- Kanji test (writing and reading). This test 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 test is 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. During the kanji test the use of dictionaries is not allowed.
- Grammar test. This test aims to ascertain students' grammar knowledge (at a more advanced basic level), and their capability of recognizing the grammatical structures and idiomatic expressions treated during the course. Students will be asked to fill the blanks in a number of sentences, and to conjugate or complete a given verb to form correct sentences. This test is also 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. During the grammar test the use of dictionaries is not allowed.
- Conjugation test. This test aims to ascertain students' knowledge of the verbal morphology. A list of verbs in dictionary form is provided, and students are asked to conjugate them in two given forms. This test is also 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. The score of this test is NOT used in calculating the mean, final grade of the written exam. During the conjugation test the use of dictionaries is not allowed.
- Translation test. Sudents will be asked to translate 5 or 6 Japanese short texts into Italian or English. The translation will have to show a student's easy and accurate comprehension of the sense and logical structure of the source texts, not their knowledge of the Italian or English language. Dictionaries are allowed. The translation test is 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. Dictionaries are allowed.
- Short essay (tema or sakubun), of minimum 300 characters. The short essay aims to ascertain whether a student has learned, controls, and is consequently able to use appropriately and correctly the grammatical structures and lexicon treated during the official course and practice classes. The mark is awarded in thirties, on the basis of the richness of the grammar patterns and of the lexicon used, and on the basis of the length of the output text. The essay test is to be completed in an allotted time. Dictionaries are allowed. 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. Dictionaries are allowed.
Mark of the written exam
The marks of the above tests (with the exception of the Conjugation test) will be used equally to calculate the mean mark of the written exam. This mark is also awarded in thirties. It 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 is published on the pages of the course's Ariel site. An effort will be made to also specify the score of each test.
The mark thus obtained is considered valid for one year. This means that during that year there will be no need to re-take a passed written exam.
Oral exam
Only students who have successfully passed the written part of the exam obtaining a minimum of 18/30 in each written test will be able to sit the oral part of the exam and be awarded a final mark. The oral exam consists in one test 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 test 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. Students will also be asked to read out a dialogue taken from the section Kaiwa of the textbook, Units 20-35.
The final marks of the oral examination will be calculated on the basis of the actual performance in the final oral test and of the profit and partecipation shown during classes and in homework, as judged by the lecturer/instructor.
The oral exam is also graded in thirties. A minimum mark 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 II' 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 score 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.
Attendance
Full attendance of all classes (60-hour main course, practice classes) is highly recommended. 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 textbooks and compulsory material. In any case, students are discouraged to substitute the prescribed textbooks 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 average mark of 18/30 (see below on how this mark obtains).
The written part of the exam is itself made of several separate tests, which aim to verify the theoretical knowledge of grammar, the knowledge of writing and the capability of actually applying those two kinds of knowledge to the comprehension and production of texts. The oral part of the exam consists in one test 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.
Written exam
The written part of the exam is made of several separate tests. They will happen in a single sitting, one after the other, in the order described below. To each test a certain, specified time is allotted. 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 tests. In order to obtain the required minimum of 18/30 in the written exam (and be consequently allowed to sit the oral exam), a minimum score of 18/30 is needed in every single test (short essay included), 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 test will cause failure in the whole written exam.
The written part of the exam consists in the following tests.
- Kanji test (writing and reading). This test 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 test is 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. During the kanji test the use of dictionaries is not allowed.
- Grammar test. This test aims to ascertain students' grammar knowledge (at a more advanced basic level), and their capability of recognizing the grammatical structures and idiomatic expressions treated during the course. Students will be asked to fill the blanks in a number of sentences, and to conjugate or complete a given verb to form correct sentences. This test is also 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. During the grammar test the use of dictionaries is not allowed.
- Conjugation test. This test aims to ascertain students' knowledge of the verbal morphology. A list of verbs in dictionary form is provided, and students are asked to conjugate them in two given forms. This test is also 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. The score of this test is NOT used in calculating the mean, final grade of the written exam. During the conjugation test the use of dictionaries is not allowed.
- Translation test. Sudents will be asked to translate 5 or 6 Japanese short texts into Italian or English. The translation will have to show a student's easy and accurate comprehension of the sense and logical structure of the source texts, not their knowledge of the Italian or English language. Dictionaries are allowed. The translation test is 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. Dictionaries are allowed.
- Short essay (tema or sakubun), of minimum 300 characters. The short essay aims to ascertain whether a student has learned, controls, and is consequently able to use appropriately and correctly the grammatical structures and lexicon treated during the official course and practice classes. The mark is awarded in thirties, on the basis of the richness of the grammar patterns and of the lexicon used, and on the basis of the length of the output text. The essay test is to be completed in an allotted time. Dictionaries are allowed. 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. Dictionaries are allowed.
Mark of the written exam
The marks of the above tests (with the exception of the Conjugation test) will be used equally to calculate the mean mark of the written exam. This mark is also awarded in thirties. It 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 is published on the pages of the course's Ariel site. An effort will be made to also specify the score of each test.
The mark thus obtained is considered valid for one year. This means that during that year there will be no need to re-take a passed written exam.
Oral exam
Only students who have successfully passed the written part of the exam obtaining a minimum of 18/30 in each written test will be able to sit the oral part of the exam and be awarded a final mark. The oral exam consists in one test 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 test 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. Students will also be asked to read out a dialogue taken from the section Kaiwa of the textbook, Units 20-35.
The final marks of the oral examination will be calculated on the basis of the actual performance in the final oral test and of the profit and partecipation shown during classes and in homework, as judged by the lecturer/instructor.
The oral exam is also graded in thirties. A minimum mark 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 II' 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 score 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.
Attendance
Full attendance of all classes (60-hour main course, practice classes) is highly recommended. 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 textbooks and compulsory material. In any case, students are discouraged to substitute the prescribed textbooks and supporting material with other material available in bookstores.
L-OR/22 - JAPANESE AND KOREAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professors:
Carpi Tiziana, Dalla Chiesa Simone
Professor(s)
Reception:
Office hours Feb 240th to May 19th: every Monday 1430-1600. Suspended in case of graduation exams, conferences, meetings, natural and man-caused disasters.
Sesto Campus, Room 5008. If online, use Teams or the link below.