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JPN-90001 - Module Specification
Language Centre
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

JPN-90001 - Japanese 1
Coordinator: Toshihiko Kitagawa
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733960

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

Global Challenge Pathway Global Challenge Pathway (Level 5)
Global Challenge Pathway Global Challenge Pathway (Level 5)
Global Challenge Pathway Global Challenge Pathway (Level 6)


Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

No prior knowledge.



Barred Combinations

none.

Description for 2025/26

This module is designed for students with no prior knowledge of Japanese. It will develop basic communication skills in everyday situations such as meeting someone for the first time, talking about family, shopping and telephoning, and use one of the Japanese scripts, hiragana. You will also be introduced to some aspects of Japanese culture.
Japanese is simpler than you think. It has no gender in grammar, no plurals, no tones, simple pronunciation, consistent grammar and a beautiful ideographic writing system which is very different from English and European languages.
Study Japanese and you can gain access to an incredibly rich and varied culture, and the opportunity to study in one of our Japanese partner universities on either long or short programmes. It can be an excellent stepping stone to studying Korean which has a very similar grammar, and also enables you to read some Chinese characters.

Aims
This module is designed for students with no prior knowledge of Japanese. It aims to equip them with basic language skills and introduce key aspects of the culture. Students will be introduced to one of the Japanese scripts, hiragana. The module also fosters awareness of general language learning strategies.

Intended Learning Outcomes

recognise and understand familiar words, basic phrases and sentences related to areas of immediate relevance (e.g. personal information) when people speak slowly and clearly: 2,3
understand and extract key information from short, simple words and sentences written in hiragana: 1,2
interact in very simple, familiar situations, asking and answering simple questions in areas of immediate need, provided the other person talks slowly and clearly: 3
write simple words, phrases and sentences providing personal information in hiragana: 1,2
understand and use simple grammatical structures and rules and develop language-learning strategies: 1,2,3
recognise and act upon very basic cultural differences as encountered in everyday situations and demonstrate knowledge of common traditions in Japan: 2,3

Study hours

22 hours of contact time in class.
40 hours of assessment preparation and completion.
88 hours of guided independent study.

School Rules

Admission to the module must be confirmed through completion of a language level self-assessment form.
Students are only permitted to take one Japanese language module per semester.
Students can only take one absolute beginners' language module (90001) in any one academic year.

Description of Module Assessment

1: Class Test weighted 30%
Class Test
Students will complete an in-class test (maximum duration 45 minutes) to assess competence in receptive and productive skills. Tasks may include writing a short text in the target language, undertaking a dictation, translating a passage, or completing vocabulary and grammar exercises. All tasks will align with CEFR descriptors for language use at the relevant level.

2: Flexible Class Test weighted 20%
Flexible Online KLE Test
Students will complete a series of online exercises on the KLE platform (maximum duration 60 minutes) designed to assess reading comprehension, listening, grammar and vocabulary knowledge and writing skills in the target language. All tasks will align with CEFR descriptors for language use at the relevant level.

3: Speaking Assessment weighted 50%
Spoken Interaction Assessment
A 4-8 minute Spoken Interaction Assessment designed to assess learners’ competence in speaking (production), listening (reception) and conversation (interaction). Tasks may include a presentation, role play, or description of a visual or audiovisual prompt, followed by a question-and-answer section. Where assessments are conducted in pairs or groups, each student will be assessed individually and awarded separate marks.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025