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JPN-90005 - Module Specification
Language Centre
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

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

JPN-90005 - Japanese 5
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)
Global Challenge Pathway Global Challenge Pathway (Level 6)


Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

Japanese 4 or equivalent (e.g. CEFR A1+).

Barred Combinations

none.

Description for 2025/26

This module is designed for pre-intermediate level students — those who have completed Japanese 4 or an equivalent level (e.g. CEFR A2). It supports learners in expanding their vocabulary and improving their ability to interact in a wider range of everyday situations in Japanese.
All four core language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) are integrated into seminar activities, with a focus on practical communication in real-life contexts. You will engage with topics such as making comparisons, discussing Japanese cities and regions, describing types of accommodation and holiday options, expressing preferences and decisions, quoting reported speech, and describing changes over time.
The module also develops your awareness of appropriate register use, with particular attention to switching between familiar and polite forms depending on context. You will continue to build your competence in reading and writing Japanese, including the use of additional kanji characters, while also deepening their understanding of contemporary Japanese culture and society.
Teaching is based on a structured set of class materials, enriched with audio, video, and online resources. A variety of interactive tasks — including discussions, role plays, listening comprehension, and collaborative writing — will be used to reinforce learning. Regular pair and group work will foster communication and peer support.

Aims
This module aims to consolidate and extend students’ existing knowledge of Japanese across all core competences: reception (reading and listening), production (speaking and writing), interaction and mediation. It deepens engagement with everyday topics and cultural practices in Japanese, while also supporting the development of independent language learning strategies.

Intended Learning Outcomes

understand the main point in short, clear speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, studies, leisure, etc: 2,3
summarise and extract key information from written texts that consist mainly of high frequency personal, everyday or job-related language: 1,2
interact in routine tasks requiring direct exchange of information on topics that are familiar, of personal interest or pertinent to everyday life: 3
write simple coherent sentences and texts on topics which are familiar or of personal interest in Japanese: 1,2
recognise and use different linguistic structures in the target language and compare them to the English language: 1,2,3
recognise and act upon cultural differences as encountered in everyday situations and demonstrate awareness of register and style: 1,2,3

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 can only take one Japanese language module per semester.

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
An 8-12 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