Students

JPS 101 – Introductory Japanese I

2019 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Wes Robertson
Contact via Email
AHH Level 2
Head of Japanese
Mio Bryce
Tutor
Nobuaki Akagi
Tutor
Tom Baudinette
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit provides introductory Japanese language instruction for students with no previous knowledge of Japanese. The unit helps students acquire kana scripts and the basic elements of grammar. Students develop their skills in all four areas of speaking, writing, listening and reading, as well as develop their understanding of the cultural factors which can affect communication in Japanese. Opportunities for interactive learning and the use of online resources provide students with opportunities to use Japanese as much as possible.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Reading: understand very short simple texts in hiragana and katakana a single phrase at a time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required, and read words written in a range of simple kanji characters.
  • Listening: understand enough to be able to meet needs of a concrete type provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated; understand phrases and expressions related to areas of most immediate priority (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment) provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated.
  • Writing: write short, simple formulaic texts in hiragana and katakana relating to matters in areas of immediate need; write a series of simple phrases and sentences linked with simple connectors like “and”, “but” and “because”.
  • Spoken Interaction: interact with reasonable ease in structured situations and short conversations, provided the other person helps if necessary; manage simple, routine exchanges without undue effort; ask and answer questions and exchange ideas and information on familiar topics in predictable everyday situations; communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar matters to do with work and free time; handle very short social exchanges but is rarely able to understand enough to keep conversation going on his/her own accord.
  • Spoken Production: give a simple presentation of people, living or working conditions, daily routines, likes/dislikes etc. as a short series of simple phrases and sentences linked into a list.

General Assessment Information

Late Submissions, Extensions and Supplementary Tests

Assessment tasks are compulsory and must be submitted on time. If you anticipate unavoidable difficulty in completing an assessment task (in class and/or online), contact the convener, your seminar teacher(s), and/or Macquaire Student Services/Wellbeing as soon as possible.

Late Assessment Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Special Consideration

If a student is prevented by serious and unavoidable disruption from completing unit requirements in accordance with their ability, they may apply for support under the Special Consideration Policy. To access this support, students must notify the university via ask.mq.edu.au. Students should refer to the Policy for further information (see the link provided in the 'Policies and procedures' section of this unit guide). It is also a good idea to let your teachers and the unit coordinator know that you will be/are applying for special consideration as soon as possible.

Examples of Assessment Tasks

Detailed rubrics and indicative examples of assessment tasks will be available in class and/or iLearn.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Unit Participation 15% No Ongoing
Online Quizzes 15% No Weekly
Speaking Test 10% No Week 7
Written Test 20% No Week 8
In-Class Online Test 30% No Week 12
Spoken Performance 10% No Week 13

Unit Participation

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 15%

For satisfactory completion of this task, students are required to actively participate with the course. For internal students, this includes active participation in both seminars through answering questions, engaging with activities, and working well with fellow classmates. For external students, this includes engaging in the required weekly online discussions and/or practice exercises. Both cohorts are also required to complete the weekly workbook, check and correct their answers, and then submit proof of this work online via Turnitin each week.

Finally, 1/3rd of the Unit Participation mark (5% of your total mark) is obtained through completing the Start Here module by the end of Week 1.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Reading: understand very short simple texts in hiragana and katakana a single phrase at a time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required, and read words written in a range of simple kanji characters.
  • Listening: understand enough to be able to meet needs of a concrete type provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated; understand phrases and expressions related to areas of most immediate priority (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment) provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated.
  • Writing: write short, simple formulaic texts in hiragana and katakana relating to matters in areas of immediate need; write a series of simple phrases and sentences linked with simple connectors like “and”, “but” and “because”.
  • Spoken Interaction: interact with reasonable ease in structured situations and short conversations, provided the other person helps if necessary; manage simple, routine exchanges without undue effort; ask and answer questions and exchange ideas and information on familiar topics in predictable everyday situations; communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar matters to do with work and free time; handle very short social exchanges but is rarely able to understand enough to keep conversation going on his/her own accord.
  • Spoken Production: give a simple presentation of people, living or working conditions, daily routines, likes/dislikes etc. as a short series of simple phrases and sentences linked into a list.

Online Quizzes

Due: Weekly
Weighting: 15%

For this task, students are to complete the weekly online quizzes. Each quiz will be available after the last seminar on Wednesday of each week, and close on 10:00 AM the following Monday. Students may attempt each quiz twice; each attempt will provide you with different questions, and you will keep only your best score.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Reading: understand very short simple texts in hiragana and katakana a single phrase at a time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required, and read words written in a range of simple kanji characters.
  • Writing: write short, simple formulaic texts in hiragana and katakana relating to matters in areas of immediate need; write a series of simple phrases and sentences linked with simple connectors like “and”, “but” and “because”.

Speaking Test

Due: Week 7
Weighting: 10%

The speaking test will be conducted in Week 7. For internal students, the test will be held in the Seminar 2 class. For external students, the test will be held online via Zoom, with students signing up for specific times through iLearn.

Within a short time period, students will be required to read simple passages, answer a series of questions, and participate in any conversation that flows from these questions. The test content will cover the grammar and vocabulary taught in Weeks 1-6. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Reading: understand very short simple texts in hiragana and katakana a single phrase at a time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required, and read words written in a range of simple kanji characters.
  • Listening: understand enough to be able to meet needs of a concrete type provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated; understand phrases and expressions related to areas of most immediate priority (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment) provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated.
  • Writing: write short, simple formulaic texts in hiragana and katakana relating to matters in areas of immediate need; write a series of simple phrases and sentences linked with simple connectors like “and”, “but” and “because”.
  • Spoken Interaction: interact with reasonable ease in structured situations and short conversations, provided the other person helps if necessary; manage simple, routine exchanges without undue effort; ask and answer questions and exchange ideas and information on familiar topics in predictable everyday situations; communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar matters to do with work and free time; handle very short social exchanges but is rarely able to understand enough to keep conversation going on his/her own accord.
  • Spoken Production: give a simple presentation of people, living or working conditions, daily routines, likes/dislikes etc. as a short series of simple phrases and sentences linked into a list.

Written Test

Due: Week 8
Weighting: 20%

The mid-semester in-class test will comprehensively cover reading, writing, and listening skills by testing students on the content of Weeks 1-7. The test will be conducted in Seminar 2 of Week 8. You may not refer to any materials during this test.

External students will instead download the exam and submit a scanned completed test paper within a set time limit. Outside materials are still forbidden.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Reading: understand very short simple texts in hiragana and katakana a single phrase at a time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required, and read words written in a range of simple kanji characters.
  • Listening: understand enough to be able to meet needs of a concrete type provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated; understand phrases and expressions related to areas of most immediate priority (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment) provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated.
  • Writing: write short, simple formulaic texts in hiragana and katakana relating to matters in areas of immediate need; write a series of simple phrases and sentences linked with simple connectors like “and”, “but” and “because”.

In-Class Online Test

Due: Week 12
Weighting: 30%

The final exam for JPS101 is a comprehensive test of reading and writing skills, covering the content of Weeks 1-11. The test will be conducted in Seminar 2 in Week 12. Internal students will be required to bring their own computer, and ensure it has proper battery life/internet access. External students will be required to complete the test online during Week 12. Further instructions and examples will be provided in Week 12 Seminar 1 and on iLearn.

No outside resources (including a dictionary) are allowed during the exam.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Reading: understand very short simple texts in hiragana and katakana a single phrase at a time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required, and read words written in a range of simple kanji characters.
  • Writing: write short, simple formulaic texts in hiragana and katakana relating to matters in areas of immediate need; write a series of simple phrases and sentences linked with simple connectors like “and”, “but” and “because”.

Spoken Performance

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 10%

This task requires internal students to create and perform a skit, either with a partner or as a member of a group of three. Each presenter should use the grammar and expressions taught in JPS101.

External students will instead individually prepare a short speech in Japanese about any topic from a list of approved topics (which will be available on iLearn), and save a performance of their speech to a special Voicethread link which will open in Week 13. Students are required to ensure the audio and video capabilities of their computer are functioning properly, and that the submission was properly recorded. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Listening: understand enough to be able to meet needs of a concrete type provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated; understand phrases and expressions related to areas of most immediate priority (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment) provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated.
  • Writing: write short, simple formulaic texts in hiragana and katakana relating to matters in areas of immediate need; write a series of simple phrases and sentences linked with simple connectors like “and”, “but” and “because”.
  • Spoken Interaction: interact with reasonable ease in structured situations and short conversations, provided the other person helps if necessary; manage simple, routine exchanges without undue effort; ask and answer questions and exchange ideas and information on familiar topics in predictable everyday situations; communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar matters to do with work and free time; handle very short social exchanges but is rarely able to understand enough to keep conversation going on his/her own accord.
  • Spoken Production: give a simple presentation of people, living or working conditions, daily routines, likes/dislikes etc. as a short series of simple phrases and sentences linked into a list.

Delivery and Resources

Required and recommend texts and/or materials 

No external textbook is required for this unit. A free unit book is provided on iLearn, as are slides from both seminars. Recordings of the initial Seminar 1 and 2 each week are available on Echo, which can also be accessed through iLearn. Students are required to download and print out the textbook, bring it to class, and submit the completed workbook online each week in a readable PDF or jpeg file.

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

Online Unit

Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

Is my unit in iLearn?: http://help.ilearn.mq.edu.au/unitsonline/ to check when your online unit will become available.

Technology

Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.

For students attending classes on campus we strongly encourage you to have a laptop computer, ready to work with activities in your online unit. The preferred operating system is Windows 10.

Students are required to access the online unit in iLearn by the end of Week 1 and follow any relevant instructions and links for downloads that may be required. If applicable, students are required to download the relevant language package prior to Week 2.

Please contact your course convenor before the end of Week 1 if you do not have a suitable laptop (or tablet) for in-class use.

Unit Schedule

Week 1: Introductions, Greetings, Counting, & Hiragana 1/3

Week 2: Questions, Basic Sentences, & Hiragana 2/3

Week 3: Verbs, Hiragana 3/3, & Katakana 1/3

Week 4: い Adjectives, も, & Katakana 2/3

Week 5: な Adjectives, に & で, & Katakana 3/3

Week 6: Family, Topic Particles, & Time

Week 7: Existence & Location + Speaking Exam

Week 8: Past Tense & Counting Above 100 + In Class Written Exam

Week 9: Likes, Dislikes, Talents, & Explanations 

Week 10: Frequency, Duration, Advanced Particles, & Kanji Reading 1/2

Week 11: Invitations, Suggestions, & Kanji Reading 2/2

Week 12: Revision & In Class Online Exam

Week 13: Spoken Performance

Further detail is provided on iLearn

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Writing: write short, simple formulaic texts in hiragana and katakana relating to matters in areas of immediate need; write a series of simple phrases and sentences linked with simple connectors like “and”, “but” and “because”.
  • Spoken Interaction: interact with reasonable ease in structured situations and short conversations, provided the other person helps if necessary; manage simple, routine exchanges without undue effort; ask and answer questions and exchange ideas and information on familiar topics in predictable everyday situations; communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar matters to do with work and free time; handle very short social exchanges but is rarely able to understand enough to keep conversation going on his/her own accord.
  • Spoken Production: give a simple presentation of people, living or working conditions, daily routines, likes/dislikes etc. as a short series of simple phrases and sentences linked into a list.

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Speaking Test
  • Written Test
  • In-Class Online Test
  • Spoken Performance

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Spoken Performance

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Online Quizzes

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Reading: understand very short simple texts in hiragana and katakana a single phrase at a time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required, and read words written in a range of simple kanji characters.
  • Listening: understand enough to be able to meet needs of a concrete type provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated; understand phrases and expressions related to areas of most immediate priority (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment) provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated.
  • Writing: write short, simple formulaic texts in hiragana and katakana relating to matters in areas of immediate need; write a series of simple phrases and sentences linked with simple connectors like “and”, “but” and “because”.
  • Spoken Interaction: interact with reasonable ease in structured situations and short conversations, provided the other person helps if necessary; manage simple, routine exchanges without undue effort; ask and answer questions and exchange ideas and information on familiar topics in predictable everyday situations; communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar matters to do with work and free time; handle very short social exchanges but is rarely able to understand enough to keep conversation going on his/her own accord.
  • Spoken Production: give a simple presentation of people, living or working conditions, daily routines, likes/dislikes etc. as a short series of simple phrases and sentences linked into a list.

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Online Quizzes
  • Speaking Test
  • Written Test
  • In-Class Online Test
  • Spoken Performance

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Reading: understand very short simple texts in hiragana and katakana a single phrase at a time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required, and read words written in a range of simple kanji characters.
  • Listening: understand enough to be able to meet needs of a concrete type provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated; understand phrases and expressions related to areas of most immediate priority (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment) provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated.
  • Writing: write short, simple formulaic texts in hiragana and katakana relating to matters in areas of immediate need; write a series of simple phrases and sentences linked with simple connectors like “and”, “but” and “because”.
  • Spoken Interaction: interact with reasonable ease in structured situations and short conversations, provided the other person helps if necessary; manage simple, routine exchanges without undue effort; ask and answer questions and exchange ideas and information on familiar topics in predictable everyday situations; communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar matters to do with work and free time; handle very short social exchanges but is rarely able to understand enough to keep conversation going on his/her own accord.
  • Spoken Production: give a simple presentation of people, living or working conditions, daily routines, likes/dislikes etc. as a short series of simple phrases and sentences linked into a list.

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Online Quizzes
  • Speaking Test
  • Written Test
  • In-Class Online Test
  • Spoken Performance

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Spoken Production: give a simple presentation of people, living or working conditions, daily routines, likes/dislikes etc. as a short series of simple phrases and sentences linked into a list.

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Online Quizzes
  • Written Test
  • In-Class Online Test

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Listening: understand enough to be able to meet needs of a concrete type provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated; understand phrases and expressions related to areas of most immediate priority (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment) provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated.
  • Writing: write short, simple formulaic texts in hiragana and katakana relating to matters in areas of immediate need; write a series of simple phrases and sentences linked with simple connectors like “and”, “but” and “because”.
  • Spoken Interaction: interact with reasonable ease in structured situations and short conversations, provided the other person helps if necessary; manage simple, routine exchanges without undue effort; ask and answer questions and exchange ideas and information on familiar topics in predictable everyday situations; communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar matters to do with work and free time; handle very short social exchanges but is rarely able to understand enough to keep conversation going on his/her own accord.
  • Spoken Production: give a simple presentation of people, living or working conditions, daily routines, likes/dislikes etc. as a short series of simple phrases and sentences linked into a list.

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Speaking Test
  • Written Test
  • In-Class Online Test
  • Spoken Performance

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Writing: write short, simple formulaic texts in hiragana and katakana relating to matters in areas of immediate need; write a series of simple phrases and sentences linked with simple connectors like “and”, “but” and “because”.
  • Spoken Production: give a simple presentation of people, living or working conditions, daily routines, likes/dislikes etc. as a short series of simple phrases and sentences linked into a list.

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Spoken Performance

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Spoken Interaction: interact with reasonable ease in structured situations and short conversations, provided the other person helps if necessary; manage simple, routine exchanges without undue effort; ask and answer questions and exchange ideas and information on familiar topics in predictable everyday situations; communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar matters to do with work and free time; handle very short social exchanges but is rarely able to understand enough to keep conversation going on his/her own accord.
  • Spoken Production: give a simple presentation of people, living or working conditions, daily routines, likes/dislikes etc. as a short series of simple phrases and sentences linked into a list.

Assessment tasks

  • Unit Participation
  • Spoken Performance

Changes since First Published

Date Description
12/02/2019 Added staff contacts