Students

JPNS3016 – Intercultural Perspectives: Japanese and English

2020 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convener, Lecturer
Wes Robertson
wes.robertson@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
Room B350, Level 3, 25B Wally's Walk
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
JPNS1310 or JPNS2210 or JPNS3010
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit explores and compares the complexities of Japanese and English language use, introducing students to the complex cross-cultural and linguistic issues that influence the ways in which we accomplish tasks, make meaning, and interact through language. Taking a sociocultural perspective to concepts of meaning making, cross-cultural interaction, and bilingualism, students will engage with a wide variety of genres and materials from both languages in order to further their understanding of language, language use, and the nuances of cross-cultural interaction in English and Japanese. The unit is designed specifically for Japanese language learners with high proficiency, students with a Japanese background, or native Japanese speakers, as it requires frequent engagement with texts in English and Japanese. Ultimately, students will leave the course with a nuanced understanding of the factors which complicate and affect cross-cultural interaction in English and Japanese, as well as skills relevant to careers in Japanese/English bilingual workspaces, translation, or interpreting.

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:

  • ULO1: Acquire key concepts of contemporary theories in fields relating to communication, linguistics, translation, and cultural studies.
  • ULO2: Be able to critically apply sociocultural and sociolinguistic concepts to language use, contact and conflict between English and Japanese.
  • ULO3: Develop and actively utilize skills and knowledge relating to intercultural competence.
  • ULO4: Expand Japanese and English language skills, vocabulary, grammar, and related knowledge.
  • ULO5: Engage and improve effective communication strategies across both speech and writing.
  • ULO6: Refine and utilize critical thinking skills and problem solving skills, especially to evaluate wide ranges of data and draw originals conclusions.

General Assessment Information

Indicative examples of assessment tasks will be available on iLearn.

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.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Reading discussions 10% No Weekly
Student Presentations 15% No Throughout the semester
Literature Gathering Report 5% No Week 3
Online Quizzes 15% No Weeks 4, 7, 10, and 13
Comparative Essay 20% No During Mid-semester Break
Final Essay/Study 35% No Week 13

Reading discussions

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%

 

Students will be required to prepare for and participate in activities confirming engagement with each week’s readings and content. External students will participate in these discussions via online forums.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire key concepts of contemporary theories in fields relating to communication, linguistics, translation, and cultural studies.
  • Be able to critically apply sociocultural and sociolinguistic concepts to language use, contact and conflict between English and Japanese.
  • Engage and improve effective communication strategies across both speech and writing.
  • Refine and utilize critical thinking skills and problem solving skills, especially to evaluate wide ranges of data and draw originals conclusions.

Student Presentations

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Throughout the semester
Weighting: 15%

 

Students will present on a topic of their choosing related to Japanese linguistics and/or intercultural communication between English and Japanese. This presentation will occur as part of regularly scheduled class time for internal students, and will be presented on the online forums for discussion for external students.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire key concepts of contemporary theories in fields relating to communication, linguistics, translation, and cultural studies.
  • Develop and actively utilize skills and knowledge relating to intercultural competence.
  • Expand Japanese and English language skills, vocabulary, grammar, and related knowledge.
  • Engage and improve effective communication strategies across both speech and writing.

Literature Gathering Report

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 3
Weighting: 5%

 

The literature gathering report requires students to choose a topic related to Japanese linguistics and/or intercultural communication in English and Japanese, utilize a variety of methods to access original research relating to the topic, reflect on the productivity of said methods, and produce a reference list in accordance with APA conventions. The report is completed using an template available on iLearn.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire key concepts of contemporary theories in fields relating to communication, linguistics, translation, and cultural studies.
  • Develop and actively utilize skills and knowledge relating to intercultural competence.
  • Expand Japanese and English language skills, vocabulary, grammar, and related knowledge.
  • Engage and improve effective communication strategies across both speech and writing.
  • Refine and utilize critical thinking skills and problem solving skills, especially to evaluate wide ranges of data and draw originals conclusions.

Online Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 4 hours
Due: Weeks 4, 7, 10, and 13
Weighting: 15%

 

Four times across the semester, students will attempt a quiz that tests their critical engagement with the readings over the past three weeks.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire key concepts of contemporary theories in fields relating to communication, linguistics, translation, and cultural studies.
  • Be able to critically apply sociocultural and sociolinguistic concepts to language use, contact and conflict between English and Japanese.
  • Expand Japanese and English language skills, vocabulary, grammar, and related knowledge.

Comparative Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: During Mid-semester Break
Weighting: 20%

 

Students will write a short essay comparing two research articles relating to course content and/or themes. Further details and a list of possible topics are available on iLearn.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Be able to critically apply sociocultural and sociolinguistic concepts to language use, contact and conflict between English and Japanese.
  • Expand Japanese and English language skills, vocabulary, grammar, and related knowledge.
  • Engage and improve effective communication strategies across both speech and writing.
  • Refine and utilize critical thinking skills and problem solving skills, especially to evaluate wide ranges of data and draw originals conclusions.

Final Essay/Study

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 35%

 

Students will either write a critical report regarding a topic related to a major concept in this course, or conduct a small-scale analysis of data drawing upon one of the frameworks or themes discussed during the semester. In either case, the ultimate submission should engage thoughtfully with academic literature, course themes, and course discussions. Further details are available on iLearn.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Be able to critically apply sociocultural and sociolinguistic concepts to language use, contact and conflict between English and Japanese.
  • Develop and actively utilize skills and knowledge relating to intercultural competence.
  • Expand Japanese and English language skills, vocabulary, grammar, and related knowledge.
  • Engage and improve effective communication strategies across both speech and writing.
  • Refine and utilize critical thinking skills and problem solving skills, especially to evaluate wide ranges of data and draw originals conclusions.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Readings

All readings are available on iLearn.

Online Unit

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

Is my unit in iLearn?:https://unitguides.mq.edu.au/ilearn_unit_status/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 that you bring along your own 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: Introduction to the Class

Weeks 2/4 (Module 1): What is Language/What is Communication?

  • Week 2: What is English/What is Japanese?
  • Week 3: Standard Language Politics/Policy in English/Japanese
  • Week 4: Language Socialization

Weeks 5/7 (Module 2): Language & Identity in/across Japanese & English

  • Week 5: (Im)politeness in/across Japanese & English
  • Week 6: Gender, Language, & Ideology in English/Japanese Contexts
  • Week 7: Defining and Representing "Others" Through English/Japanese

Weeks 8/10 (Module 3): Japanese & English in Con(tact/flict)

  • Week 8: Translation Between English & Japanese
  • Week 9: Intercultural (Mis-)Communication
  • Week 10: Language & Subculture in Japanese & English Contexts

Weeks 11/13 (Module 4): Language Horizons

  • Week 11: Japanese, English, & their Digital World(s)
  • Week 12: Writing the Self
  • Week 13: Japanese & English in Con(vergence/flux)

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:

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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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.