This course aims at developing spoken conversation skills in Japanese for those who have never studied previously, or have a little knowledge of, the language. It is designed to provide a comprehensive and systematic approach to the acquisition of the Japanese colloquial language. It begins with the Japanese basic sounds and their scripts, and then expands to basic vocabulary, sentence structures and grammar points, as well as constant practices on how to use those vocabulary and grammar points in actual conversations. In addition, the course includes Japanese cultural aspects and communication strategies that are important for reinforcing conversation skills in Japanese. It covers a variety of daily conversation settings that Australian university students may experience when they host their Japanese friends visiting Australia.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Recognise and pronounce all 46 basic sounds and other derived sounds of the Japanese scripts, and be able to read phrases and simple sentences smoothly.
- Read and write all 46 basic sounds and other derived sounds in hiragana, and be able to write and comprehend simple sentences in hiragana.
- Use an active vocabulary of around 400 items, and a passive vocabulary of around 1000 items.
- Use the sentence structures and grammatical points required to conduct basic conversations on everyday topics such as introducing oneself, asking for directions, weekly routine, making offers and invitations, making comments and stating activities during holidays.
- Use appropriate communication strategies to produce basic colloquial Japanese. The strategies include fillers, back channeling, subject omission and the use of sumimasen and chotto.
- Demonstrate an understanding of cultural communication practices in interpersonal relationships (greetings and address terms) and knowledge of Japan (geography, seasonal celebrations and sports).
Research-Led Teaching
A large portion of the course is adopted from research outcome of teaching staff members of the ANU Japanese program, whose research interests are in grammar, spoken conversation, discourse analysis, and sociocultural linguistics in Japanese. Many learning objectives and teaching materials, including the textbook, are based on their research findings that are latest and innovative in the literature of Japanese linguistics/education, such as particle omission, subject omission, responsive tokens, address terms, etc.
Examination Material or equipment
Final exam: No materials are permitted.
Required Resources
Nihongo ga Ippai ('Japanese Ippai')
- Author: D-Y Lee, et al
- Publisher: Hituzi Shobo
- Edition: There are first and second editions. Either is fine.
- ISBN: 978-4-89476-449-1
- Availability: Harry Hartog ANU Shop (Kambri) ; Intextbook https://www.languageint.com.au/search/ippai/ ; Kinokuniya https://australia.kinokuniya.com/events/2
- Notes: Available in other online bookshops; search for "Nihongo ga Ippai"
- Price: $70 - $100 vary among sellers
Recommended Resources
For overview of Japanese grammar, Japanese language:
- Akiyama, C. & Akiyama N., 2012. Japanese Grammar. Barrons Educational Series.
- Alfonso, A., 1966. Japanese Language Patterns. Sophia University.
- Aston, W.G. 2020. A grammar of the Japanese spoken language. ALPHA ED.
- Backhouse, A. E. 1993. The Japanese Language: An Introduction. Oxford University Press.
- Gottlieb, N., 2005. Language and society in Japan. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Hoffmann, J. J., 2017. A Japanese Grammar (Classic Reprint). Forgutten Books.
- Ichikawa, Y., 2001. Japanese, a comprehensive grammar. London: Routledge.
- Ishiguro, Teruhiro & Kang-kwong Luke (eds), 2012. Grammar in Cross-Linguistic Perspective: the Syntax, Semantics, and Pragmatics of Japanese and Chinese. Bern ; New York : Peter Lang.
- Johnson, Y., 2003. Modality and the Japanese language. Center for Japanese Studies.
- Kim, Tae K., 2014. A Guide to Japanese Grammar. CreateSpace.
- Kuno, S., 1988. The Structure of Japanese Language. MIT Press.
- Lammers, Wayne P. 2005, Japanese the manga way : an illustrated guide to grammar & structure. Berkeley, Calif.: Stone Bridge Press.
- Lee, D., 2002. The function of the zero particle with special reference to spoken Japanese, Journal of Pragmatics 34: pp. 645-682. [particle omission]
- Lee, D., 2007. Involvement and the Japanese interactive particles Ne and Yo. Journal of Pragmatics 39: pp. 363-388.
- Martin, S. E., 1975. A Reference Grammar of Japanese. Yale University Press.
- McGloin, N. et al. 2013. Modern Japanese Grammar: A Practical Guide. Taylor & Francis Ltd.
- Ogi, N., 2017. Involvement and Attitude in Japanese Discourse, John Benjamins Publishing Company, Amsterdam/ Philadelphia.
- Ono, H., 1973. Japanese Grammar. Hokuseido Press,.
- Onodera, N., 2004. Philadelphia : John Benjamins.
- Sato, E., 2021. Practice Makes Perfect Complete Japanese Grammar. McGraw-Hill.
- Shibatani, M., 1990. The Language of Japan. Cambridge University Press.
- Suzuki, S., 2006. Emotive communication in Japanese. Amsterdam ; Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
Dictionaries:
- A dictionary of basic Japanese grammar. Makino, S. et al. The Japan Times.
- Japanese - English grammar dictionary for standard modern Japanese. J. Jeliek Rochester: Integrated Dictionary Systems.
- Basic Japanese-English dictionary. Japan Foundation. Bonjinsha.
- Kanji & kana. W. Hadamitzky et al. Rutland.
If you wish to obtain further information of references/readings on particular topics, please let the course convenor know.
Staff Feedback
Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:- Written comments
- Verbal comments
- Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups
Student Feedback
ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.Other Information
- Students are expected to attend all classes (FS and CL classes in particular) during the teaching period. Majority activities of these classes are based on group or pair work with student-to-student and teacher-to-student interaction, both of which are essential for mastering oral communication skills in Japanese.
- New learning objectives in each lesson are often further developed on the basis of the content of previous weeks, and students who do not attend whole or part of classes risk failing to a gain good result from the course, or even failing it entirely.
Class Schedule
| Week/Session | Summary of Activities | Assessment |
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| 1 | Introduction and basic hiragana
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| 2 | Lesson 1 (of the textbook) and special hiragana (1)
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| 3 | Lesson 2 and special hiragana (2)
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| 4 | Lesson 3
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| 5 | Lesson 4
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| 6 | Oral Test 1
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| 7 | Lesson 5
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| 8 | Lesson 6
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| 9 | Lesson 7
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| 10 | Lesson 8
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| 11 | Lesson 9
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| 12 | Lesson 10
Oral Test 2
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Tutorial Registration
The course consists of 5 hours of classes to attend each week: 1 hour of Lecture (Mon), 1 hour of Grammar-Expression (GE) class (Tue), 2 hours of Functional-SItuational (FS) class (1 hour on Wed and 1 hour on Thurs) and 1 hour of Listening-Culture (LC) class (Fri). Students need to choose their group for four classes: GE class (Tue), FS (Wed), FS (Thurs), and LC (Fri). Sign-up links are available in MyTimetable.
Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Value | Due Date | Return of assessment | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly Homework | 10 % | * | * | 3, 4 |
| Vocabulary quizzes | 10 % | * | * | 2, 3 |
| Oral Test 1 | 15 % | 02/04/2026 | 17/04/2026 | 1, 3, 4, 5 |
| Oral Test 2 | 20 % | 29/05/2026 | 12/06/2026 | 1, 3, 4, 5 |
| Final Exam | 35 % | * | 02/07/2026 | 2, 3, 4, 6 |
| Class Participation | 10 % | 29/05/2026 | 12/06/2026 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details
Policies
ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:- Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
- Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
- Student Surveys and Evaluations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
Assessment Requirements
The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.Moderation of Assessment
Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.Participation
See "Class Participation" above, for details.
Examination(s)
See Assessment Task 5 "Final exam" for details.
Assessment Task 1
Value: 10 %
Learning Outcomes: 3, 4
Learning Outcomes: 3, 4
Weekly Homework
- Weighting: 10 % in total (10 x 1% each)
- Weekly online homework (Week 2-12, excluding Week 6).
- Format: Canvas quiz.
- Each homework contains various types of questions based on what we will study each week.
- The number of questions per assignment varies depending on the question types, and it typically takes 40-50 minutes.
- Results are given immediately upon completion of homework (quiz).
Assessment Task 2
Value: 10 %
Learning Outcomes: 2, 3
Learning Outcomes: 2, 3
Vocabulary quizzes
- Weighting: 10 % in total (10 x 1% each)
- Weekly online quiz (Week 2-12, excluding Week 6).
- Weekly online vocabulary quizzes are conducted during the Tuesday GE classes, starting from Week 2.
- Close-book quizzes.
- Contains 10 short questions on vocabulary listed in the textbook.
- Results are given immediately upon completion of a quiz.
- In principle, no make-up quizzes are offered as the quizzes are to be preparatory for each week's classes.
Assessment Task 3
Value: 15 %
Learning Outcomes: 1, 3, 4, 5
Learning Outcomes: 1, 3, 4, 5
Oral Test 1
- Online oral examination held in Week 6.
- Each student has 7-8 minutes to talk with an instructor on selected topics and situations.
- Students are required to sign up for their test time on Canvas.
- Detailed information including the exam tasks and link for the sign-up will be provided in Week 4.
- Marks and written feedback will be given within 2 weeks.
Assessment Task 4
Value: 20 %
Learning Outcomes: 1, 3, 4, 5
Learning Outcomes: 1, 3, 4, 5
Oral Test 2
- Online oral examination held in Week 12.
- Each student has 7-8 minutes to talk with an instructor on selected topics and situations.
- Students are required to sign up for their test time on Canvas.
- Detailed information including the exam tasks and link for the sign-up will be provided in Week 10.
- Marks and written feedback will be given within 2 weeks
Assessment Task 5
Value: 35 %
Learning Outcomes: 2, 3, 4, 6
Learning Outcomes: 2, 3, 4, 6
Final Exam
- This will be a 2-hour long exam held during the examination period.
- It consists of (i) listening comprehension sessions and (ii) grammar and expression sessions.
- Closed-book exam.
- Further details will be provided in Week 12.
Assessment Task 6
Value: 10 %
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Class Participation
- Assessed based on your class participation and contributions to every FS (Wednesday and Thursday) and LC (Friday) class from Week 2.
- Your tutor will check your participation in class through teacher-to-student(s) interactions and small group/pair activities.
This assessment aims to encourage each student to strive for deeper engagement in the course materials and active interactions with classmates. Attending classes is a minimum requirement. Activities in class expect each student to be prepared and contribute to each other’s learning process and outcomes responsibly and proactively. AT6 will be assessed from Week 2, excluding week 6 and 12.
Rubric
| HD+ | HD | D | CR | P | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Proactively engaged in class discussions | Actively engaged in class discussions | Engaged in class discussions when nominated | Responded when questioned | Minimal engagement in class discussions without voicing | No visible engagement |
Proactively lead group discussions; supporting peers | Actively engaged in group discussions | Engaged in class discussions with supports of peers | Participating in group discussions in some ways | Minimal participation in group discussions without voicing | No visible engagement |
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.Online Submission
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.Hardcopy Submission
For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.Late Submission
No submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date will be permitted. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
Referencing Requirements
Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.Returning Assignments
Refer to above assessment descriptions, for details.
Extensions and Penalties
Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.Resubmission of Assignments
Re-submission is in principle not allowed for any assessment items in this course, unless otherwise permitted by the course convenor.
Privacy Notice
The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.Distribution of grades policy
Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.Support for students
The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).- ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
- ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
- ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
- ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
- ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
- ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
- PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students
Convener
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Research InterestsJapanese Modern and Contemporary History; Gender Studies |
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Dr Mayuko Itoh
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Instructor
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Research InterestsJapanese Modern and Contemporary History; Gender Studies |
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Dr Mayuko Itoh
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Tutor
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Research Interests |
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Marina Hirose
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Tutor
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Research InterestsJapanese Modern and Contemporary History; Gender Studies |
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Momoko Suma
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Tutor
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Research InterestsJapanese Modern and Contemporary History; Gender Studies |
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Dr Tami McGrath
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