Variation in Japanese Language (JAPN30012)

Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville) and Off Campus

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As part of the University’s response to COVID-19 and the associated Government restrictions and guidelines, most subjects will continue to be delivered online in Winter and Semester 2.
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.

Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.

Overview

Availability(Quotas apply)
Summer Term - Off Campus
Semester 1 - On Campus
FeesLook up fees

The diversity of language within Japanese, be it phonetical, lexical, morphological, grammatical and strategical, exist according to the speaker’s gender, age, hometown and type of communication one is engaged in. To ensure successful communication in Japanese, one must learn not only the ‘standard’ language introduced in textbooks so far, but also have knowledge of these variation which is observable in any interaction. 

This advanced level Japanese language subject aims to expand students’ horizon on Japanese by introducing varieties of colloquial and dialectal expressions used in Japan, differentiated by their gender, age, region and purpose of communication. It will also give students opportunities to examine different registers in various conversation settings. Students will learn what is considered appropriate in various situations through analysis of naturally occurring communication between friends, family and business associates with different degree of formality through analysing them, then apply the findings in their speaking practice appropriately. Students who complete this subject should have acquired good knowledge of the diverse range of Japanese language practice and apply them when communicating in Japanese.

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • understand common varieties in Japanese language caused by age, gender and hometown of the speakers, as well as various purposes of communication;
  • understand registers of Japanese with varying levels of formality and purposes;
  • identify, explain and use various genre in written Japanese communication;
  • apply above knowledge of variation, register and genre to understand the speakers' intentions within various interactions;
  • evaluate their own use of language and plan their further learning of variation in Japanese language.
  • demonstrate various strategies to communicate successfully in Japanese.

Generic skills

  • apply knowledge of basic structural patterns to deal with large quantities of new information
  • set long term goals and develop the discipline to undertake the daily work needed to achieve the goals.
  • develop cultural knowledge necessary to international awareness.
  • develop reflective skills to reflect and monitor one’s learning.
  • develop critical thinking and analysis to be able to analyse relationship between self and others in various situations in order to express respect and relationships appropriately.

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

  • JAPN10006/JAPN20004/JAPN30006 Japanese 8 or equivalent.

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
JAPN10006 Japanese 8
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN20004 Japanese 8
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN30006 Japanese 8
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

  • Permission of subject coordinator. Note: The summer intensive has a quota, an application process applies. For further information on the application and selection process please use the link below:Application Information.  Preference students who have declared a major, minor or are taking a Diploma in Languages (Japanese). Academic merit is also taken into account.

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
JAPN20009 Signs and Symbols in Japanese
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN30010 Signs and Symbols in Japanese
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Assessment

Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS

Semester 1

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Reflective essays

  • 800 words
Throughout the semester20%

Role play and analysis (3 minutes role play and 5 minutes analysis)

  • 600 words
Mid semester15%

Oral Exam

  • 6 minutes
End of semester15%

Written exam

  • 2000 words
During the examination period50%
Hurdle requirement: Class attendance is required for this subject; if you do not attend a minimum of 80% of classes without an approved exemption you will not be eligible for a pass in this subject. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All assessments must be submitted to pass this subject.Throughout the semesterN/A

Summer Term

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Reflective essays (4 x200 words )

  • 800 words
Throughout the semester20%

Role play and analysis - 3 minutes role play and 5 minutes analysis (Due end of second week )

  • 600 words
Week 215%

Oral exam

  • 6 minutes
End of term15%

Written exam (Due during O week Semester 1 2020)

  • 2000 words
At the end of the assessment period50%
Hurdle requirement: Class attendance is required for this subject; if you do not attend 100% of classes without an approved exemption you will not be eligible for a pass in this subject. All assessments must be submitted to pass this subject. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. Throughout the semesterN/A

Additional details

 

Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day.

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Quotas apply to this subject

Dates & times

  • Summer Term - Off Campus
    Principal coordinatorYasuhisa Watanabe
    Mode of deliveryOff Campus
    Contact hours48
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Pre teaching start date 1 December 2019
    Pre teaching requirementsStudents must attend departure orientation to be held in December 2019. Students are expected to purchase a copy of course reader by then.
    Teaching period20 January 2020 to 7 February 2020
    Last self-enrol date11 December 2019
    Census date24 January 2020
    Last date to withdraw without fail31 January 2020
    Assessment period ends28 February 2020

    Summer Term contact information

    watanabe@unimelb.edu.au

  • Semester 1 - On Campus
    Principal coordinatorJun Ohashi
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hoursA total of 48 hours: 4 hours of language classes per week
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020
    Last self-enrol date13 March 2020
    Census date30 April 2020
    Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020
    Assessment period ends 3 July 2020

    Semester 1 contact information

    juno@unimelb.edu.au

Time commitment details

Time commitment totals 170 hours.

Additional delivery details

Note to the Summer Term: This is quota managed intensive with a total quota of 15 across JAPN30012 and JAPN20012. Students must have completed Japanese 8. Students must apply to be considered for this intensive subject by filling in application form. Applications are reviewed to ensure they meet requirements and are then ranked based on WAM. Should the number of applications exceed places available at this point, preferences will be given to those who had declared a major, minor or are taking a Diploma in Languages (Japanese) and who have not previously travelled to Japan. All applicants are interviewed by the selection panel including the subject coordinator and the program convener, and possibly a representative from Osaka University, during the selection process. During the interview, applicants will be assessed on their conversation skills in Japanese and adaptability to intercultural and collaborative work situations to determine the likely benefits for them of undertaking the program. Their cultural awareness will also be assessed as the program involves a placement with a host family and visit to workplaces.

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Further information

Last updated: 14 March 2025