2019-2020 JAPN1088 Japanese Language I (part 1) Course guideline as of 03.09.

2019
GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION
A. Course description

This introductory course is designed for the first-time learners AND complete beginners of Japanese, and is compulsory for students
who plan to major in Japanese Studies. The elementary training in Japanese language is provided through a carefully arranged syllabus. To

cultivate overall Japanese-language ability, emphasis will be placed equally on developing all four skills speaking, listening, reading and

writing.

B. Course objectives

Reading Listening and Speaking

Students will be able to Students will be able to

- understand written Japanese on familiar topics on a sentence basis. - understand simple instructions and communications from the

teacher and react appropriately;

Writing
- talk about oneself and familiar topics in simple terms;
Students will be able to
- understand sentences on familiar topics; and
- write Japanese characters and sentences; and
- interact in a simple way in conversations on very familiar
- write texts of 200 characters on familiar topics.
topics.

C. Course content

Weekly 2 two-hour (Grammar) and 1 two-hour (Skill) lessons. (6 hours per week in total)

JAPN1088 Course Structure

Grammar Class Skill Class

Contact hours per week 4 hours 2 hours

Subgroups A – H (8 subclasses) A – N (14 subclasses)

Assessment ratio 50% 50%

Credit 6

D. Questionnaire

All students are required to answer the questionnaire online upon registration. The registration will not be completed until you submit
the questionnaire. The student who has previous knowledge of Japanese language MUST honestly declare details of such learning
experience (including self-study) through on-line questionnaire upon registration. If the details on the questionnaire is found to be false, the

approval might be revoked. We expect all our students to conduct themselves with integrity and honesty by filling in the questionnaires

truthfully to the best of their knowledge and submitting them promptly. Failing to do so or refusal to take a placement test as instructed
may revoke your registration or diminish your chance of being recommended for any kind of studentship, internship, exchange
studentship in future.

E. Students with no prior knowledge of kanji (Chinese characters)

Kanji (Chinese characters) WILL NOT be taught in class but will be an integrated part of the course. Students with no prior knowledge of

kanji are expected to study kanji on their own.

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F. Textbooks
(1) 大家的日本語：初級 I HKD114.30 (for Grammar class)

(2) 大家的日本語：初級 I. II：標準問題集 HKD60.30 (for Grammar class)

(3) 大家的日本語：初級：讀本篇 HKD83.70 (for Skill class)

You must buy book no.1 and 2 by 12th September for Grammar class as we start Chapter 1 in the week of 9th to 13th September;

and the assignments using book no.2 will be given in the same week. The purchase is compulsory. Photocopying of the books is

prohibited. The books are available at HKU book shop. Special price to students at HKU book store by presenting valid HKU student ID
upon purchase.

The following books are optional to obtain. We do not use these books in the lessons but they are designed to complement main textbook

(4) 大家的日本語 初級Ⅰ 改訂版 文法解說．參考詞彙．課文中譯 HKD60.00 (approx.)

(5) 大家的日本語 初級Ⅰ 改訂版 練習 ABC・問題解答（附中譯） HKD93.00 (approx.)

G. Dictionary

Many printed and electronic dictionaries are available in the market. For example, “日本語を学ぶ人の辞典 (Informative Japanese

Dictionary)” published by 新潮社 (original Japanese version) or its Taiwan version “易懂日語詞典” published by 大新書局. This

dictionary contains approximately 11,000 entries, which is the number of words required to pass the Level 1 of the Japanese Language

Proficiency Test. There are guidelines on accents, English and Chinese translations, furigana given for every kanji, sample sentences,

frequently-used Japanese expressions, and supplemental information on language usage.

H. Tests

There are two Tests (approximately 2-hour long) and one Oral test.

Mid-term Test Final Test Oral test

18th October (Friday) 6th December (Friday) TBA

10:00-12:00 10:00-12:00

(venue to be confirmed) (venue to be confirmed)

You will be tested the contents learnt in the grammar class in written test, and the contents

learnt in the skill class in listening test.

If you miss a test or quiz for any reason (including medical reason) and request any make-up test or quiz, your mark will be deducted
by 20%.

The above dates for Mid-term and Final tests have been already fixed. Therefore, once your registration is confirmed, please mark

your diary to make yourselves available on these dates to sit for the tests.
If any test or field trip for another course announced subsequently falls on these dates, it is your responsibility to make an alternative

arrangement with the teacher of that course

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I. Registration issue
1. Change of Grammar subgroup registration

The change of Grammar subgroup can be done only by dropping the current class registration and re-applying for the subclass you wish

to change to during add/drop period (even if it is due to time clash with other course). However, whether the new-application will be
successful or not is NOT guaranteed due to the overwhelming demand. Once registered, you must always attend the subgroup class you

originally registered. Attendance in other subgroup classes shall not be counted nor permitted.

2. Late drop after add/drop period

The course does not support “Late Drop” of the course after add/drop period. Please make a careful decision as to whether or not you can

make a commitment to the course before the end of add/drop period on 13th September.

3. Skill class registration

Students are required to enroll in one Skill class (tutorial) in addition to the two Grammar classes (lectures) per week. Please select one

Skill class from the ten subgroups and sign up on Portal.

3.1 Skill Class Registration Period

Sign-up period for Skill subgroup in the Moodle starts at 09:00 on 2nd September and ends at 17:00 on 16th September. The

Skill class registration is a first-come-first-served basis. Having able to choose a Skill class subgroup on Portal means you are

successfully registered for that Skill class subgroup. No acknowledgement of Skill class registration will be sent.

3.2 Subgroup Alphabetical Code

Note that the subgroup you can choose any Grammar class (A-H) and any Skill class (A-N). Any combination of Grammar and

Skill classes is accepted as long as you attend only the classes you have chosen throughout the semester.

3.3 Change of Skill Class Subgroup

If students wish to change the Skill class subgroup after the Skill class registration period (1st to 13th September) due to time

clash with another course, the students must inform both the teachers of original and new subgroups by sending an email with
attachment of screenshotted SIS timetable by 23:59 on 17th September. Students then should await for further instruction from

the lecturer in charge. For the details of Skill class subgroup timetable, please see Skill Class Information on Page 7.

The timeslots of Skill class subgroups are subject to change. Please check the timeslots on Portal again when closer to the Skill
class registration period.

Remarks

1 Although you may add/drop courses till the end of add/drop period (on 16th September), the class starts from 2nd September. As a

language course for complete beginners, attending from the first lesson is very crucial. It is very important that you attend all classes

from the first lesson REGARDLESS of your registration status.

2 Please note that we will not be able to reply to any individual inquiry about your application results, the status of application process,
the reason for disapproval, or appeal for reconsideration after being disapproved. However, as some students may drop this course

during the add/drop period, you may repeatedly try to re-apply on-line as a place may become available although there is no guarantee.

IMPORTANT
1 Attend all classes and submit your assignments on time. Half of the mark will be deducted for assignments late for a week, and no

points will be given on assignments submitted more than a week after the due date.

2 Take your quizzes or tests as scheduled (20% deduction of the score will apply to any make-up quiz/test).

3 Check HKU email and Moodle of JAPN 1088 at least once a day as important information will be provided through HKU email or

Moodle. It is students’ responsibility to check e-mails and Moodle page for the most up-to-date information regarding the course.

4 Feel free to consult your teachers on any problems relating to the course.

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 LECTURERS’ CONTACTS
It is advisable that you make an appointment with your teacher before you visit him or her.

Lecturer E-mail Contact number Office

Mr. T. Gunji

Mr. T. Hashimoto thashimo@hku.hk 39174031 CRT-4.21 Run Run Shaw Tower

Ms. A. Kitagami akitagam@hku.hk 39175853 CRT-10.24 Run Run Shaw Tower

Ms. M. Kobayashi kmlui@hku.hk 39178029 CRT-4.22 Run Run Shaw Tower

Mr. H. Kodama hkodama@hku.hk 39177183 CRT-4.23 Run Run Shaw Tower

Mr. I. Lau isaaclkh@hku.hk 39172031 CRT-5.45 Run Run Shaw Tower

Ms. Y. Nishimura ynishimu@hku.hk 39178095 CRT-8.67 Run Run Shaw Tower

Ms. K. Sakaguchi kerokero@hku.hk 39175853 CRT-10.24 Run Run Shaw Tower

Ms. Y. Sasaki ysasaki@hku.hk 39175853 CRT-10.24 Run Run Shaw Tower

Ms. T .Yoshikawa tyoshika@hku.hk 39172903 CRT-4.25 Run Run Shaw Tower

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 GRAMMAR CLASS INFORMATION

A. Timetable

Subclass Day Time Venue Lecturer

GRAMMAR A MON & FRI 12:30-14:20 CPD-LG.08 & CPD-1.44 Mr. H. Kodama

GRAMMAR B MON & FRI 15:30-17:20 CRT-4.27 Mr. H. Kodama

GRAMMAR C TUE & THU 13:30-15:20 CRT-4.28 Ms. Y. Sasaki

GRAMMAR D TUE & THU 16:30-18:20 CPD-LG.17 Mr. T. Hashimoto

GRAMMAR E MON & FRI 12:30-14:20 CPD-LG.63 Ms. A. Kitagami

GRAMMAR F TUE & THU 16:30-18:20 CRT-4.27 Mr. I. Lau

GRAMMAR G MON & FRI 9:30-11:20 CPD-LG.07 & CPD-LG.46 Ms. A. Kitagami

GRAMMAR H TUE & THU 10:30-12:20 CPD-LG.35 Ms. Y. Nishimura

B. Grammar class content

1. Grammar will be taught with sufficient practice conducted through drills, exercises and activities which are designed to enhance

your understanding of the grammatical knowledge presented in lessons.

2. Scope of the Course: Chapter 1 to Chapter 10 of the textbook (“大家的日本語：初級 1”).

3. Assignments: Exercises in the following book - “大家的日本語：初級 1. 2：標準問題集”.

The answer should be self-checked and corrected against the model answers posted on the Moodle of 1088 before submitting

them to your grammar teacher through Moodle before the deadline (see “Grammar class schedule”).

4. Quizzes and Tests

4.1 One hiragana quiz and one katakana quiz.

4.2 Revision quizzes (approximately 10-20 minutes long) will be given. Normally in the 2nd grammar lesson of each week.

(See schedule on Grammar Class). You will be tested vocabulary and grammar learnt in the previous week.
4.3 Please noted that there is NO makeup quizzes will be given under any circumstances including but not limited to illness, time

clash with other course or fieldtrip, arriving late, or any other reasons. Missed quizzes are given a grade of zero. If the absence

is due to illness, please inform your lecturer via email before the lesson. And a medical certificate must be sent to your lecturer

within one week. (The medical certificate must be completed by a qualified medical practitioner recommending for sick leave

on the date of the missed quiz.) In this case, the grade of the missed quiz will not be counted toward the overall score of

quizzes.
4.4 Two tests (approximately 2-hour long): 10:00-12:00 on 18th October (Friday) and 10:00-12:00 on 6th December (Friday).

C. Grammar Class Assessment Ratio

Tests Mid-term Test 15%

Final Test 20%

Quizzes, assignments, class performance and attendance 15%

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 GRAMMAR CLASS SCHEDULE

Week Contents Quizzes & Tests Assignment

Sep 2-6 Introduction of the course,
pronunciation of Japanese,
1
and Japanese alphabets
(Hiragana & Katakana)
Sep 9-13 Hiragana & Katakana
2
Chapter 1
Sep 16-20 Chapter 1&2 Hiragana & Katakana Quiz Hiragana & Katakana Exercise
3 (Thu/Fri) Books (by Friday)

Sep 23-27 Chapter 2&3

4

Sep 30-Oct 4 Chapter 3&4 Quiz Ch1&2 (Thu/Fri) Exercise Book* Ch1&2 (by
5 Oct 1: No Class Friday)

Oct 7-11 Chapter 3&4 Exercise Book Ch3 (by Friday)

6
Oct 7: No Class
Oct 14-18 Reading Week Mid-term Test Exercise Book Ch4 (by Friday)
7 Written & Listening (Ch1-4):
Oct 18 (Fri) 10:00-12:00

8
Oct 21-25 Chapter 5

Oct 28-Nov 1 Chapter 6 Exercise Book Ch5 (by Friday)

9

10
Nov 4-8 Chapter 7 Quiz Ch5&6 Exercise Book Ch6 (by Friday)

11
Nov 11-15 Chapter 8 Exercise Book Ch7 (by Friday)

12
Nov 18-22 Chapter 9 Quiz Ch7&8 Exercise Book Ch8 (by Friday)

13
Nov-25-29 Chapter 10 Quiz Ch1-9 (mainly Ch9) Exercise Book Ch9 (by Friday)

Dec 2-6 Revision Period Final Test Exercise Book Ch10 (by Friday)
Written & Listening (Ch1-10):
Dec 7 (Fri) 10:00-12:00
14

Oral Test: TBA

*Exercise Book = 標準問題集

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 SKILL CLASS INFORMATION
1. Timetable
Class Day Time Lecturer Venue
Skill A THU 16:30-18:20 Ms. Y. Sasaki CPD-2.17

Skill B MON 14:30-16:20 Ms. Y. Nishimura CRT-4.28

Skill C MON 9:30-11:20 Ms. Y. Nishimura CRT-5.43

Skill D TUE 16:30-18:20 Ms. Y. Sasaki CPD-LG.35

Skill E WED 10:30-12:20 Ms. Y. Sasaki CRT-4.27

Skill F WED 13:30-15:20 Ms. Y. Sasaki CPD-3.21

Skill G WED 14:30-16:20 Ms. M. Kobayashi CPD-LG.39

Skill H WED 14:30-16:20 Mr. T. Gunji CPD-3.07

Skill I THU 10:30-12:20 Ms. K. Sakaguchi CRT-5.57

Skill J THU 15:30-17:20 Ms. T. Yoshikawa CRT-4.28

Skill K FRI 10:30-12:20 Ms. M. Kobayashi CRT-4.28

Skill L FRI 12:30-14:20 Ms. K. Sakaguchi CRT-4.28

Skill M FRI 12:30-14:20 Mr. I. Lau CRT-4.27

Skill N THU 11:30-13:20 Mr. T. Gunji CRT-4.28

2. Assessment
Skill class assessment criteria include:
Oral test(20%), 2 Listening tests(25%), 2 quizzes(15%), assignments[Listening Tasks, Reading Comprehension exercises,
compositions] (30%), class performance and attendance(10%).

3. Assignments
1) Listening Task See “LT schedule and procedure” for details (pp.9-10).
2) Reading Comprehension See “Instruction for compleating Reading Comprehension Exercise” (p.9).
3) Composition
You will be required to write 2 short compositions. See “Teaching schedule of skill class”(p.8).
Details will be announced in class.

4. Quizzes and Tests

1) Two listening quizzes
2) Two listening tests (October 18 & December 6, 2019)
3) Oral test (TBA)
*The dates of tests have been finalized. No requests for changing test dates will be entertained. If you have an official field trip during
Reading Week from any other courses you are enrolled in, consult your grammar/skill teacher as soon as you know of these time clashes.
If you failed to attend the quizzes/tests for any reason, you may be allowed to take a make-up quiz/test with 20% deduction from your
score. See FAQ for details.

5. Textbook
You Must buy『大家的日本語初級 I 読本篇』to complete reading comprehension exercises, available at HKU book shop.

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 Skill Class Schedule
＊Quiz Assignment
Week Grammar Skill
★Test （Due date）
Introduction of the course ・Introduction of the course
・Greetings
Pronunciation of Japanese
1 9/2-6 ・Pronunciation
Japanese alphabets ・Instructions in classroom
(Hiragana & Katakana) ・Hiragana, Katakana

Hiragana & Katakana ・Pronunciation ・LT1(9/30)

2 9/9-13 ・Hiragana, Katakana
Chapter 1

Chapter 1&2 ・Recognizing letters and sound of ・RC1(9/30)

3 Hiragana and Katakana
9/16-20
・Dictation practice
・Introducing people‐1
Chapter 2&3 ・Introducing people‐2 ・Comp.1
4 9/23-27 ・Japanese writing rules (10/18)
・Composition 1
9/30-10/4 Chapter 3&4 ・Introducing people‐3 ＊Listening quiz 1 ・LT2(10/18)
・Asking what/whose it is ・RC2(10/18)
5 1(Tue)
Holiday
10/7-11 Chapter 4 ・Asking the whereabouts
6 ・Dictation－numbers and prices
7(Mon)
Holiday
★Mid-term Test
7 10/14-18 Reading Week 10/18(Fri.)
(10:00-12:00)
Chapter 5 ・Expressions for shopping ・LT3(11/15)
8 10/21-25 ・Dictation－time ・RC3(11/15)
・Asking time and day of week
Chapter 6 ・Talking about your daily schedule
9 10/28-11/1
・Asking time and transportation
Chapter 7 ・Asking dates
・Talking about what you did in a
10 11/4-8
week
・Inviting friends
Chapter 8 ・Asking how to say in Japanese ＊Listening quiz 2 ・LT4 (12/6)
11 11/11-15 ・Talking about presents ・RC4(12/6)
・Visiting your friend’s home 1
Chapter 9 ・Describing familiar place and ・Comp.2
people (12/6)
12 11/18-22 ・Talking about your university life
・Visiting your friend’s home 2
・Composition 2
Chapter 10 ・Describing about yourself
13 11/25-29
・Talking about your favorites
★Final Test
12/6(Fri.)
14 12/2-6 Revision period
(10:00-12:00)
★Oral Test :TBA
Assignments:
There are three kinds of assignments to be submitted.
1) LT=Listening Task: Please see “Schedule of LT and instruction for completing LT” for details.
2) RC=Reading Comprehension: See the next page for details.
3) Comp.=Composition: Details will be instructed in the class. (Above contents are subject to change without prior notice)

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Instruction for completing Reading Comprehension Exercise

Download and print the exercise sheets from the Moodle. Use the textbook “大家的日本語初級 I 読本篇” to answer the questions.
All your answers should be written on the downloaded sheets and handed in to the teacher on or before the due date. Check ‘Teaching
Schedule of Skill class” for the due dates.

Listening Task Schedule

みんなの
Task25 Wakuwaku Mainichi ていしゅつ び
日本語 提 出日
『みんなの日本語 『わくわく文法 『毎日の聞き取り
Main textbook
聴解タスク２５』 リスニング』 50 日Ⅰ』 Deadline
for Grammar

＊Hatsuon（発音）
Pronunciation
（Questions and sound files are in the Moodle.) LT1

１ １，２，３ Sep. 30
1

２ １
2

３ ４，５
3
LT2
４ ２２，２３ ４ Oct. 18
4

５ ２４ ４
5

６ ７ ６ LT3
6
Nov. 15
７ ９，１０ ９
7

８ ７
8

９ LT4
9
Dec. 6
１０ １１，１２，１ ５
10
３

＊”Hatsuon” is for you to practice listening and pronouncing syllables and words in Japanese.
Please access Moodle to do this task.
Sound files and textbooks of all other listening tasks are placed in Practice Laboratory of the SMLC(CPD-512).
Please see procedure for doing the listening tasks on the next page.

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Instructions for completing Listening Tasks

I Three Sources of the Listening Tasks

A 「聴解タスク２５」(folder name “task 25” )

This is the listening exercise for Minna no Nihongo. Listen to the example first to hear the model answers. Use pictures or
diagrams to answer questions.

B 「わくわく文法リスニング」(folder name “wakuwaku” )

As the aim of the tasks is to practice listening to short sentences using the patterns learned in grammar class, it is advisable that you
do these exercises immediately after you have been introduced to a new sentence pattern/patterns.

C 「毎日の聞き取り 50 日／毎日聽力日本語 50 日課程初級 I」 (folder name “mainichi” )

As the exercises include the 1) basic drills to enhance your comprehension of the sentence patterns 2) actual Japanese conversation
in daily life 3) dictation, it is advisable that you do these exercises after you have had a good grasp of the sentence patterns learned
in grammar class.

II Where and How to do the tasks

A Where? - Practice Laboratory of the SMLC at CPD-512.
B How?
1) Take the textbook for questions of the task you would like to listen to from bookshelf.
2) Look for the computer folder you would like to listen to, and click the appropriate icon.
Click AOD-VOD system → Login → Language → Japanese → 1088 and 1099 → sources（Task 25/Wakuwaku/mainichi）→
chapter
3) After doing the task, self-check your answers against the model answers. It is advisable that you listen to the task again when you
got answers wrong.
4) Submit the corrected paper to your teacher on or before the deadline*.
*See Listening Task Schedule.
III The Question Sheets of the tasks
There will be five textbooks each for “task 25”, “mainichi”, and “wakuwaku” placed at the bookshelf of the Practice Laboratory.
Bring in your own A4 size paper to write answers. Do not write anything on the textbooks or on the question sheets provided in
the Practice Lab. Take only one book at a time and return it to the bookshelf immediately after use.

＊When working in Room 512, DO NOT take more than ONE book with you at a time as these books are shared by all students
who are taking JAPN1088, 1188 and 2088. Please be considerate.

IV Assessment of the Tasks

As the tasks are meant to improve your listening skills, they will not be marked according to the accuracy of the answers. To ensure
however that you do the tasks, we shall record only the submission of the tasks. The tasks will be marked as follows:
1) Completion of all tasks on time with answers corrected 5 points
2) Completion of all tasks on time without answers corrected 2 points
3) Complete but late submission / Partial submission of the tasks 2 points
4) Non-submission of tasks after two weeks passed deadline 0 points

If you have any questions about Listening Task, please ask your skill class teacher.

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