Course Outline

JPN110 Introductory Japanese 1

Course Coordinator:Levi Durbidge (ldurbidge@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2026Trimester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Are you keen to explore Japanese culture and media or engage with Japanese speakers? Our course will give you the fundamentals of Japanese language, even if you have no prior knowledge. You'll gain practical experience in everyday interactions, from real-life conversations to social media posts. Plus, you'll expand your understanding of Japanese society and culture. We also explore the tools available to tailor Japanese language learning to your interests and needs. This is a great chance to open doors to international experiences and contribute to promoting inclusive societies (SDG 16).

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online learning material to be engaged with before workshops 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Scheduled face to face workshops. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 2 – Scheduled face to face workshops. 1hr Week 1 12 times
Online
Learning materials – Online learning material to be engaged with before workshops 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Synchronous online workshops (Recorded). 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 2 – Synchronous online workshops (Recorded). 1hr Week 1 12 times

Course Topics

  • Japanese writing systems (hiragana/katakana/kanji)
  • Basic Japanese communication strategies
  • Introduction to Japanese communication online
  • Identity in Japanese
  • Understanding Japanese homes and workplaces
  • Daily life in Japanese
  • Ordering food and drink
  • Talking about hobbies
  • Building connections in Japanese

What level is this course?

100 Level (Introductory)

Engaging with discipline knowledge and skills at foundational level, broad application of knowledge and skills in familiar contexts and with support. Limited or no prerequisites. Normally, associated with the first full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Exercise a basic ability to comprehend and interact in everyday Japanese language contexts Knowledgeable
Empowered
2 Demonstrate a developing understanding of the connections between Japanese language, culture and society Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
3 Begin applying autonomous learning strategies to develop language abilities independently. Knowledgeable
Empowered
Engaged

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Formative feedback will be available through weekly quizzes.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece Individual or Group 40%
Various. See Canvas for details.
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) Online Submission
All 2 Case Study Individual 25%
3 x 200 word Blog posts +
3 min video +
Comment on others' videos
Refer to Format Online Submission
All 3 Oral Individual and Group 35%
10 minute interaction
Week 12 To be Negotiated
All - Assessment Task 1:Mastery Tasks
Goal:
These tasks are designed to apply the language skills you are developing, demonstrate your abilities and receive ongoing feedback on your performance. Using a variety of media, language registers and your own creativity, you will complete a series of tasks either individually or in groups throughout the trimester.
Product: Artefact - Creative, and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Online in weeks 3,6,9 & 12. Feedback given during interceding weeks.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Ability to comprehend instructions and produce appropriate responses
1
2
Use Japanese across a variety of modalities and contexts
1
3
Demonstrate developing Japanese linguistic and cultural knowledge
2
Generic Skills:
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Language Resource Study
Goal:
The number and variety of resources available to help you learn language is growing. In this task, you will select a resource (this could be an app, website, manga, YouTube channel, ect.) and document yourself using it to learn language. You will then reflect on your experiences and language development using the resource.
Product: Case Study
Authorship Statement:
Format:
You will document your experiences using the resource in a series of blog posts during weeks 2,3 & 4.

You will then create and post a short video in week 5 reflecting on your overall experiences using the resource and how you think it helped or didn't help you to learn Japanese.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Ability to constructively reflect on the use of language learning materials beyond the classroom
3
2
Identify and select appropriate resources to support language learning
3
3
Demonstrate an ability to consistently engage with language learning beyond the classroom environment.
3
Generic Skills:
Communication, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Interaction assessment
Goal:
This task will involve interacting in pairs to achieve a specific communicative goal. You will need to draw on the language and abilities your have developed throughout this course in your interactions.
Product: Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Interaction to be completed in pairs with an instructor present.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Ability to produce and comprehend spoken language and employ repair strategies when comprehension is not achieved
1 2
2
Work collaboratively with partner to make meaning and achieve desired communicative outcome
1 2
3
Appropriate use of language functions covered in the course to produce comprehensible output.
1 2
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required The Japan Foundation 2020 Irodori Starter 1 https://www.irodori.jpf.go.jp/en/elementary01/pdf.html

Specific requirements

Nil

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct.

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: