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LS1480 Japanese Studies and the Basics of Japanese for Engineers 7.5 credits

Note: LS1480 will be replaced by LS1481, starting from August 2021

Welcome to LS1480, a course in Japanese cultur and basic Japanese for engineers.

During the course, we will learn Japan's history, religions, politics and various cultural phenomena as well as basic knowledge of the Japanese language.

 

Course offerings are missing for current or upcoming semesters.
Headings with content from the Course syllabus LS1480 (Autumn 2019–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents

Japanese Studies
This part of the course gives a general picture of how modern Japan has developed through the interplay between domestic traditions and modern institutions. Present-day Japan is considered from economical, political, cultural, technical and conceptual points of view.

Language
Linguistic structure: Overview of pronunciation. Basic and frequent sentence patterns and a selection of relevant expressions
Writing: Overview of the kana
Orientation about the development of kanji and the most important principles of its structure and usage. Active learning of 50 kanji characters
Language in use: Orientation about historical aspects and social conventions of Japanese (structure of the present-day vocabulary, and aspects such as politeness, gender, silence, body language, etc.)

Intended learning outcomes

The intended learning outcomes for the linguistic part of the course refer mainly to the level A1 according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and aim to strengthen the student's global competence.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

Japanese Studies
• account for important facts about Japan and search for information concerning Japan's history, society, geography, culture, language and technical development (in Swedish)
• find and present facts about relevant Japanese phenomena

Language
• be familiar with the structure of Japanese written language and completely master the hiragana and identify the katakana
• be familiar with the particular nature of Japanese as regards grammar and social usage.
• present him/herself and others in very elementary Japanese.
• translate very simple sentences from Japanese into Swedish and vice versa
• master the most common greeting phrases and participate in very simple everyday conversations using a fixed sentence structure

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

Basic university qualification. Applicant to the course should not have any prior knowledge of Japanese.

Recommended prerequisites

No information inserted

Equipment

No information inserted

Literature

Course literature will be announced before the start of the course.

Recommended reference literature and electronic resources will be listed in the course information or in a similar way.

Examination and completion

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Grading scale

P, F

Examination

  • KONA - Assessment, 1.5 credits, grading scale: P, F
  • LEXA - Continuous Assessment, 6.0 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

The examiner determines, in consultation with the KTH coordinator for support to students with disabilities (Funka), possible customized examination for students with any documented and permanent functional disability. The examiner may offer a different type of exam for re-examination of individual students.

Other requirements for final grade

All examination parts passed
75% attendance

Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination

No information inserted

Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

No information inserted

Examiner

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

Course room in Canvas

Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.

Offered by

Main field of study

This course does not belong to any Main field of study.

Education cycle

First cycle

Add-on studies

No information inserted