JAP11 Japanese (A2)

• Topics

  China and Japan are among the world's leading economies, yet many economic studies offer only a limited focus on East Asia. There is a growing need for professionals with insider knowledge of this region— something this course aims to provide. JAP11 Japanese (A2) focuses on developing an understanding of Japanese business culture and communication while equipping students to use Japanese effectively in both social and professional contexts.

• Learning outcome

  Upon successful completion of the course, the student will have attained the following:

  Knowledge

  • Has knowledge about Japanese business culture and communication.

  Skills

  • Can read and write hiragana, katakana and approx. 180 kanji.
  • Can participate in social exchanges on daily topics (work life, family, the local environment, student life, etc.) and communicate in situations related to business travel in Japan.
  • Can produce simple, coherent texts on everyday topics.
  • Can recognise various levels of politeness, from informal to highly formal (keigo).
  • Can write Japanese digitally.

  General competence

  • Is able to reflect on how language and culture influence business communication.
  • Shows understanding and respect for other ways of thinking and acting in professional contexts.

• Teaching

  The course is organised as interactive group teaching, combining lectures, group work, writing, and reviewing assignments. The course requires a high level of active participation throughout.

• Recommended prerequisites

  Those who choose this course should have some prior knowledge of Japanese at the A1 (CEFR) level. If in doubt, contact the course coordinator. If you have already completed JAP10, you are qualified for this course.

• Compulsory Activity

  Submission of six chapters in the workbook for Genki I. A previously approved workbook remains valid.

  A PowerPoint presentation in Norwegian for the class based on an interview with someone from the Japanese-Norwegian business sector and literature on Japanese business culture. The interview/presentation is done in groups of 2 students.

• Assessment

  2-hour digital school exam (50%). 

  Individual oral exam, lasting 15 minutes: A conversation in Japanese on everyday topics and questions related to an unseen text (50%).

  The written and oral exams receive separate grades. Both parts must be passed in the same semester, and both must be retaken if a resit is required.

• Grading Scale

  Scale A-F

• Literature

  Banno et al. (2020). Genki I (3. utgave). An Intergrated Course in Elementary Japanese. The Japan Times.

  Banno et al. (2020). Genki I (3. utgave). An Intergrated Course in Elementary Japanese. Workbook. The Japan Times.

  Rygg, Kristin. (n/d). Japansk forretningskommunikasjon/Japanese Business Communication. Teaching Material.

  Rygg, Kristin (n/d). Erfaringer i japansk-norsk samhandel. Undervisningsmateriale.

  Rygg, K. (2024). Can working for a foreign-affiliated company in Japan be considered "experiencing Japan"? SIETAR Japan’s Journal of Intercultural Communication 27, 41-56.

  Self-selected online literature on Japanese business culture and communication.

• Permitted Support Material

  Access to the digital dictionary jisho.org.

• Retake

  Retake in JAP11 will not be offered during the non-teaching semester (spring). Only mandatory bachelor courses with an individual written school exam or a home exam lasting up to one day will have a retake assessment in the non-teaching semester.

  For detailed information regarding the retake policy, please visit our website: https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/examinations/retake-of-exams (copy URL).