CTL3908 Learning Japanese Language and Society through the Media

Part I

Course Duration: One Semester
No. of Credit Units: 3
Level: B3
Medium of Instruction:  English/Japanese
Medium of Assessment: English/Japanese
Prerequisites: Nil
Precursors: Nil                                            
Equivalent Courses: Nil                   
Exclusive Courses: Nil

Part II

Course Aims:
The course is designed for students who have taken elementary Japanese courses. The course aims to enhance students’ understanding on the cultural flows from Japan to Asian countries and between Asian countries based on cultural theories. More specifically, the course will enhance students’ language ability and analytical skills through the introduction of various aspects of Japanese society and Japanese pop cultures as presented in the media.

Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

No.

CILOs

Weighting
(if applicable)

1.

Describe and critically discuss cultural phenomena reflected in the mass media.

20%

2.

Describe the impact of Japanese popular culture on Hong Kong society and other Asian countries.

20%

3.

Apply the key concepts and perspectives in media and cultural studies of popular culture.

40%

4.

Apply the vocabulary and expressions (Japanese) learnt from the mass media in their daily life.

20%


Teaching and learning Activities (TLAs)
(Indicative of likely activities and tasks designed to facilitate students’ achievement of the CILOs. Final details will be provided to students in their first week of attendance in this course)

All classes take a mixed Lecture and Tutorial format, involving a mixture of teacher-facilitated explanation and discussion, student exercises of different kinds, presentations, and debates. A detailed breakdown is given as follows:

ILO No

TLAs

Hours/week
(if applicable)

1-2

Lecture: will introduce the Cultural Studies. Students will learn how to critically reflect on the nature and impact of media that contribute to their understanding of cultural flows from Japan to other Asian countries, and within Asia.

1

3

Tutorial: Group discussion, presentations and debates will involve students in active learning through interaction and reflection.

1

4

Tutorial: Small-group analysis and evaluation of the texts from the media, as a means to sensitise students to features of specific Japanese text-types while enhancing their understanding of Japan society through the language.

1

Assessment Tasks/Activities
(Indicative of likely activities and tasks designed to assess how well the students achieve the CILOs. Final details will be provided to students in their first week of attendance in this course) 

   Final details will be provided to students in their first week of attendance in this course.

CILO No

Type of assessment tasks/activities

Weighting
(if applicable)

Remarks

1-4

  • Two individual papers are given to assess students’ knowledge and ability in understanding the theories and concepts of cultural studies.
50% 
3
  • Group presentations are given to assess students’ understanding on the contemporary developments of cultural phenomena, and the influences of Japanese cultures on the society of Hong Kong.
30% 
3-4
  • In-class discussion and debates are given to evaluate students’ comprehensive ability and analytical skill in regard to the influences of Japanese popular culture on Hong Kong society, and other Asian countries;
  • Students will be asked to do small group analysis and evaluation of the texts from the media, as a means to sensitise students to features of specific Japanese text-types.
20% 

Grading of Student Achievement: Refer to Grading of Courses in the Academic Regulations.
Grading pattern: Standard (A+, A, A-...F). 
Grading is based on student  performance in assessment tasks/activities.  

Part III           

Keyword Syllabus:

Mass media; Japanese popular culture; Japanese popular culture in Hong Kong and other Asian countries; imperialism & colonialism, cultural imperialism; post-colonialism, transnationalism, orientalism; globalization, media globalization; material culture and consumption, cultural proximity, the Internet; pop music, TV programmmes, drama, movies, comics, animations and cartoons, magazines, newspaper.

Related Links
Department of Chinese, Translation and Linguistics