Japanese Iii and Mediation
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
This course aims to complete the student's training in basic written and spoken Japanese. It is reserved for students who have already studied Japanese for no less than 240-260 hours and have a good command of Italian. Notably, the goal of the course is for students to:
- learn approximately 150 new ideographic characters (kanji), for a comprehensive knowledge of 500 characters (for reading and writing);
- have a good grasp of the fundamental vocabulary, i.e. the complete vocabulary included in Units 1-50 of the textbook Minna no Nihongo I-II Honsatsu (2nd edition), just for reading purposes;
- master grammar in all its branches (morphology, syntax and the main periphrastic constructions);
- be able to use the honorific language KEIGO.
Communication skills for everyday life will result in the ability to read non-specialised texts and to correctly write by hand the words studied.
Students will learn to analyse and translate non-specialised texts at an intermediate-advanced level with regard to syntax, and understand the overall communicative content as well as its different nuances. In terms of communication skills for everyday life, with regard to written and oral production, students will be able to: automatically use the acquired structures, as well as verbal and periphrastic forms, in a correct way; choose the best morphosyntactic structures according to the different communicative situations, also considering the honorific language; express complex thoughts in terms of grammatical tense and aspect. With regard to listening skills, students will be able to understand oral speech regardless of the speaker's speed and within the limits of the grammar learnt at a theoretical level, particularly in situations that require the use of KEIGO.
- learn approximately 150 new ideographic characters (kanji), for a comprehensive knowledge of 500 characters (for reading and writing);
- have a good grasp of the fundamental vocabulary, i.e. the complete vocabulary included in Units 1-50 of the textbook Minna no Nihongo I-II Honsatsu (2nd edition), just for reading purposes;
- master grammar in all its branches (morphology, syntax and the main periphrastic constructions);
- be able to use the honorific language KEIGO.
Communication skills for everyday life will result in the ability to read non-specialised texts and to correctly write by hand the words studied.
Students will learn to analyse and translate non-specialised texts at an intermediate-advanced level with regard to syntax, and understand the overall communicative content as well as its different nuances. In terms of communication skills for everyday life, with regard to written and oral production, students will be able to: automatically use the acquired structures, as well as verbal and periphrastic forms, in a correct way; choose the best morphosyntactic structures according to the different communicative situations, also considering the honorific language; express complex thoughts in terms of grammatical tense and aspect. With regard to listening skills, students will be able to understand oral speech regardless of the speaker's speed and within the limits of the grammar learnt at a theoretical level, particularly in situations that require the use of KEIGO.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will become familiar with the lexical and morphological elements of the main Japanese expressions at a basic level, as well as with the general principles of their construction. They will learn to identify, understand and use the most appropriate sentence structures and expressions in communicative situations of medium complexity. The proficiency level to be reached is slightly above N4 of the JLPT scale (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) and corresponds approximately to B1-B2 under the CEFR.
Lesson period: year
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
The program corresponds to the grammar topics, lexicon and kanji contained in Units 36-50 of the textbook 'Minna no nihongo Honsatsu (2nd ed.) Volume II' and in the topics addressed by Units 1-5 of the follow-up textbook 'Nyuu apuroochi - New Approach I'. In general, it consists in the following topics. Final clauses using conjunctions NONI, YOONI, and TAMENI; causal clauses expressed with -TE, NODE and KARA; concessive clauses in NONI; temporal clauses expressed with TOKORO and BAKARI; clauses expressing doubt; expressions of personal judgment; morphology and syntax of the passive, causative and causative-passive; levels of formality; 'give/receive' verbs and constructions, and complement clauses in -TE; the honorific language KEIGO; the reading and writing of approximately 160 new ideographs (kanji) for a total kanji knowledge of about 530 characters; the reading and meaning of all the vocabulary contained in the whole main texbook Minna no Nihongo I & II. During the module on 'Basic translation and written comprehension', students will learn how to analyze texts of medium complexity and how to render those structures in translation.
Prerequisites for admission
This course requires a minimum of 240-260 hours of previous Japanese education, the knowledge of hiragana, katakana and of least 350 ideographic characters (kanji). A knowledge of the basic notions of linguistics is also required. Moreover, students must be proficient in Italian in order to understand the content of lectures and exam instructions.
Teaching methods
The modules forming the official course will be entirely taught in Italian, following a 'traditional' method: the lecturer will explain in Italian the grammar rules treated in the textbook units by means of notions of linguistics, and writing on the blackboard. No computer material will be projected. Homework assignment and periodical kanji tests play an important role in the writing/kanji part of the course. In the module on 'Basic translation and written comprehension', classes will consist in the reading and analysis of texts by the lecturer, followed by homework assignment. Language practice ('Esercitazioni') will be held in Japanese in an interactive way. The teacher will ask individual questions to students, and all students will be actively involved.
Teaching Resources
· Required textbooks
(Main textbook, Units 36-50): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū II honsatsu. Dainihan. Honsatsu (2nd ed.). (Tōkyō: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196463).
(Textbook on the causative) Simone dalla Chiesa, Il causativo giapponese. (Milano: Lumi Edizioni Universitarie, 2021, pp. 35. ISBN 978-886785-068-6). This is a required text.
(Follow-up textbook, Units 1-5, requirement to be confirmed during the second semester): Oyanagi Noboru, Nyū apurōchi, Chūkyū nihongo (kisohen). Kaiteiban (New Approach. Japanese Intermediate Course). (Tōkyō, Nihongo kenkyūsha, 2002. ISBN 9784931315150).
(Kanji textbook): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū II. Dainihan. Kanji eigoban. Minna no Nihongo. Elementary II. Second Edition. Kanji - English Edition. (Tokyo: 3A Network. 9784883197446).
Other material, build by each individual lecturer and teacher, if any, will be available from the Lumi bookstore or downloadable from the Ariel site of the course.
· The materials to be translated will be made available at the beginning of the relevant lectures.
· Recommended additional materials
(Grammar rules): Minna Minna no nihongo. Giapponese elementare II. Traduzione e note grammaticali - Italiano. (Tokyo: Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196975. Also available in English and many other languages, under different ISBN codes).
(Grammar practice): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū II. Dainihan. Hyōjun mondaishū. Minna no Nihongo. Elementary II. Second Edition. Basic Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196630).
(Grammar practice): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū II. Dainihan. Kaite oboeru bunkei renshūchō. Minna no Nihongo Elementary II Second Edition Sentence Pattern Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196708).
The following books are reference grammars or can be used as such. They do not make use of the notions, technical terms and linguistic approach followed in the course, but may nevertheless be helpful. They are not in alternative to each other; one can buy them all.
Kubota, Yoko. Grammatica di giapponese moderno. (Venezia: Cafoscarina, 1989. ISBN 9788885613263). This text follows the Japanese school grammar, and is quite 'scientific' from that point of view.
Mastrangelo, Matilde; Ozawa, Naoko; Saito, Mariko. Grammatica giapponese. Seconda Edizione. (Milano: Hoepli, 2016. ISBN 9788820367275). This thorough text explains Japanese with the use of several categories of Italian school grammar.
Oue, Junichi; Manieri, Antonio. Grammatica d'uso della lingua giapponese. Teoria ed esercizi. Livelli N5-N3 del Japanese Language Proficiency Test. (Milano: Hoepli, 2019. ISBN 9788820375546). This text is quite sophisticated from the point of view linguistics, but still uses several notions of Italian school grammar.
(Main textbook, Units 36-50): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū II honsatsu. Dainihan. Honsatsu (2nd ed.). (Tōkyō: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196463).
(Textbook on the causative) Simone dalla Chiesa, Il causativo giapponese. (Milano: Lumi Edizioni Universitarie, 2021, pp. 35. ISBN 978-886785-068-6). This is a required text.
(Follow-up textbook, Units 1-5, requirement to be confirmed during the second semester): Oyanagi Noboru, Nyū apurōchi, Chūkyū nihongo (kisohen). Kaiteiban (New Approach. Japanese Intermediate Course). (Tōkyō, Nihongo kenkyūsha, 2002. ISBN 9784931315150).
(Kanji textbook): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū II. Dainihan. Kanji eigoban. Minna no Nihongo. Elementary II. Second Edition. Kanji - English Edition. (Tokyo: 3A Network. 9784883197446).
Other material, build by each individual lecturer and teacher, if any, will be available from the Lumi bookstore or downloadable from the Ariel site of the course.
· The materials to be translated will be made available at the beginning of the relevant lectures.
· Recommended additional materials
(Grammar rules): Minna Minna no nihongo. Giapponese elementare II. Traduzione e note grammaticali - Italiano. (Tokyo: Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196975. Also available in English and many other languages, under different ISBN codes).
(Grammar practice): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū II. Dainihan. Hyōjun mondaishū. Minna no Nihongo. Elementary II. Second Edition. Basic Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196630).
(Grammar practice): Minna no nihongo. Shokyū II. Dainihan. Kaite oboeru bunkei renshūchō. Minna no Nihongo Elementary II Second Edition Sentence Pattern Workbook. (Tokyo: 3A Network. ISBN 9784883196708).
The following books are reference grammars or can be used as such. They do not make use of the notions, technical terms and linguistic approach followed in the course, but may nevertheless be helpful. They are not in alternative to each other; one can buy them all.
Kubota, Yoko. Grammatica di giapponese moderno. (Venezia: Cafoscarina, 1989. ISBN 9788885613263). This text follows the Japanese school grammar, and is quite 'scientific' from that point of view.
Mastrangelo, Matilde; Ozawa, Naoko; Saito, Mariko. Grammatica giapponese. Seconda Edizione. (Milano: Hoepli, 2016. ISBN 9788820367275). This thorough text explains Japanese with the use of several categories of Italian school grammar.
Oue, Junichi; Manieri, Antonio. Grammatica d'uso della lingua giapponese. Teoria ed esercizi. Livelli N5-N3 del Japanese Language Proficiency Test. (Milano: Hoepli, 2019. ISBN 9788820375546). This text is quite sophisticated from the point of view linguistics, but still uses several notions of Italian school grammar.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will only take place at the end of the two-semester official course. It tests the knowledge build during the three modules of the official course and the skills developed during language practice classes. It is not possible to take a partial exam at the end of each module. There are no interim tests either. The exam consists in a written and in an oral part (thereafter also 'written exam' and 'oral exam'). There is no requirement for sitting the written part of the exam.
In order to sit the oral part of the exam, however, a student needs to have passed the written exam, with a minimum mark of 18/30 (see below on how this mark is obtained) or, alternatively, the early optional test with a score of 70%.
The written part of the exam is itself made of several separate sections, which aim to verify the knowledge of grammar and writing and the capability of actually applying such knowledge to the comprehension of a written text. The oral part of the exam consists in one section only and its aim is to verify a student's skill in using their knowledge in a face-to-face, direct interaction with a Japanese interlocutor, in both speaking and listening.
EARLY TEST (optional)
During the final week of the Second term, a final, optional test will be held. To take it and to pass it is not required in order to sit the written exam. However, those students who will pass the test by scoring an aggregate minimum of 70% in first two parts (kanji, grammar) and an average of 18/30 in the whole test will be exempted from sitting the written exam.
Any student enrolled in the K21 program who has not yet passed the exam of Lingua giapponese 3 may take the early test. However, registration is mandatory.
The test (sections 1 to 4) will be held online in the computer rooms of the Sesto Campus. It cannot be taken from home. It is made of the following sections:
(1) Kanji (22 questions, multiple choice).
(2) Grammar (30 questions, multiple choice).
(3) Short essay (minimum length required).
(4) Translation. Time and place to be decided.
The pass score and the exemption from sitting the written exam are valid for one academic year.
WRITTEN EXAM
Registration is mandatory.
The written part of the exam is made of several separate sections. Each will take place in a single sitting, one after the other. A certain, specified time is allotted to each section. At the end of the allotted time, the exam sheets will be collected (regardless to their completion) and the exam will proceed to the next test. The whole written exam will last approximately three hours.
The written part of the exam consists in the following four sections.
- Kanji section (writing and reading). This section aims to ascertain students' lexical knowledge, as formed by vocabulary knowledge, character writing and character recognition and reading. Students will be asked to write the ideographic character (kanji) corresponding to several words written in hiragana, and to transcribe into kana words written in kanji. This section is to be completed in an allotted time. The mark is awarded in thirties. The mark thus obtained will be used to calculate the mean mark of the first three sections, then the mean mark of the whole written exam. During the kanji section the use of dictionaries is not allowed.
- Grammar section. This section aims to ascertain students' knowledge of the whole morphology and syntax of Japanese language, and their capability of recognizing the grammatical structures and idiomatic expressions treated during the course. Students will be asked to fill the blanks in a number of sentences; to conjugate or complete a given verb to form correct sentences; to complete sentences by choosing between two given forms; to compose sentences using given sets of words; and to convert non-honorific, plain-style sentences into honorific sentences. This section is also to be completed in an allotted time. The mark is awarded in thirties. The mark thus obtained will be used to calculate the mean mark of the first three sections, then the mean mark of the whole written exam. During the grammar section the use of dictionaries is not allowed.
IMPORTANT. Barrier sections. The three previous sections are treated as a barrier. Their marks will be averaged and those students who have not obtained a mean mark of at least 18/30 (no rounding up!) will be considered to have failed the written exam. The following sections will only be graded to those students who have passed the barrier.
· Short essay (tema or sakubun), minimum length required. The short essay aims to ascertain whether a student has learned, controls, and is consequently able to use correctly, appropriately and with ease all the grammatical structures and lexicon treated during the official course and practice classes. The mark is awarded in thirties, on the basis of the richness of the grammar patterns and of the lexicon used, and on the basis of the length of the output text. The essay section is to be completed in an allotted time. Paper dictionaries are allowed. The mark thus obtained will be one of the values used to calculate the mean mark of the written exam.
· Translation section. Students will be asked to translate several Japanese short texts into Italian or English. The translation will have to show an excellent comprehension of the sense and of the grammatical and logical structure of the source texts, and its fair rendition into the target language. Paper dictionaries are allowed. The translation section is to be completed in an allotted time. The mark is awarded in thirties. The mark thus obtained will be used to calculate the mean mark of the first three sections, then the mean mark of the whole written exam. The translation test will occur either during class hours or during the regular written exam (to be decided).
· Average mark of the written exam
The marks of the four sections above will be used equally to calculate the mean mark of the written exam. This mark is also awarded in thirties. It will be rounded to the closest entire number (for example: 23.49/30 is rounded down to 23/30, whereas 23.50/30 is rounded up to 24/30).
The final mark of the written exam will be send to the students' @studenti.unimi.it email address.
It is considered valid for one year. This means that during that year there will be no need to re-take a passed written exam. The subsequent oral exam can be taken at any point during the year of validity.
ORAL EXAM
A separate, specific registration to the oral exam is required.
Only students who will have successfully passed the final test or the written exam with a minimum score of 18/30 may sit the oral part of the exam and receive a final mark. The oral exam consists in two tests only, whose aim is to verify a student's capability of understanding basic grammar and simple idioms in listening, of using them correctly in speaking. and their fluency in loud-voice reading. The contents of the tests are the following.
· Dialoguing in Japanese with a teacher. Students will have to make a short oral presentation on one of the topics discussed in the classroom during classes; and answer several questions concerning their daily life, their study activities, Japanese culture, and the contents of the textbook. Listening and speaking skills will both be evaluated. This part of the oral exam is graded in thirties.
· Reading out one of the comprehension boxes contained in the textbook, Units 36-50, no furigana on kanji. The evaluation of this test will only be used to adjust the mark already obtained in the first test.
· Final mark and mark recording
At the end of a passed oral exam, the final mark of 'Lingua giapponese II' will be awarded. It consists in the mean average of the two marks obtained in the written and oral exams. It is expressed in thirties. The score will be rounded to the closest entire number (for example: 23.49/30 is rounded down to 23/30, whereas 23.5/30 is rounded up to 24/30). The professor in charge of the course will calculate and digitally upload the mark. Students can reject this mark online, after receiving the email that notifies it.
ATTENDANCE
Full attendance of all classes (60-hour main course, compulsory practice classes) is highly recommended. Students who cannot attend will have to spend more hours studying at home. In this case, it is highly recommended that student use all the support material specified below, not only the main textbooks and compulsory material. In any case, students are discouraged to substitute the prescribed textbooks and supporting material with other material available in bookstores.
In order to sit the oral part of the exam, however, a student needs to have passed the written exam, with a minimum mark of 18/30 (see below on how this mark is obtained) or, alternatively, the early optional test with a score of 70%.
The written part of the exam is itself made of several separate sections, which aim to verify the knowledge of grammar and writing and the capability of actually applying such knowledge to the comprehension of a written text. The oral part of the exam consists in one section only and its aim is to verify a student's skill in using their knowledge in a face-to-face, direct interaction with a Japanese interlocutor, in both speaking and listening.
EARLY TEST (optional)
During the final week of the Second term, a final, optional test will be held. To take it and to pass it is not required in order to sit the written exam. However, those students who will pass the test by scoring an aggregate minimum of 70% in first two parts (kanji, grammar) and an average of 18/30 in the whole test will be exempted from sitting the written exam.
Any student enrolled in the K21 program who has not yet passed the exam of Lingua giapponese 3 may take the early test. However, registration is mandatory.
The test (sections 1 to 4) will be held online in the computer rooms of the Sesto Campus. It cannot be taken from home. It is made of the following sections:
(1) Kanji (22 questions, multiple choice).
(2) Grammar (30 questions, multiple choice).
(3) Short essay (minimum length required).
(4) Translation. Time and place to be decided.
The pass score and the exemption from sitting the written exam are valid for one academic year.
WRITTEN EXAM
Registration is mandatory.
The written part of the exam is made of several separate sections. Each will take place in a single sitting, one after the other. A certain, specified time is allotted to each section. At the end of the allotted time, the exam sheets will be collected (regardless to their completion) and the exam will proceed to the next test. The whole written exam will last approximately three hours.
The written part of the exam consists in the following four sections.
- Kanji section (writing and reading). This section aims to ascertain students' lexical knowledge, as formed by vocabulary knowledge, character writing and character recognition and reading. Students will be asked to write the ideographic character (kanji) corresponding to several words written in hiragana, and to transcribe into kana words written in kanji. This section is to be completed in an allotted time. The mark is awarded in thirties. The mark thus obtained will be used to calculate the mean mark of the first three sections, then the mean mark of the whole written exam. During the kanji section the use of dictionaries is not allowed.
- Grammar section. This section aims to ascertain students' knowledge of the whole morphology and syntax of Japanese language, and their capability of recognizing the grammatical structures and idiomatic expressions treated during the course. Students will be asked to fill the blanks in a number of sentences; to conjugate or complete a given verb to form correct sentences; to complete sentences by choosing between two given forms; to compose sentences using given sets of words; and to convert non-honorific, plain-style sentences into honorific sentences. This section is also to be completed in an allotted time. The mark is awarded in thirties. The mark thus obtained will be used to calculate the mean mark of the first three sections, then the mean mark of the whole written exam. During the grammar section the use of dictionaries is not allowed.
IMPORTANT. Barrier sections. The three previous sections are treated as a barrier. Their marks will be averaged and those students who have not obtained a mean mark of at least 18/30 (no rounding up!) will be considered to have failed the written exam. The following sections will only be graded to those students who have passed the barrier.
· Short essay (tema or sakubun), minimum length required. The short essay aims to ascertain whether a student has learned, controls, and is consequently able to use correctly, appropriately and with ease all the grammatical structures and lexicon treated during the official course and practice classes. The mark is awarded in thirties, on the basis of the richness of the grammar patterns and of the lexicon used, and on the basis of the length of the output text. The essay section is to be completed in an allotted time. Paper dictionaries are allowed. The mark thus obtained will be one of the values used to calculate the mean mark of the written exam.
· Translation section. Students will be asked to translate several Japanese short texts into Italian or English. The translation will have to show an excellent comprehension of the sense and of the grammatical and logical structure of the source texts, and its fair rendition into the target language. Paper dictionaries are allowed. The translation section is to be completed in an allotted time. The mark is awarded in thirties. The mark thus obtained will be used to calculate the mean mark of the first three sections, then the mean mark of the whole written exam. The translation test will occur either during class hours or during the regular written exam (to be decided).
· Average mark of the written exam
The marks of the four sections above will be used equally to calculate the mean mark of the written exam. This mark is also awarded in thirties. It will be rounded to the closest entire number (for example: 23.49/30 is rounded down to 23/30, whereas 23.50/30 is rounded up to 24/30).
The final mark of the written exam will be send to the students' @studenti.unimi.it email address.
It is considered valid for one year. This means that during that year there will be no need to re-take a passed written exam. The subsequent oral exam can be taken at any point during the year of validity.
ORAL EXAM
A separate, specific registration to the oral exam is required.
Only students who will have successfully passed the final test or the written exam with a minimum score of 18/30 may sit the oral part of the exam and receive a final mark. The oral exam consists in two tests only, whose aim is to verify a student's capability of understanding basic grammar and simple idioms in listening, of using them correctly in speaking. and their fluency in loud-voice reading. The contents of the tests are the following.
· Dialoguing in Japanese with a teacher. Students will have to make a short oral presentation on one of the topics discussed in the classroom during classes; and answer several questions concerning their daily life, their study activities, Japanese culture, and the contents of the textbook. Listening and speaking skills will both be evaluated. This part of the oral exam is graded in thirties.
· Reading out one of the comprehension boxes contained in the textbook, Units 36-50, no furigana on kanji. The evaluation of this test will only be used to adjust the mark already obtained in the first test.
· Final mark and mark recording
At the end of a passed oral exam, the final mark of 'Lingua giapponese II' will be awarded. It consists in the mean average of the two marks obtained in the written and oral exams. It is expressed in thirties. The score will be rounded to the closest entire number (for example: 23.49/30 is rounded down to 23/30, whereas 23.5/30 is rounded up to 24/30). The professor in charge of the course will calculate and digitally upload the mark. Students can reject this mark online, after receiving the email that notifies it.
ATTENDANCE
Full attendance of all classes (60-hour main course, compulsory practice classes) is highly recommended. Students who cannot attend will have to spend more hours studying at home. In this case, it is highly recommended that student use all the support material specified below, not only the main textbooks and compulsory material. In any case, students are discouraged to substitute the prescribed textbooks and supporting material with other material available in bookstores.
L-OR/22 - JAPANESE AND KOREAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 12
Lessons: 80 hours
Professor:
Dalla Chiesa Simone
Professor(s)
Reception:
Office hours from May 19th: any work day, booking required.
Sesto Campus, Room 5008. If online, use Teams or the link below.