Japanese, TESOL and Linguistics BA (Hons)

Which module you study will depend on your previous experience of studying Japanese.

If you have little or no experience, you will be placed in Accelerated Japanese 1. Working in pairs and groups, you will focus on communicating and expressing yourself in Japanese. This will teach you not only to speak the language but also to understand others in Japanese. You will also begin writing with the Japanese lettering systems: Hiragana, Katakana, and basic Kanji.

If you already have A2 level or above of the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR), you will be placed in Japanese Communication 1. You will develop your abilities to speak in Japanese and understand others. You will write and tell creative narratives about events in the past or future. In both speech and in writing you will describe people and places in detail and express your thoughts and opinions.

On this module you will be introduced to key areas in language and linguistics that you will build on throughout your degree. This includes the basics of phonetics and grammar. You will study:

• Contemporary issues and debates about language use
• The historical development of language and of English
• Academic reading, writing and referencing techniques

This module will introduce you to TESOL as a discipline and a profession. It will help to prepare you for any tutoring you may do in the UK or abroad. You will consider some common misconceptions that have shaped inequalities in language teaching.

This module builds on your knowledge from your previous language module.

If you are placed in Accelerated Japanese 2 you will learn to talk and write about places and people, things you have done in the past and your thoughts and opinions. You will also take weekly kanji practice tests to help you develop your Japanese character writing. These tests do not contribute towards your grades, they are designed to help you develop your skills.

If you are placed in Japanese Communication 2 you will develop your understanding of Japanese by learning to talk and write about desires and plans. You will receive feedback on your writing as you start to read and write more complex sentences.

This module is your introduction to the descriptions of grammatical structures. This means looking at word classes, sentence types, morphology and more. You will study the grammatical variation found within the UK and in other parts of the world. By the end of the module you will have an understanding of the basic terminology and key concepts.

This module is your introduction to the principles of articulatory and practical phonetics. You will learn how to recognise, describe and produce some of the sounds and symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet. This means you will be able to recognise, transcribe and analyse sounds in varieties of English, other languages and children's language.

On this module you will build on the practical Japanese language skills developed in your first year. You will develop these skills through studying different aspects of Japanese society and culture through reading and listening activities. You will learn to express yourself in both spoken and written Japanese, and understand an increasing number of kanji.  Using Content and Language Integrated Learning, you will not only improve your language skills, but also learn about Japanese culture and society.

This module will help you to become an experienced TESOL professional. We will guide you through the theories of how second languages are taught and learned in classrooms. You will also gain extensive experience observing English language lessons.

On this module you will develop advanced skills in reading and analysing texts across different genres and sensory perceptions. You will study different theories and methods of analysis to understand issues of representation and power in contemporary debates. The knowledge you gain in this module will help you to apply these theories more widely in later modules.

This module is your introduction to the core principles of phonology. We will introduce you to aspects of phonetics and phonology that will help you analyse variations in language, like child phonology and languages other than English. Topics you will cover on this module include:

• The concept of the phoneme
• Narrow allophonic transcription
• Phonotactics and syllable structure
• Transcription skills
• Phonological features

On this module you will learn about the key areas of feminist and queer linguistic study. We will cover different theories and approaches to the study of language, gender and sexuality. Gain the knowledge and confidence to develop your own position on these topics, arguing them effectively in your written work. You will also consider how these theories and approaches have been applied to other fields of study, like education, the workplace and in the media.

Apply the linguistic expertise you have gained so far and explore linguistic diversity in schools and classrooms. Drawing on your knowledge of language acquisition, learning, and language diversity, you will explore the concept of language inclusion in schools and how this might work in practice. You will also explore the practice of working with multilingual children who have Special Educational Needs.

This module will give you a deeper understanding of how the English language is spread across the globe. You will study the history of English both in the British Isles and abroad, thinking about the social history of language change, variety and status. You will explore the concept of standard varieties of English and the structural variation in major international varieties of English.

Building on the knowledge you gained studying Japanese Language and Society 1, on this module you will develop your social and cultural exploration of Japan through reading and listening activities of authentic materials. You will also expand you written and verbal language skills through various activities. By continuing to us Content and Language Integrated Learning, you will learn more about Japanese culture and society while building your language skills.

This module will deepen both your theoretical knowledge and practical abilities of intercultural communication. Explore the meaning of culture through studying case studies from around the world. Look at how culture is represented in the media, in textbooks and in the tourist industry and start to understand culture beyond stereotypes. You will also learn how to develop your own communication and intercultural skills.

This module will introduce you to the field of forensic linguistics. You will learn how to analyse language as forensic evidence for different crimes such as rape, terrorism, murder and hate crimes. Applying your knowledge of linguistics, you will also look at how language is used in the justice system, from police interviews to language in the courtroom.

On this module you will learn to apply your linguistic knowledge to literacy acquisition. You will examine how oral language development feeds into reading and writing development. We will teach you how to analyse reading and writing performance at various stages of literacy development. By the end of the module you will understand the reading and writing children engage with at different ages and be able to explain their literacy development.

This module will help you develop an awareness of the psychological elements of language. You will learn about:

• Visual word recognition
• How we learn to read and spell
• Spoken work recognition
• Language production

As part of the module you will develop skills in research design, collecting data and analysing it. You will also gain experience in writing up your findings in a report.

This module will help you develop an awareness of the sociocultural aspects of language. You will investigate the issues that affect how language is used in different areas of everyday life. You will learn about different theories and approaches to sociolinguistic study and look at topics such as social and linguistic variation and social justice.

You will study this module while you are abroad. You will reflect on your year abroad, focusing on how your experiences relate to what you have studied. As part of this module you will complete and reflect on 10 days of work experience, either abroad or when you are back in the UK.

On this module you will focus on developing your Japanese language skills for academic purposes by using Content and Language Integrated Learning. You will use your linguistic research skills to analyse authentic materials such as TV shows, books, manga, video games, advertising, commercials and YouTube videos, conducting a study in an area that interests you. For example, you might focus on Japanese pragmatics and sociolinguistics, such as gendered language, dialects, politeness or honorifics. Whatever topic you choose, you will write up your findings in an essay and present them verbally in Japanese.

On this module you will study how the public views language and consider the social and political issues surrounding these views. Explore Standard English and ideas about correctness and consider public attitudes towards bilingualism and new language. You will also discuss taboo language and how attitudes can change because of technological developments.

On this module you will examine regional varieties of British English. You will learn about lexical, morphological, syntactic, phonetic and phonological levels. By the end of the module you will be able to complete an analytical description and comparison of social and regional accents.

On this module you will study theories about how we learn second languages. Gain an understanding of variations in English as a second language. You will explore grammatical and phonological features including:

• Verbs and clauses
• Word class and order
• Phonotactics
• Syllable structure and stress

On this module we will introduce you to speech and language disorders. Learn about typical speech and language development. You will then think about communication difficulties, developmental disorders and acquired disorders in both children and adults. You will also consider the clinical applications of linguistics and consider how clinical decisions can be made using different assessment types.

This module offers an in depth exploration of the linguistics and culture of East Asia. This will give you an important wider context of the language you are learning. We will explore the structural and sociolinguistic aspects of East Asian language including:

• grammar
• phonology
• writing systems
• politeness
• dialect variation
• power and gender

On this module you will consider some of the practical decisions and dilemmas you may face as an English Language Teaching (ELT) professional. This could include:

• TESOL and LGBTQI+ representation
• Mixed ability and multilingual/monolingual classes
• Teaching English to refugees and asylum seekers (ESOL)
• Teaching English online
• Willingness to communicate in the classroom
• Teaching learners with Special Educational Needs

The themes and ideas we discuss on this module reflect the values of the university, and especially of the York St John University Centre for Language and Social Justice.

Building on the knowledge you gained from Japanese Language Project 1, you will further develop your employability and professional skills in this module. Using Content and Language Integrated Learning, you will not only improve your language skills, but also develop your skills in CV writing and interview techniques. Through this module, you will reflect on your experience and skills you gained through your degree, and prepare yourself for your future after graduation.

Your dissertation is your chance to take responsibility for your learning and conduct a piece of linguistic research on a topic you are passionate about. Your tutors will support you to refine your idea and encourage you to choose a topic that you enjoy and excel in. You will also attend 1 to 1 tutorials which will help you design and conduct your research and write up your findings.