The goal is to obtain the capability to read and understand Japanese written texts. In the fall semester simple texts of the daily life help to understand the basic grammar. In the spring semester, however, the final goal of this course is to enable engineers to read and to understand also research reports and abstracts of Japanese technology, written in Japanese characters.
1) How to look up Japanese terms in seconds By means of a "mnemonic code", which can be derived from the structural form of the Sino-Japanese characters the Japanese words can be found in seconds in a so-called Code-Dictionary or by computer-aid. A Japanese-German Code-Dictionary with 12,000 words and a Japanese-English Code-Dictionary with 80,000 words are available. The latter one is strongly recommended for those, who want to be able to understand Japanese written technical information (operation manuals, guide books, abstracts, etc.) or who are interested to do research work in Japan. Yearly about 22 graduate and postdoctoral students respectively make use of the generous offer of the Japanese Government (see fellowships of the scientific exchange program). 2) How to read and understand Japanese sentences A research work on a computer-aided sentence analyzer of the Japanese language is still in progress. However, the lectures already fully contain the new methods of the translation. This language course imparts the basic knowledge of the Japanese grammar to the students in an easily understandable way, by reading simple texts of the daily life and not too difficult technical abstracts, as well. About 100 pages of selected texts and explanatory sheets will be distributed during the two semester program.
The exercises (UE) for this course take place weekly in form of homeworks.
General rules
Since an immanent part of the culture of a country is connected through and with the language, in the course of our teaching such contents are often explained from time to time. This includes adhering to rules that have great value in social coexistence in Japan. Therefore, the following points are essential for a successful passing:
- There is compulsory attendance, which is controlled in each lecture.
- Falsification of signature or additional signatures for third parties lead to immediate exclusion form the course.
- Apologies for being absent will only be taken into account in the case of timely announcement before the lecture or upon presentation of a corresponding confirmation, in case of an important prevention (eg illness).
- The language of the course is German, the translation from Japanese must also be available in German during the examination.
Success can only be guaranteed if the lectures are attended continuously and homework is completed on time. Part of the exercises can also be worked out at home, which usually have a 2 weeks' schedule.
Transfer in the summer semester and requirements to enter the exam
- Attendance of the VO: ≥ 80% per list (this corresponds to a maximum of 2 VO per semester as absent) AND
- Delivery of HA: ≥ 80% on time and positive (see information sheet on homework)
- Deadline for WS: Last lecture in December
- Deadline for the SS: First Lecture in June
At the deadlines, the two criteria will be evaluated. If the conditions are not already fulfilled here, it is not possible to transfer to the 2nd semester or to take the exam at the end of the SS. The re-entry is provided in such cases only in the next academic year. If the attendance is reduced or the deliver of homework in the rest of the lectures falls below the mentioned limit until the exam, the conditions are also not met.
Exceptions are only considered for valid reasons with appropriate proof (eg medical confirmation of a disease, etc.).
For more information, see the information sheet on the specified website.
ATTENTION: this course is set up to be finished in 2 semesters.
The written exam and the issuing of the certificates will only take place at the end of the summer semester (for both semesters, ie WS and SS for VO and UE parts). The certificate of the UE part is only awarded upon successfully finishing the VO.
