Japanese GCSE

[Jimjams]

Ok long shot this. Edexcel don't publish the Japanese syllabus on their website for some annoying reason.

I'm thinking of taking Japanese GCSE in a year at evening classes. Just wondered if anyone knows anything about the course. Am I right in thinking you need to know at least 200 kanji? Would really like to know a bit more about what's involved.....

I haven't taken that particular course, but I did take several years on and off of japanese lessons and found it a really easy language to learn. (I also speak Italian, French and Spanish and have learned and forgotten Mandarin). The pronunciation is pretty easy and there are no verb declensions!!!!
The characters are actually not that difficult to learn. I did flash cards for both the characters and the words and carried them with me everywhere and practiced whenever I got a minute (ie waiting in line at supermarket etc.).

I left teaching MFL a year ago (to have a baby) so this info is a bit rusty and pre the Curriculum 2000 changes which the first cohort sat this summer. From what I can remember... I teach Russian and German and so am always looking at the obscure info at the back of the syllabus...you are expected to cover the same content as set out by the QCA, but in Japanese and Chinese the number of characters is limited and yes, 200 sounds about right. I think you would have to be more 'fluent' in katakana. I can ask a friend to ask a friend if you still want to know.

ooh please Nome. I lived in Japan and have studied it for a couple of years (long time ago). I'm quite keen to do it but I don't want it to be too much like hard work iyswim- got too much on anyway- so I'm just trying to get an idea of the standard before I sign myself up. I'd like to know whether you have to read 200 kanji, or actually be able to write 200 kanji as reading is a lot easier than writing!

Hi Jimams,
I talked to my friend and she is going to ask her Japanese teaching colleague about it. Could take weeks though - why isn't everyone on email?

I also mailed the bloke at Edexcel and got this in return:

"I have established that we have been unable to post the
specifications for
Arabic, Chinese and Japanese on the website due to their
very large file
size, caused by scanning in these specific language
characters. However, we
hope to resolve this issue for next year.

Meanwhile, you can order the specification and other
Japanese-related
publications from our suppliers - code and price details
can be found at
\linkwww.edexcel.org.uk/qualifications/QualificationPublication.aspx?id=49969969{}.

Details on how to order are at the foot of that page."

You could order the specification and specimen papers, or just the specimen papers if you want to see what an actual paper would look like...costs about a fiver for the both of them.

Equally, the tutor at the evening class should be happy to go through the course with you before you hand over any money.

I'll keep you posted on any further news I glean. Sorry I can't be more specific.

Brilliant Nome- many thanks. I should have rung Edecel myself really- in a previous life I was an examinations officer so I'm used to talking to them. I even have their phone number in my address book I was being lazy. I've asked the tutor to ring me as I missed the info evening, so I'll find out from her what's involved. If I do it I'll get hold of the specification and specimen papers from Edexcel.

Thanks again!

Good Luck Jimjams.
I've just signed up to do 12 weeks of 'singer's workshop' one evening a week. What was I thinking of?! I've not sung regularly since I was a student...oops...so much for talking to the tutor! It was talking to the tutor that got me into this. Still, one evening a week when I'm not just ds' mummy has to be good.

OK I've signed on the dotted line (thinking the same way as you- one night for me etc)

Was your tutor informative? Did it sound do-able?
Good Luck...it's not long till May

Had my first class last night and it was fun to sing real stuff and not just Twinkle, twinkle. Also v. nice not to be quizzed about baby/asked if I'm going back to work/how many teeth does he have/ blah, blah, blah...

I didn't speak to the tutor in the end- in theory it should be doable-we'll see. I'd better start revising....... greek- eek that sounds hard!

easier than greek!

definitely. all greek words seem to be about 17 syllables

Ahh well swearing doesn't come that easy to the Japanese. There's one very rude word ( it's the c word) that is sooooo rude you really can't use it in Japan. Everything else is a bit lame on translation.