JAPN10001 Japanese 1
University of Melbourne · Level 1 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1, Winter.
- Final exam 50%
Is JAPN10001 hard?
JAPN10001: Easier. Makes it easier: Reviewers say it’s manageable (10 reviews), First-year subject.
What you learn
Japanese from zero: hiragana, katakana, about 60 kanji and everyday conversation.
After it you can
- Read and write kana and about 60 kanji
- Introduce yourself and chat in simple Japanese
- Handle shopping and asking for directions
What you need first
a language placement test
What it leads to
Can’t be taken together with
- JAPN20015
- JAPN30014
How it’s assessed
Assignments 15%, Presentations 20%, Projects 15%, Final exam 50%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 10 students on StudentVIP (2019–2025)
- Widely called an easy, fair WAM booster with regular quizzes, leniently marked orals and an e-portfolio.
- Two 2-hour seminars a week plus self-study packs; keep up with vocab and grammar consistently.
- Recent reviews say the exam can be harder than expected, and hiragana must be learned early.
- Pair work can be challenging depending on your class.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate JAPN10001
Quick answers
- When is JAPN10001 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1, Winter.
- What do I need before taking JAPN10001?
- Needs a language placement test.
- Does JAPN10001 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 50% of the mark. Assessment: Assignments 15%, Presentations 20%, Projects 15%, Final exam 50%.
- Is JAPN10001 hard?
- From 10 student reviews on StudentVIP: Widely called an easy, fair WAM booster with regular quizzes, leniently marked orals and an e-portfolio.
- What do students say about JAPN10001?
- Widely called an easy, fair WAM booster with regular quizzes, leniently marked orals and an e-portfolio. Two 2-hour seminars a week plus self-study packs; keep up with vocab and grammar consistently. Recent reviews say the exam can be harder than expected, and hiragana must be learned early.
- Can I take JAPN10001 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- What can I take after JAPN10001?
- 1 subjects need it first, for example JAPN10002.
- Can I rate JAPN10001?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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