Faculty of Arts Asia Institute

Japanese Language and Studies

Japan's position in Asia and the world is one full of apparent contradictions and unexpected outcomes. How did one of the oldest political and economic systems survive complete defeat in the Pacific War and rise to power again in the 1980s? Considering this influential economy, how do we explain rising figures of unemployment and retrenchment? In a frequently conservative society, how do we account for the radical and often groundbreaking achievements of Japanese artists in the field of popular and underground culture? How are these cultural forms translated into commodities consumed in other Asian and non-Asian societies?

The study of Japanese language and culture gives the individual insight not only into a deep and diverse culture but also provides important contrasts when considering various nations' roles in the Asia Pacific region. Due to its geographic isolation, Japan is in some ways unrelated to its Asian neighbours.; Yet in other areas -- such as religion and philosophy -- Japan is firmly entrenched in the Asian community. An understanding of Japanese language and culture contributes to students' wider understanding of these complex and fascinating cultural, historical, political and economic flows in Asia.

Studying Japanese at Asia Institute makes a difference

Japanese language classes cater for a range of competencies, from beginners level for students with little or no knowledge of the language to more advanced levels for students with prior experience. Students will receive a comprehensive grounding in Japanese language with opportunities to focus on social and cultural areas of interest that include Japanese art and architecture, history, law, politics and popular culture.

Students who develop a sound understanding of Japanese language and culture will develop transferable and highly valued skills that will enhance their career options. These include professional careers in fields of government, industry and commerce, teaching, publishing and translation. Graduates are able to expand their knowledge through an articulated structure of higher degree study options at the University of Melbourne. The University has long established partnerships in student exchange and research with over a dozen of Japan's elite universities.

Ways to Study Japanese

Undergraduate students can study Japanese as:

Japanese can also be studied as:

At the Postgraduate level, Japanese Studies offer courses for:

Japanese can also form a component in an Asian Studies program at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels.

Credit for Overseas Study

Please note that not all exchange programs are valid for credit. Please check this before leaving for overseas study. Also, all overseas study is subject to DFAT warnings.

Students are expected to have completed a minimum of one years study in the Japanese Program before going overseas to study.

Credit is ungraded and available only at levels 1-3. A maximum of 37.5 points of language subject credit will be recommended to the Arts Faculty for a semester of Japanese language study overseas in an approved university in Japan. An additional 12.5 points may be recommended to be attributed towards other non-language Arts credit (either specified or unspecified). This will also represent the maximum number of points that a student may have recommended for credit from overseas study towards the major or Diploma of Modern Languages (DML) in Japanese.

This policy will apply to all study undertaken by our students overseas whether they go on an official university exchange, on government scholarships or on a self-funded basis. For further information please contact Dr Sayuki Machida by email, sayuki@unimelb.edu.au.

Japanese LOTE Accreditation Examination

The Institute holds examinations for LOTE accreditation for prospective teachers of Japanese in the first or second week of January and June each year. The examination consists of written and oral components. Further information on how to apply, dates and fees for 2007 can be found here.

Japanese Language-Specific Scholarships

The Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) scholarships for Australian Citizens to study at Japanese Universities at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels are usually offered each year. Information and eligibility details (ie. examinations, interviews) and applications forms are available from the Embassy of Japan from early March each year.

Sakata Scholarships

This sponsorship opportunity affords high achieving students enrolled in Japanese language studies at the University of Melbourne the opportunity seek a scholarship to further pursue their Japanese language studies either in Japan or in Australia. The value of the award ranges from $3000 to $5000. Applications close Friday 28th March 2008. Guidelines and Application form.

The University of Melbourne and the Asia Institute acknowledge the generous support of Sakata Holdings Australia Pty. Ltd. which has made this scholarship opportunity possible

More general scholarship information can be found here.

Subjects

The following subjects are taught in the Japanese program. Availability of particular subjects in a given semester, along with the requirements for major and honours are listed in the Arts Handbook - Japanese Studies.

Japanese: Core Subjects

Please refer to the major and minor structures listed under the subject description for details regarding which subjects you should enrol in as subject requirements and sequences vary depending on your stream.

Code Title Semester Credit Points
110-141 Japanese 1A 1 12.500
110-142 Japanese 1B 2 12.500
110-241 Japanese 2A 1 12.500
110-242 Japanese 2B 2 12.500
110-188 Japanese 3A 1 12.500
110-189 Japanese 3B 2 12.500
110-216 Japanese 4A 1 12.500
110-217 Japanese 4B 2 12.500

Japanese: Advanced Japanese Subjects

Please refer to the major and minor structures listed under the subject description for details regarding which subjects you should enrol in as subject requirements and sequences vary depending on your stream.

Code Title Semester Credit Points
110-247 Reading Japanese Literature 2 12.500
110-248 Variation in Japanese Language 1 12.500
110-318 Japanese Through Translation 2 12.500

Japanese: Enrichment Subjects

Please refer to the major and minor structures listed under the subject description for details regarding which subjects you should enrol in as subject requirements and sequences vary depending on your stream.

Code Title Semester Credit Points
110-208 Japanese Discourse 1 12.500
110-209 Introduction to Japanese Communication 1 12.500
110-229 Contemporary Japan 2 12.500
110-233 Japanese Sociolinguistics 2 12.500
110-245 Sign and Symbols in Japanese 1 12.500
110-246 Japanese Grammar in Action 2 12.500
110-319 Japanese through the Media 1 12.500

Staff in Japanese Program

Name Room Telephone Email address
William COALDRAKE (Honorary) 306 834 45984 whc@unimelb.edu.au
Mariko KUBOTA 237 834 45986 m.kubota@unimelb.edu.au
Sayuki MACHIDA 216 834 48108 sayuki@unimelb.edu.au
Shigeko NARIYAMA 235 834 40156 shigeko@unimelb.edu.au
Sachiko NOGUCHI (Honorary) 239 834 45991 sachiko@unimelb.edu.au
Jun OHASHI (Convenor) 320 834 44263 juno@unimelb.edu.au
Charles SCHENCKING 309 834 45976 j.schencking@unimelb.edu.au
Ikuko NAKANE 238 834 48893 inakane@unimelb.edu.au
Carolyn STEVENS 312 834 47582 css@unimelb.edu.au
Etsuko TOYODA 319 834 45463 etsuko@unimelb.edu.au

Web Resources

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