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  4. Japanese Studies
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Japanese Studies

Bachelor of ArtsMajorYear: 2023

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Overview

The undergraduate program in Japanese Studies comprises coursework designed to build students’ knowledge and skills in understanding and analysing Japanese language and society.

Japanese subjects are organised in a progressive sequence (of units) from Japanese 1 through to Japanese 8 with several additional units. Entry and exit points are determined by the student’s background in the language, placement testing, prerequisites, or at the discretion of the Japanese program. Students normally progress through the subjects in consecutive order. Mid-year entry is also possible into subjects with even numbers, subject to appropriate prior experience and approval from the convenor of the Japanese Studies program.

The language-society subjects are designed to maximise acquisition of the language and to develop their communication skills in various types of texts, interactional contexts and strategic aspects of meaning making. The curriculum also allows students to develop a broad understanding of cultural, social and historical aspects of Japan. Non-language subjects such as Social Problems in Japan help students understand the complexity and diversity of the society, and challenge stereotypes. Teaching staff create a meeting place where students from a variety of cultural backgrounds can explore intercultural language activities to promote intercultural as well as communicative competence.

 

Note: Students in the Japanese Societies Minor are not allowed to take the Japanese Studies Major.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this major, students should be able to:

  • Gain effective oral and written communication skills in Japanese, and an in-depth knowledge of Japanese language, culture and society, relative to their entry level,and develop a capacity to combine knowledge of the Japanese language with one or more disciplines through critical research inquiry.
  • Gain knowledge of the social and cultural diversity of Japan and develop the skills to work with people from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
  • Gain the ability to set goals and manage time and priorities and work effectively both independently and in groups.

Last updated: 3 May 2024

Structure

100 credit points

Students will have their appropriate entry point determined by the Japanese Studies program, based on evidence of prior learning and/or results of a placement test as required. Please refer to the following link for further information:

http://arts.unimelb.edu.au/asiainstitute/students/placement-tests

The entry points for this major are:

  • Japanese Studies 1 entry point: Students who have never studied Japanese before or have only rudimentary knowledge of the language usually enter the progression at Japanese 1
  • Japanese Studies 3 entry point: Students who have completed VCE Japanese (Second language), IB or have an equivalent language level usually enter the progression at Japanese 3
  • Japanese Studies 5 entry point: Students who perform at an intermediate level in Japanese, for example those who have completed VCE or IB with excellent results or have an equivalent language level usually enter the progression at Japanese 5
  • Japanese Studies 7 entry point: Students who perform at a advanced level in Japanese, for example those who hold N3 of JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) or have lived or studied in Japan usually enter the progression at Japanese 7

This major requires the completion of either:

Entry Point 1

  • 25 credit points of EP1 Level 1 Core subjects
  • 37.5 credit points of EP1 Level 2 Core subjects
  • 37.5 credit points of EP1 Level 3 Core subjects

OR

Entry Point 3

  • 25 credit points of EP3 Level 1 Core subjects
  • 37.5 credit points of EP3 Level 2 Core subjects
  • 37.5 credit points of EP3 Level 3 Core subjects

OR

Entry Point 5

  • 25 credit points of EP5 Level 1 Core subjects
  • 37.5 credit points of EP5 Level 2 Core subjects
  • 37.5 credit points of EP5 Level 3 Core subjects

OR

Entry Point 7

  • 25 credit points of EP7 Level 1 Core subjects
  • 37.5 credit points of EP7 Level 2 Core subjects
  • 37.5 credit points of EP7 Level 3 Core subjects

Subject Options

Level 1

Level 1 Core subjects - Entry Point 1

Code Name Study period Credit Points
JAPN10001 Japanese 1
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN10002 Japanese 2
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 1 Core subjects - Entry Point 3

Code Name Study period Credit Points
JAPN10007 Japanese 3
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN10008 Japanese 4
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 1 Core subjects - Entry Point 5

Code Name Study period Credit Points
JAPN10003 Japanese 5
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN10004 Japanese 6
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 1 Core subjects - Entry Point 7

Code Name Study period Credit Points
JAPN10005 Japanese 7
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN10006 Japanese 8
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 2

Level 2 Core subjects - Entry Point 1

Code Name Study period Credit Points
JAPN20002 Introduction to Japanese Communication
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN20007 Japanese 3
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN20008 Japanese 4
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 2 Core subjects - Entry Point 3

Code Name Study period Credit Points
JAPN20013 Japanese 5
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN20014 Japanese 6
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN20009 Signs and Symbols in Japanese
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 2 Core subjects - Entry Point 5

Code Name Study period Credit Points
JAPN20003 Japanese 7
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN20004 Japanese 8
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN20010 Japanese Grammar in Action
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 2 Core subjects - Entry Point 7

Code Name Study period Credit Points
JAPN20005 Contemporary Japan
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Winter Term (Off Campus)
 12.5
JAPN20011 Reading Japanese Literature
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN20012 Variation in Japanese Language
Summer Term (Off Campus)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 3

Level 3 Core subjects - Entry Point 1

Code Name Study period Credit Points
JAPN30007 Japanese 5
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN30008 Japanese 6
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN30010 Signs and Symbols in Japanese
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 3 Core subjects - Entry Point 3

Code Name Study period Credit Points
JAPN30005 Japanese 7
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN30006 Japanese 8
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN30013 Japanese Grammar in Action
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 3 Core subjects - Entry Point 5

Code Name Study period Credit Points
JAPN30004 Japanese through the Media
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN30011 Reading Japanese Literature
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN30012 Variation in Japanese Language
Summer Term (Off Campus)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 3 Core subjects - Entry Point 7

Code Name Study period Credit Points
JAPN30002 Social Problems in Japan
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN30003 Japanese Through Translation
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
JAPN30004 Japanese through the Media
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Links

http://www.asiainstitute.unimelb.edu.au/study/japanese

Last updated: 3 May 2024