This beginners' unit introduces basic communication skills in understanding and speaking Japanese. Students will also learn to write the two Japanese syllabaries and approximately 60 kanji characters and to recognise at least 100 kanji characters in context. Relevant socio-cultural information is integrated with the language learning.

This unit develops both the basic communication skills and the learning skills introduced in semester one. Students will continue to learn to use and understand Japanese in meaningful, everyday contexts. They will be able to write more than 150, and to recognise at least 200 kanji characters in context. Relevant socio-cultural information is integrated with the language learning.

This unit consolidates basic grammar and introduces intermediate grammar, through communicative methods and reading practice. By the end of the semester, students should be able to keep up a conversation for a short time in a dialogue, to write short passages without the assistance of dictionaries, to read narrative texts, and to recognise the difference between written and spoken modes of communication in Japanese. Students will be able to write approximately 200 kanji and to recognise about 300 kanji.

This unit aims to consolidate basic grammar and introduce intermediate grammar through communicative methods and reading practice. By the end of the semester, students are expected to be able to sustain a conversation about a selected topic for several minutes in a dialogue, to write a well-structured short essay without the assistance of dictionaries, and to read Japanese texts on a wide variety of topics. They will be able to write approximately 300 kanji and to recognise about 400 kanji.

This unit aims to develop students' speaking, writing and reading skills for the intermediate level of Japanese, so that they are able to use Japanese in a variety of situations. Students will be expected to achieve the following linguistic skills: switch to appropriate speech style in formal and informal situations; express opinions and thoughts; write about 350 kanji and recognise at least 600 kanji. Writing and reading practice will consolidate grammatical, lexical and cultural knowledge.

This unit aims to consolidate and extend intermediate level linguistic skills, through the acquisition of conversational strategies such as notions of apology, reasoning, opinions and explanations. Besides oral practice, writing and reading practice will help strengthen grammatical, lexical and cultural knowledge. Students will be able to read about 850 kanji and write about 500 kanji by the end of the semester. The above aims will be achieved by exploring various topics relating to contemporary Japan through authentic materials.

This unit aims to introduce to students of Japanese language core knowledge on Japanese society, history and culture. The unit will be taught in English but will acquaint students with key words and concepts in Japanese. Themes to be covered may include: social structures; contemporary issues and their historical backgrounds; language use in Japanese society; literary and cultural trends; urban culture.

This unit of study aims at improving students' language skills by reading modern Japanese literature, which is expressed at a different level from daily use. The comprehension of Japanese literary texts enables students to gain an insight into the writers' themes and expressions and is relevant to contemporary life. When necessary, English translations will be used in conjunction with authentic Japanese material. Students are expected to develop a critical appreciation of Japanese literature.

This unit aims to explore the new Japan and its youth cultures and to guide students to understand and broaden their knowledge of changing aspects of Japanese culture and society. Topics from Japanese traditions through to contemporary popular culture will be analysed. Learning activities include reading media texts (e.g. newspaper articles), video analysis, discussion, research and video conferences. The unit also provides students with opportunities to pursue their interests and develop cultural knowledge and communication skills.

Classes will involve a range of learning styles for further development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Classes are divided into two components: communication and reading. In communication classes exercises will include discussion, short surveys, role-plays, short reading and translation exercises. Reading will be focused on contemporary journalistic and sometimes literary writing. By the end of this unit of study, students will be able to read approximately 1100 kanji and write 600 kanji.

This unit is designed to consolidate and extend skills acquired in JPNS3621. Classes are divided into two components: communication and reading. In communication classes, exercises will include discussion, short surveys, role-plays, reading passages and short translation exercises. Reading classes will be focused on a variety of contemporary writing styles. By the end of this unit of study, students will be able to read approximately 1350 kanji and write 700 kanji.

This unit aims at the further development of skills beyond the intermediate level of Japanese. The goals of the unit include the development of skills in language analysis; the understanding of unfamiliar texts of a non-specific nature; the ability to summarise, to evaluate texts critically and to appreciate authentic Japanese texts, including literary texts. At the conclusion of the unit, students will be able to write 800 kanji and recognise some 1600 kanji.

This unit aims at revising and extending students' language skills to a higher level in order to achieve confidence and proficiency in expressing views in written and spoken Japanese. Students are expected to develop analytical skills in reading a variety of contemporary texts from different genres, to evaluate information critically, and to express opinions through discussions on a wide range of research topics. Students will be able to write 1000 kanji and recognise some 1945 Joyo kanji.

This unit will apply methods of linguistic analysis to explore a number of key language strategies used in Japanese to construct speakers' social identity, and their relationships both with people they are talking to (interlocutors) and people they are talking about (referents). Students will collect and analyse authentic data in a guided research project, and will use the results of that analysis in writing a critical response to the work of other scholars in the field.

Cinema is an essential part of cultural life in Japan, which has one of the richest film traditions in the world. This unit introduces the history of Japanese cinema through lectures on important films organised according to major themes and genres. Besides weekly screenings of films, lectures will be richly illustrated with film excerpts. Students will gain an overall insight into the role of cinema in Japanese society and gain the ability to analyse films critically.

It is alleged that, at the national level, power in Japan has been monopolised since 1945 by much the same clique, but also that it is never where it seems to be - that it is based on consensus, bottom-up decision-making, but is also deeply authoritarian. Through both Japanese and English sources, we will focus on the exercise of power in contemporary politics, administration, and private enterprise as well as psycho-sociology, education, political and moral thought, and economic structures.

The Honours program in Japanese Studies consists of:
1. a thesis written under the supervision of one or more members of academic staff
2. two seminars that meet weekly for two hours for one semester.
The thesis should be of 18000-20000 words in length. Each seminar requires 6000-8000 words of written work or its equivalent.
The thesis is worth 60% of the final Honours mark and each of the seminars is worth 20%.
The following seminars are available for 2014:
Theory and Methods in Asian Studies (Dr Olivier Ansart)
Engaging Asia (Assoc Prof Michele Ford)
For more information, contact Dr Matthew Stavros, Honours coordinator

Refer to JPNS4011

Refer to JPNS4011

Refer to JPNS4011