Objectives
Japanese language
Students majoring in the Japanese language should graduate with the ability to interact in meaningful ways with Japanese people in Japanese. They will acquire the knowledge, intellectual capabilities, competencies and attitudes necessary for interacting with a range of Japanese persons. The ability to interact in Japanese requires not only the mastery of language skills in the traditional sense (including competence in the grammar, the vocabulary and pronunciation of the language), but also an understanding of the cultural rules for communicating and a broad knowledge of Japanese society, the economy, cultural and political context in which Japanese think and behave. In addition to these quantifiable properties, students who major in Japanese will also learn to think critically. At the higher levels, students will develop capabilities in discerning different intellectual traditions, in the broader contexts which define life in Japan at the end of the twentieth century.
The language program is designed to be flexible. Students will be placed in classes appropriate to their ability, which will vary according to their program of study at the secondary level and the extent to which they have been in Japan. Students will be able to choose between the comprehensive Japanese stream and the business Japanese stream according to their needs or interests. More advanced students will have further choices in terms of the relative emphasis on reading or oral skills and in terms of content. They may also qualify to take part in an accelerated program in their first year in the department. Students are further able to choose between two different modes (on-campus and off-campus or distance education modes), which require different amounts of classroom time on the campus.
Japanese studies
Students majoring in Japanese studies should acquire an accurate and up-to-date understanding of Japan with a special emphasis on Australia-Japan relations. While such an understanding is seen as integral to utilising the language in a practical way, it is also seen as being fundamental to any appreciation of the world today and the larger global changes that are increasingly defining Australia's choices in that world. In other words, Japan's internationalisation means that the world cannot be understood without reference to Japan, and Japanese language cannot be understood without reference to the larger world. While in past years it was almost impossible to gain a sophisticated knowledge of Japan without a high level of fluency in the language, today the English-language literature on Japan is overwhelming. The department is thus able to offer a wide range of subjects which introduce both the language major and the non-language major, giving students the opportunity to assess the Japanese experience and place it into the wider context of the changing world.
Students majoring in Japanese studies obtain more than just a factual knowledge of Japan. To understand Japan in terms of the master or global trends which are increasingly shaping the world, students will have:
* an exposure to many of the theories about social and cultural change and political and economic development;
* an ability to assess and compare the `Japanese model' against the more general East Asian model, the Australian experience and the arrangements seen as being desirable for the future;
* the methodological sophistication necessary to gather and generate new data about Japan, to identify new developments critical to Australia's relations with Japan, and to arrive at their own conclusions about the phenomena they observe;
* the capacity to be sensitive to the images and attitudes which shape Australian perspectives of Japan and Japanese views of Australia while also being able to distinguish stereotype from reality;
* the skills of thinking critically and articulating their views about Japan.
Students should come away from a major in Japanese studies being able to think laterally in coming up with multiple `win-win' responses to Japan's growing presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Realising best possible outcomes for students
Responding to the student's quest for knowledge and a meaningful career are critical to the department's approach to learning. To impart the skills and knowledge outlined above, it is important to have staff who are familiar with Japan. Staff in the department either are native speakers of Japanese or have spent extended periods in Japan. Most staff publish both in English and in Japanese.
Interactive teaching maximises the extent to which students use the language. Rather than limiting its use to artificial situations (eg with drills and other exercises), Japanese language is used to teach and to communicate with students in the offices and hallways of the faculty. Contact with Japanese people is also important. In addition to the offering the latest immersion programs and visitor sessions, the department organises a half-year program in Japan for honours students and is active in promoting exchanges with universities in Japan. The program in Japan is carefully constructed to combine language learning with research projects. Learning in the department is vigorously promoted by the Monash Japanese Club, a voluntary organisation of students promoting the study of Japan and the language through a variety of activities.
Courses
In order to acquire competence to interact with the Japanese, it is necessary to know not only how to produce correct sentences - which are the object of traditional language teaching - but also how to use such sentences and other means of communication in encounters with the Japanese, and how the Japanese with whom we interact think and behave in contact situations.
The teaching programs of the department have been designed to include all the above components. They are integrated in various ways in two sequences of subjects: (a) `Japanese language' subjects (which teach mostly language and communication, but some of which also include components dealing with Japanese culture and society), and (b) `Japanese studies' subjects (which concentrate on the understanding of Japanese culture and society, but also include components directly useful for the acquisition of rules of language and communication).
There are two types of majors and minors offered in the department. The Japanese language major/minor consists of `Japanese language' subjects. In the faculty nomenclature these subjects are prefixed with JPL. The Japanese studies major/minor consists of `Japanese studies' subjects (prefixed with JPS) but some subjects in `Japanese language' can also be included. For details see below.
Students who intend to work in the area of Australia-Japan relations should complete a Japanese language major as well as a Japanese studies major or minor. Others may prefer to complete a major in Japanese studies. According to current faculty regulations it is required that such a major should normally be accompanied by (or include) at least two years of the study of the Japanese language.
Since `Japanese language' and `Japanese studies' constitute separate disciplines, students can satisfy the faculty requirement of one major and one minor sequence for the BA degree by taking a major in one of the two and a minor in the other.
Japanese language
The Japanese language courses aim at the acquisition of the ability to communicate in both the spoken language (speaking/listening) and the written language (reading/writing). These courses commence in the first year at level A (beginners level) or level B (post-VCE level). Occasionally students with more advanced competence may enrol at a higher level (eg C). Language students will select either comprehensive Japanese or business Japanese. Students may change from comprehensive to business Japanese or vice versa at any stage when the two courses are offered. Students who have successfully completed a substantial part of their schooling in the Japanese education system are normally not eligible to enrol in Japanese language subjects. Such students may complete a major in Japanese studies (see under Japanese studies).
Students taking a major in Japanese language, in addition to the third-year language sequence, must select two further four-point subjects, JPL3750 (Reading Japanese texts A) and JPL3752 (Reading Japanese texts B) each worth four points, or JPL3070 (Theory and research in Japanese studies A) and JPL3090 (Theory and research in Japanese studies B) each worth four points, or a combination of these. Students enrolled in arts/engineering or arts/science double degree programs may substitute one of the above with JPL3610 (Japanese for engineers and scientists). However, as a prerequisite for honours, students must take JPL3070 and JPL3090.
First-year sequences in Japanese
The following pairs of first-year subjects are offered as acceptable first-year sequences and satisfy the prerequisites for admission to second-year level in Japanese and Japanese studies:
* JPL1010 and JPL1020 or JPL1030 and JPL1040 or JPL1050 and JPL1060 (or a mixed combination)
* JPL1210 and JPL1220 or JPL1230 and JPL1240 or JPL1250 and JPL1260 (or a mixed combination)
* JPL1310 and JPL1320 or JPL1330 and JPL1340 or JPL1350 and JPL1360 (or a mixed combination)
Students are encouraged to take both language and Japanese studies (see below) at first-year level. JPL1010 and JPL1020 may also be available in the summer semester.
Major and minor sequences
Three streams are available to cater for the different entry level of students. The following majors are available:
Students commencing at beginners level
* JPL1010 and JPL1020 or JPL1030 and JPL1040 or JPL1050 and JPL1060 (or a mixed combination)
* JPL2210 and JPL2220 or JPL2230 and JPL2240 or JPL2250 and JPL2260(or a mixed combination)
* JPL3310 and JPL3320 or JPL3330 and JPL3340 or JPL3350 and JPL3360 (or a mixed combination) plus two more four-point subjects as described above
Commencement at post-VCE level
* JPL1210 and JPL1220 or JPL1230 and JPL1240 or JPL1250 and JPL1260 (or a mixed combination)
* JPL2310 and JPL2320 or JPL2330 and JPL2340 or JPL2350 and JPL2360 (or a mixed combination)
* JPL3410 and JPL3420 plus two more four-point subjects as described above
Commencement at a more advanced level
* JPL1310 and JPL1320 or JPL1330 and JPL1340 or JPL1350 and JPL1360
* JPL2410 and JPL2420
* JPL3510 and JPL3520 plus two more four-point subjects as described above
Acceptable minor sequences in Japanese language comprise the first and second year of the major sequences outlined above.
One of the above subjects can be substituted for JPL3990/4990 subject to the approval of the head of department.
Caulfield and Peninsula
A major sequence in business Japanese is available on the Peninsula campus. A first-year sequence in Japanese studies is available at Caulfield
Japanese studies
The Japanese studies courses aim at the acquisition of an accurate and up-to-date understanding of Japan and its people, and of Australia-Japan relations.
There are two first-year subjects in Japanese studies: JPS1070 (Sources of contemporary Japanese culture and society) and JPS1090 (Understanding contemporary Japan). Together these subjects provide a broad introduction to a number of aspects of Japanese culture and society. Later year subjects are available in three streams: (a) social science subjects JPS2110/3110 (Japanese society) and JPS2810/3810 (Australia-Japan social relations) (only one of these subjects will be offered in any one year); JPS2190/3190 (Japanese economics) and JPS2910/3910 (Australia-Japan economic relations) (only one of these subjects will be offered in any one year); JPS2210/3210 (History of Japanese science and technology) and JPS2710/3710 (History of Australia-Japan relations) (only one of these will be offered in any one year); HSY2210/3210 (Japan: origins to 1800) and HSY2220/3220 (Japan: 1800 to the present); (b) linguistics subjects JPS2590/3590 (Japanese linguistics) and JPS2130/3130 (Japanese sociolinguistics) (only one of these will be offered annually) and JPS2530/3530 (Introduction to the teaching of Japanese as a foreign language); and (c) literature and culture subjects JPS2150/3150 (Japanese culture) and JPS2160/3160 (Japanese popular culture) (only one of these subjects will be offered in any one year); JPS2570/3570 (Modern Japanese literature); DTS2050/3050 (Asian theatre: an introduction) and MUS3880 (Music of China, Japan and Korea). All later-year subjects are offered at either second or third-year level except the following courses: PLT2200 (State and society in modern Japan) which is offered to second year students only; and JPS3071 (Theory and research in Japanese studies A); JPS3072 (Theory and research in Japanese studies B); JPS3081 (Critical debate in contemporary Japan A); JPS3082 (Critical debate in contemporary Japan B); MUS3880 and PLT3860 (America, Japan and China: Asian-Pacific competitors?), all of which are offered to third-year students only.
First-year sequences in Japanese studies
The following pairs of first-year subjects are offered as acceptable first-year sequences and satisfy the prerequisites for admission to second-year level in Japanese studies:
* JPS1070 and JPS1090 or JPS1010 and JPS1020
Language subjects may also be used as prerequisites:
* JPL1010 and JPL1020 or JPL1030 and JPL1040 or JPL1050 and JPL1060 (or a mixed combination)
* JPL1210 and JPL1220 or JPL1230 and JPL1240 or JPL1250 and JPL1260 (or a mixed combination)
* JPL1310 and JPL1320 or JPL1330 and JPL1340 or JPL1350 and JPL1360 (or a mixed combination)
or a combination of language in first semester and one first-year Japanese studies subject (JPS1020, JPS1070 or JPS1090).
Minor sequence in Japanese studies
A minor sequence in Japanese studies comprises:
(1) any first-year sequence in Japanese studies, as detailed above under first-year sequences, followed by any two second-year subjects in Japanese studies; or
(2) any first-year sequence in Japanese language, followed by the first semester of language at the second-year level and one Japanese studies subject at the second-year level; or
(3) a combination of two second-year Japanese studies subjects followed by at least one eight-point and one four-point third-year level Japanese studies subject.
Major sequence in Japanese studies
A major sequence in Japanese studies consists of a minor sequence outlined above under (1) or (2) plus subjects in Japanese studies at third-year level to the value of twenty-four points. Note that the faculty requires that the major be accompanied by a minor in a discipline. This minor requirement can be met by taking four semesters of the Japanese language as outlined above.
Honours
The prerequisite for enrolment in the fourth, honours year is the completion at the credit level of Japanese (language) subjects to the value of twenty-four points at second and third-year levels combined, of which sixteen must be at third-year level. The completion of JPL3070/JPS3071 (Theory and research in Japanese studies A) and JPL3090/JPS3072 (Theory and research in Japanese studies B) is required, as is a minimum of eight points in Japanese studies subjects at second or third-year level.
However, intending honours students are strongly encouraged to complete, along with the Japanese language major, JPS1070 (Sources of contemporary Japanese culture and society) and JPS1090 (Understanding contemporary Japan) in their first year and at least sixteen points in Japanese studies subjects at later-year levels. Combined honours may be taken in Japanese studies and another discipline provided that all honours requirements have been met in both disciplines and subject to the approval of the heads of both departments/centres. Mid-year entry is not offered by this department. Students who have completed honours may proceed to a Graduate Diploma of Arts, a variety of MA programs (by coursework, coursework and minor thesis, or by major thesis) and to the PhD. For details consult the graduate studies handbook.
Graduate diplomas
Graduate diplomas in the department may be taken by any student who has obtained a bachelors degree or equivalent. Language prerequisites for individual diplomas differ and applicants should consult the department. The Graduate Diploma of Arts can be taken in Japanese studies, Japanese business communication and applied Japanese linguistics.
MA by coursework
Students who satisfy conditions for enrolling for honours may also enrol for Part 1 of an MA program. Part 2 of the program can be completed in the following year. These programs are available in four streams: MA in Japanese studies, MA in Japanese business communication, MA in applied Japanese linguistics and MA in Japanese interpreting and translation. For postgraduate courses offered by the department, please refer to the Arts graduate handbook for 1995. Further information is also available from the department.
Clayton and distance education courses
Japanese language
First-year level
* JPL1010 Comprehensive Japanese IA: part 1
* JPL1020 Comprehensive Japanese IA: part 2
* JPL1030 Business Japanese IA: part 1
* JPL1040 Business Japanese IA: part 2
* JPL1050 Comprehensive Japanese IA, off-campus: part 1
* JPL1060 Comprehensive Japanese IA, off-campus: part 2
* JPL1210 Comprehensive Japanese IB: part 1
* JPL1220 Comprehensive Japanese IB: part 2
* JPL1230 Business Japanese IB: part 1
* JPL1240 Business Japanese IB: part 2
* JPL1250 Comprehensive Japanese IB, off-campus: part 1
* JPL1260 Comprehensive Japanese IB, off-campus: part 2
* JPL1310 Japanese IC: part 1
* JPL1320 Japanese IC: part 2
* JPL1330 Business Japanese IC: part I
* JPL1340 Business Japanese IC: part 2
* JPL1350 Japanese IC, off-campus: part 1
* JPL1360 Japanese IC, off-campus: part 2
Second-year level
* JPL2210 Comprehensive Japanese IIB: part 1
* JPL2220 Comprehensive Japanese IIB: part 2
* JPL2230 Business Japanese IIB: part 1
* JPL2240 Business Japanese IIB: part 2
* JPL2250 Comprehensive Japanese IIB, off-campus: part 1
* JPL2260 Comprehensive Japanese IIB, off-campus: part 2
* JPL2310 Japanese IIC: part 1
* JPL2320 Japanese IIC: part 2
* JPL2330 Business Japanese IIC: part 1
* JPL2340 Business Japanese IIC: part 2
* JPL2350 Japanese IIC, off-campus: part 1
* JPL2360 Japanese IIC, off-campus: part 2
* JPL2410 Japanese IID: part 1
* JPL2420 Japanese IID: part 2
Third-year level
* JPL3070 Theory and research in Japanese studies A
* JPL3090 Theory and research in Japanese studies B
* JPL3310 Japanese IIIC: part 1
* JPL3320 Japanese IIIC: part 2
* JPL3330 Business Japanese IIIC: part 1
* JPL3340 Business Japanese IIIC: part 2
* JPL3350 Japanese IIIC, off-campus: part 1
* JPL3360 Japanese IIIC, off-campus: part 2
* JPL3410 Japanese IIID: part 1
* JPL3420 Japanese IIID: part 2
* JPL3510 Japanese IIIE: part 1
* JPL3520 Japanese IIIE: part 2
* JPL3610 Japanese for engineers and scientists
* JPL3750 Reading Japanese texts A
* JPL3752 Reading Japanese texts B
* JPL3990 Language study abroad program
Fourth-year honours courses
* JPL4440 Japanese IV
* JPL4460 Fourth-year special course A
* JPL4470 Fourth-year special course B: part 1
* JPL4480 Fourth-year special course B: part 2
* JPL4990 Language study abroad program
Japanese studies
First-year level
* JPS1070 Sources of contemporary Japanese culture and society
* JPS1090 Understanding contemporary Japan
Second-year level
* JPS2110 Japanese society (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* JPS2130 Japanese sociolinguistics
* JPS2150 Japanese culture (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* JPS2160 Japanese popular culture
* JPS2190 Japanese economics
* JPS2210 History of Japanese science and technology (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* JPS2530 Introduction to the teaching of Japanese as a foreign language
* JPS2570 Modern Japanese literature
* JPS2590 Japanese linguistics (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* JPS2710 History of Australia-Japan relations
* JPS2810 Australia-Japan social relations
* JPS2910 Australia-Japan economic relations (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* DTS2050 Asian theatre: an introduction
* HSY2210 Japan: origins to 1800
* HSY2220 Japan: 1800 to the present
* PLT2200 State and society in modern Japan
Third-year level
Prerequisite * As for the equivalent second-year Japanese studies subjects or at the discretion of the head of the department.
Syllabus * As for corresponding second-year subjects. Third-year students will be required to reach a higher level.
* DTS3050 Asian theatre: an introduction
* JPS3071 Theory and research in Japanese studies A
* JPS3072 Theory and research in Japanese studies B
* JPS3081 Critical debate in contemporary Japan A
* JPS3082 Critical debate in contemporary Japan B
* JPS3110 Japanese society (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* JPS3130 Japanese sociolinguistics
* JPS3150 Japanese culture
* JPS3160 Japanese popular culture
* JPS3190 Japanese economics
* JPS3210 History of Japanese science and technology
* JPS3530 Introduction to the teaching of Japanese as a foreign language
* JPS3570 Modern Japanese literature
* JPS3590 Japanese linguistics
* JPS3710 History of Australia-Japan relations
* JPS3810 Australia-Japan social relations
* JPS3910 Australia-Japan economic relations (proposed to be offered next in 1996)
* HSY3210 Japan: origins to 1800
* HSY3220 Japan: 1800 to the present
* MUS3880 Music of China, Japan and Korea
* PLT3860 America, Japan and China: Asian-Pacific competitors?
Peninsula courses
* JBL1010 Business Japanese 1A
* JBL1020 Business Japanese 2A
* JBL1030 Business Japanese 1B
* JBL1040 Business Japanese 2B
* JBL1050 Business Japanese 1C
* JBL1060 Business Japanese 2C
* JBL2010 Business Japanese 3B
* JBL2020 Business Japanese4B
* JBL2030 Business Japanese 3C
* JBL2040 Business Japanese 4C
* JBL3010 Business Japanese 5C
* JBL3020 Business Japanese 6C
Caulfield courses
* JPS1010 Introduction to Japanese communication
* JPS1020 Understanding contemporary Japan