The Department of Japanese Studies offers courses in the Japanese language and in Japanese studies.
Students majoring in the Japanese language should graduate with the ability to interact in meaningful ways with Japanese people in Japanese both in the spoken language (speaking/listening) and in the written language (reading/writing), although proficiency levels will differ according to the stream in which students enrol. Students should acquire the knowledge, intellectual capabilities, competencies and attitudes necessary for interacting with a range of Japanese people. The ability to interact in Japanese requires not only the mastery of language skills in the traditional sense (including competence in the grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation of the language), but also an understanding of the cultural rules for communicating and a broad knowledge of the social, cultural, economic 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 should develop an ability to discern the competing intellectual positions which will define life in Japan at the beginning of the twenty-first century.
Students majoring in Japanese studies should acquire an accurate and up-to-date understanding of Japan with a special emphasis on Australia- Japan relations. 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 larger global changes which are increasingly defining Australia's choices in the world around it. In other words, Japan and Australia cannot be understood without reference to the world and to the other country's internationalisation. While in the past it was almost impossible to gain a sophisticated knowledge of Japan without a high level of fluency in the language, today there is a substantial English-language literature on Japan. The department thus seeks to offer a wide range of subjects in English which are suited both for students studying the Japanese language and for students who are simply interested in Japan from the perspective of another discipline. The latter option gives students the opportunity to assess the Japanese experience and to place it in 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 global trends which are increasingly shaping Japan and Australia, students should have:
Responding to the student's quest for knowledge and a meaningful career is a critical part of 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 drills and other exercises), the Japanese language is used to teach and to communicate with students in the offices and hallways of the department. Contact with Japanese people is also important. In addition to maximising the opportunities for students to have contact with Japan and the Japanese in language and studies subjects, the department organises a program in Japan and has active exchange programs with ten universities in Japan. The programs in Japan are carefully constructed to combine language learning with research projects. Learning in the department is supported by the Monash Japanese Club, a voluntary organisation of students which promotes the study of Japan and the Japanese language through a variety of activities.
In order to interact with the Japanese, it is necessary to know: (i) how to produce correct sentences - which is the object of traditional language teaching; (ii) when to use particular sentences and other means of communication in encounters with the Japanese, and (iii) common ways in which Japanese think and behave.
All of the above are taught in the department. The department's courses are integrated in various ways. `Japanese language' subjects (which teach mostly language and communication), include components dealing with Japanese culture and society. `Japanese studies' subjects (which concentrate on the understanding of Japanese culture and society) include components directly useful in mastering the rules of language.
Two major sequences and two minor sequences are offered in the department. The Japanese language major and minor consist of `Japanese language' subjects. In the faculty nomenclature these subjects are prefixed with `JPL'. The Japanese studies major and minor consist of `Japanese studies' subjects prefixed with `JPS'. Some subjects in the `Japanese language' can also be included in the major and minor in Japanese studies. For details see below.
Students who intend to work in the area of Australia- Japan relations are advised to complete a Japanese language major as well as a Japanese studies major. Selected students doing the major sequence in the Japanese language and the major sequence in Japanese studies may be able to complete a part of the BA program in Japan. The major sequence in Japanese studies must be accompanied by a minor or major in the Japanese language.
The language program is designed to be flexible in terms of levels, streams, content and modes.
The department currently provides instruction in the Japanese language at six levels, from level A (beginners) to level F (advanced). Students will be placed in classes appropriate to their ability, which will vary according to their previous study (at school and at other institutions) and their experience in Japan. First-year students commence their study at level A (those with no previous study of Japanese), at level B (those with VCE level Japanese proficiency), or at level B/C (accelerated) or higher levels (those with advanced competence and/or extended experience in Japan).
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. However, such students may complete a major in Japanese studies (see under Japanese studies).
Once a student's starting point is determined, he or she will progress in a designated stream. Those starting in level A will be in the basic Japanese stream and will proceed through levels A (first year), B (second year) and C (third year). Those starting in level B will be in the intermediate stream and will proceed through levels B (first year), C (second year) and D (third year). Those starting at level C will be in the advanced stream and will proceed through levels C (first year), D (second year), and E (third year).
At the third year, the department also offers subjects in reading Japanese texts and fieldwork methods for doing research on topics related to Japan and to Australia- Japan relations. Beyond level E the department offers a variety of subjects which are listed in the handbook for postgraduate students and include newspaper Japanese, administrative and business Japanese, tourism Japanese and interpreting and translation.
Students who come to Monash with an advanced level of oral/aural competency and substantial experience in Japan are encouraged to join the accelerated advanced stream. This stream is designed for students who have high aural and oral competencies but are weak in reading and writing skills. The objective of this program is to bring students to a near-native level in all four macro skills by providing accelerated training in the Japanese written language while further developing skills already acquired in the spoken language. Those starting in Accelerated Japanese 1 will proceed to either level D or E (second-year) and to level E or F (third-year). The decision on which level each student will go to will be based on how the student performed in the first year. To enrol in this stream, students need to pass a special placement test and obtain approval from the coordinator.
The Japanese program provides students with basic skills in Japanese and knowledge about Japanese culture and society. The department has developed its own textbooks, for which the topics and situations have been carefully selected to suit students' needs in interacting with the Japanese. The Japanese program has been designed to expose students at the higher levels to particular business situations and to develop more fully the skills which graduates will need for employment in Japanese firms or in positions requiring frequent interaction with Japanese business people, administrative personnel and other officials. The department also offers specialised subjects to meet the needs of students doing combined degrees. For example, Japanese for engineers and scientists and for those planning to work in the tourism industry.
Students are able to choose between three different modes of study: the on-campus mode, the off-campus or distance education mode and the in-Japan mode which require different amounts of classroom time on the campus. The same textbooks are used in the first two modes, and the same levels of proficiency are targeted in all modes. Students may switch back and forth between modes, and may choose their mode of study on a semester-by-semester basis.
Students attend weekly lectures and tutorials, and learn through interacting with teachers and Japanese people in the classroom. Most of the language subjects offered by the department are in this mode.
At the Clayton campus, language subjects are offered at six levels (A- F), catering for students ranging from beginners to semi-native speakers. More advanced post-graduate courses are also available. At the Peninsula campus a three-year sequence (levels A- C) is offered, with students in the post-VCE stream able to complete an additional level by attending classes one day a week at the Clayton campus. Students at the Berwick campus are able to take a two-year sequence (levels A and B), while level C can be taken in the off-campus mode or at either of the other campuses. For details about subjects offered at Berwick see main entry under `Berwick campus'.
Some language subjects are offered in the off-campus mode. The off-campus mode of study provides students with more flexibility in managing their time. A comprehensive study manual is available to guide students through each lesson. There are no weekly lectures or tutorials to attend. Students are expected to work on their own using materials provided, and are required to submit written and taped assignments and to attend two full-day Saturday workshops per semester at the Clayton campus. A tutor will be available on the phone to assist students experiencing difficulty. The same content and standard as the on-campus equivalent subject is maintained. Students are reminded that a lot of self-discipline is necessary to successfully complete off-campus study. Availability of off-campus subjects is subject to sufficient student demand.
The department has been active in developing exchanges with a large number of Japanese institutions. While each exchange has its own features, collectively they provide a wide range of opportunities for students to study in Japan. The credit arrangements vary and need to be clearly verified with the department before a student can be assured of receiving credit. The subjects JPL2990/JPL3990 (Language study abroad program) and JPS2990/JPS3990 (Japanese studies in Japan) can be taken in Japan as a substitute for core courses in the Japanese language or in Japanese studies. The first semester of the honours year can also be spent in Japan.
Students wishing to study in Japan are encouraged to take both language and Japanese studies subjects at the first-year level.
The following pairs of first-year subjects are offered as acceptable first-year sequences and satisfy the prerequisites for admission to second-year level subjects in Japanese language.
Students may complete a major or minor sequence in the Japanese language by proceeding through any of the three streams mentioned above.
A major sequence in Japanese language consists of three years' study in core language subjects (levels A-F) and an additional eight points of language work at third-year level. The minimum standard of language which must be completed is level C. The additional eight points will most commonly be comprised of two four-point subjects (one per third-year semester), either Japanese reading subjects JPL3750 (Reading Japanese texts A), JPL3752 (Reading Japanese texts B), JPL3850 (Advanced texts A), JPL3852 (Advanced texts B) or JPL3071 (Theory and research in Japanese studies A), and JPL3072 (Theory and research in Japanese studies B). JPL3071 and JPL3072 are the normal prerequisites for doing honours. Alternatively, double degree and part-time students may choose to study an extra eight-point language subject in their fourth year of study, at a level above that in which they have completed their basic three-year sequence, or a semester of language study in Japan. With the approval of the head of department students may also take up to eight points in Japanese studies as part of their language major, as a substitute for language subject(s) at first, second or third-year levels, providing they reach the required minimum level of completion of level C.
Acceptable minor sequences in Japanese language comprise the first and second year of the major sequences outlined below.
Caulfield students may enrol in subjects offered at the Clayton, Peninsula or Berwick campuses, or in the off-campus units which do not require weekly attendance on campus (see above).
Two subjects form the first-year sequence 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. After the first-year sequence a large number of subjects are available in two streams: society and culture and linguistics and communication.
The society and culture subjects include JPS2110/JPS3110 (Japanese society and culture); JPS2170/JPS3170 (Women in Japanese Society); JPS2190/JPS3190 (Japanese management and the economy); JPS2710/JPS3710 (Australia- Japan relations) and JPS2150/JPS3150 (Japanese culture). Electives from other departments include DTS2050/DTS3050 (Asian theatre: an introduction); MUS3880 (Music of China, Japan and Korea) (for third-year students only); HSY2210/HSY3210 (Japan: origins to 1800) and HSY2220/HSY3220 (Japan: 1800 to the present) and PLT3860 (America, Japan and China: Asian-Pacific competitors) (for second-year and third-year students only).
The linguistics and communication subjects include JPS2590/JPS3590 (Introduction to Japanese linguistics) and JPS2130/JPS3130 (Introduction to Japanese sociolinguistics) (only one of these will be offered annually) and JPS2530/JPS3530 (Japanese language acquisition and use).
Third-year students majoring in Japanese studies are required to take the following four-point subjects: JPS3081 (Critical issues in Japanese studies); JPS3082 (Critical debate in contemporary Japan B); JPS3071 (Theory and research in Japanese studies A); and JPS3072 (Theory and research in Japanese studies B).
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:
A minor sequence in Japanese studies may consist of one of the following sets of subjects.
1 Any first-year sequence in Japanese studies (for twelve points), followed by JPS2110/JPS3110 (for an additional eight points) and one other eight-point subject in the Japanese society and culture stream.
2 Any first-year sequence in Japanese studies (for twelve points), followed by JPS2530/JPS3530 (for an additional eight points) and one other eight-point subject in the Japanese linguistics and communication stream.
3 JPS2110/JPS3110 or JPS2530/JPS3530 (for eight points), two other eight-point subjects in Japanese studies (for sixteen points), and JPS3081 (for four points). One of the eight-point subjects must be at third-year level.
A major sequence in Japanese studies normally consists of one of the following sets of subjects.
1 Any first-year sequence in Japanese studies (for twelve points), followed by JPS2110 (for an additional eight points) and two other eight-point subjects (one of which must be at the third-year level) in the Japanese society and culture stream (for sixteen points) and each of the four four-point subjects JPS3081, JPS3071, JPS3082 and JPS3072 (for sixteen points).
2 Any first-year sequence in Japanese studies (for twelve points), followed by JPS2530 (for an additional eight points) and two other eight-point subjects (one of which must be at the third-year level) in the Japanese linguistics and communication stream (for sixteen points), and each of the four four-point subjects JPS3081, JPS3071, JPS3082 and JPS3072 (for sixteen points).
A major sequence in Japanese studies must be accompanied by a minor or major in the Japanese language.
Applicants to the honours program in the fourth year must have completed a major in Japanese language with marks of credit (65) or better in 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 JPL3071/JPS3071 (Theory and research in Japanese studies A) and JPL3072/JPS3072 (Theory and research in Japanese studies B) with marks of credit (65) or better, and eight points in Japanese studies subjects at the second or third-year level is also required.
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 during their second and third year.
Combined honours may be taken in Japanese studies and another discipline provided that all honours requirements are met in both disciplines and the program is approved by the heads of both departments. Mid-year entry is not offered by this department.
Departments may grant an extension of time for submission of the honours thesis or for final coursework up to the last day of the examination period of the semester in which the work is due. Applications for extensions beyond this date must be made to the Committee for Undergraduate Studies.
Students who have completed honours may proceed to a Graduate Diploma of Arts, Postgraduate Diploma of Arts, a variety of MA programs (by coursework, coursework and minor thesis, or by major thesis) and to PhD. For details consult the graduate studies handbook.
Any of the four graduate diplomas in the department may be taken by students who have obtained a bachelors degree or otherwise have the equivalent preparation. Language prerequisites for individual diplomas differ, and applicants should consult the department for further information. The Graduate Diploma of Arts can be taken in four areas: Japanese studies, Japanese interpreting and translation, applied Japanese linguistics, and the Japanese language.
Three MA programs are offered in the department: the MA in Japanese studies, the MA in Japanese interpreting and translation, and the MA in applied Japanese linguistics. Students who have completed Honours at a satisfactory level may be permitted to enter the MA directly. Other students may be required to first complete Masters Qualifying. For postgraduate subjects offered by the department, students should refer to the Arts graduate handbook or to the postgraduate course brochure which is available from the Department of Japanese Studies.