Japanese

The Japanese program at the Asia Institute is one of the largest Japanese programs in Australia. The language subjects (taught at a range of levels, from beginner to advanced) are designed to maximize acquisition of the language and to develop 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. Our language and culture integrated curriculum helps 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.

The Diploma in Languages (Japanese) enables students to gain a diploma in language study while completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne.

Diploma graduates with the equivalent of a BA language major must have completed a BA degree to be eligible to apply for the BA (Honours), otherwise they may apply to enter the postgraduate diploma.

Japanese language subjects are organised in a progressive sequence (of units) from Japanese 1 through to Japanese 8. 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 available subject to approval from the convenor of the Japanese program.

Students who complete this diploma will:

• 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.

The Diploma consists of a three-year sequence of first- second- and third-year language study and may add up to one year to the duration of the student’s degree course. See the Diploma course structure for further details.

Students study Japanese as a Diploma through a progression of six language subjects and two electives.

The entry points for the Diploma are as follows:

• Japanese 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 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 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 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.

Students will have their appropriate entry point determined by the Japanese Program, based on evidence of prior learning and/or results of a placement test. Please refer the following link for further information: http://www.asiainstitute.unimelb.edu.au/help/undergraduate_students/placement

Students completing a Diploma in Japanese will usually undertake 25 points at level one, 37.5 points at level two and 37.5 points at level three.

JAPANESE 1 ENTRY POINT

Students who have never studied Japanese before or have rudimentary knowledge of the language usually enter the progression at Japanese 1 entry point. Students will have their appropriate entry point determined by the Japanese Program, based on evidence of prior learning and/or results of a placement test as required.

Students completing Japanese must do so through a progression of six language subjects and two electives consisting of 100 points (12.5 points x 8 subjects) as follows:

Japanese 1 entry point - Level 1

Japanese 1 entry point - Level 2

Japanese 1 entry point - Level 3

Japanese 1 entry point - electives

Students completing a Diploma in Japanese 1 entry point are required to take two of the following electives (one at level 2 and one at level 3) to meet course requirements. Please note certain electives can only be taken concurrently and are co-requisites* and/or may have prerequisites**.

JAPN20002 Introduction to Japanese Communication* (concurrently with Japanese 4)
JAPN20005 Contemporary Japan
JAPN30010 Signs and Symbols in Japanese* (concurrently with Japanese 5)
JAPN30005 Japanese 7** (prerequisite Japanese 6)
JAPN30006 Japanese 8** (prerequisite Japanese 7)

JAPANESE 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 entry point. Students will have their appropriate entry point determined by the Japanese Program, based on evidence of prior learning and/or results of a placement test as required.

Students completing Japanese in the DL must do so through a progression of six language subjects and two electives consisting of 100 points (12.5 points x 8 subjects) totalling 100 points as follows:

Japanese 3 entry point - Level 1

Japanese 3 entry point - Level 2

Japanese 3 entry point - Level 3

Japanese 3 entry point - electives

Students completing a Diploma at Japanese 3 entry point are required to take two of the following electives (one at level two and one at level three) to meet course requirements.

Please note certain electives available at level two and three can only be taken concurrently and are co-requisites* and/or may have prerequisites**

JAPN20010/JAPN30013 Japanese Grammar in Action* (concurrently with Japanese 8)
JAPN20018/30004 Japanese Through the Media**(prerequisite Japanese 8)
JAPN20016/30003 Japanese Through Translation** (prerequisite Japanese Through the Media)
JAPN20009 Signs and Symbols in Japanese
JAPN20012/JAPN30012 Variation in Japanese Language
JAPN20011/JAPN30011 Reading Japanese Literature

JAPANESE 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. Students will have their appropriate entry point determined by the Japanese program, based on evidence of prior learning and/or results of a placement test as required.

Students completing Japanese in the Diploma must do so through a progression of six language subjects and two electives consisting of 100 points (12.5 points x 8 subjects) as follows:

Japanese 5 entry point - Level 1

Japanese 5 entry point - Level 2

Japanese 5 entry point - Level 3

Japanese 5 entry point- electives

Students completing a Diploma at Japanese 5 entry point are required to take two of the following electives (one at level two and one at level three) to meet course requirements. Please note certain electives available at level two and three can only be taken concurrently and are co-requisites* and/or may have prerequisites**

JAPN20010 Japanese Grammar in Action* (concurrently with Japanese 8)
JAPN20018/30004 Japanese Through the Media**(prerequisite Japanese 8)
JAPN20016/30003 Japanese Through Translation** (prerequisite Japanese Through the Media)
JAPN20005 Contemporary Japan (delivered in English)
JAPN30002 Social Problems in Japan (delivered in English)

JAPANESE 7 ENTRY POINT

Students who perform at 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. Students will have their appropriate entry point determined by the Japanese program, based on evidence of prior learning and/or results of a placement test as required.

Japanese 7 entry point - Level 1

Japanese 7 entry point - Level 2

Japanese 7 entry point - Level 3