JAPANESE STUDIES BA (Hons) single BA/BSc (Hons) combined

Before coming to Oxford Brookes Sophie Bennett studied Japanese as part of her International Baccalaureate. Her interest in the country and language grew after visiting Japan. I choose Oxford Brookes because it ranked highly for Japanese Studies and I had heard that its year abroad was one of the best in the country. Since I wanted to return to Japan, and knew Brookes had year abroad exchanges with a broad range of universities in Japan, this was a major factor in my decision to choose Brookes. In my first two years I was a member of the Japanese Society, one of the largest student-led societies on campus. It was great to be able to get together with my friends and to meet new people with similar interests. On my year abroad I studied at the acclaimed Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo and had a fantastic time. The lectures were interesting and very detailed, and the lecturers themselves were friendly and always ready to lend a hand. I also had a great time experiencing Japanese culture, particularly the festivals and music. It was definitely one of the best years of my life. For more student profiles visit www.english-languages.brookes.ac.uk

WHY STUDY JAPANESE?

Japan is a country rich in culture and tradition yet with its finger on the pulse of modernity. Learn the Japanese language, study its traditions and ways of life, and you’ll unlock a nation with a fascinating heritage which remains one of the world’s leading economic powers.

Contents 2 Why choose Oxford Brookes? 4 Teaching and learning 6 Research and expertise 7 Careers 8 Study abroad 10 Modules 13 Key facts

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WHY CHOOSE OXFORD BROOKES?

On our Japanese Studies course you can learn the language as a beginner or post-beginner. Explore all aspects of Japanese culture: from its traditional religious values to its modern business practices, and from haiku poetry to manga cartoons. Distinctive features „„

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Learn Japanese as a complete beginner or start with existing knowledge Get involved in the active student-run Japanese Society on campus Pursue your interests with our varied mix of modules

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Choose from a wide range of partner universities for your year abroad Take advantage of our dedicated support staff throughout your studies Attend a guest lecture hosted by the Europe-Japan Research Centre based at Oxford Brookes

The level of tuition and help I have received from the lecturers has been phenomenal. The way the language is taught and the structure and pace of the lessons are perfect. I feel that anyone would be able to pick up Japanese by studying at Oxford Brookes. Omar Chowdhury, Japanese Studies

Japanese Studies at Oxford Brookes

Support

We have an authentic Japanese Room, used for teaching topics about Japan as well as for Japanese arts such as the tea ceremony and ikebana (flower arranging).

You will be allocated an Academic Adviser when you start who will provide academic and departmental support for you throughout your studies. In addition, our Student Support Coordinators are there to support you in all aspects of your academic career from module choices to any personal issues you may experience.

Oxford Brookes has an active Japan Interest Group which organises regular talks, films and cultural activities. You can also join the lively student-run Japanese Society which organises social events and activities such as language exchanges.

We have a dedicated languages librarian who is on hand to answer your enquiries, teach you information skills and guide you around the electronic resources. The library also offers regular training sessions on accessing and making the best use of key resources. Through our Upgrade service we offer advice on all aspects of study, from planning and writing essays to statistical analysis, either in a one to one situation or as a drop-in session. Upgrade is a free service available to all students at any level, and is unique to Oxford Brookes. www.brookes.ac.uk/services/upgrade

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TEACHING AND LEARNING

Japanese. It’s a toughie. Three different alphabets. Lots of kanji characters. And grammar that’s totally different from English. But we’ve got small class sizes, highly experienced tutors and our own range of reading materials to help you crack it. Combined and single honours

Teaching

Japanese Studies is offered both as a single honours or as a combined honours degree paired with another subject. Japanese Studies is most popularly combined with Business Management, International Relations, Computer Science, Film Studies and Publishing Media.

We emphasize student participation and developing your communication skills. We have small class sizes to ensure every student takes an active part.

Combined honours students will take compulsory modules in spoken and written Japanese as well as Japanese culture and society. Single honours students may pursue a wider range of modules focusing on specific aspects of Japanese history, religion, society, arts and culture.

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We use a range of assessment and learning methods which vary according to each module. Alongside the more traditional structure of lectures, essays, seminars and tutorials, assessment methods may include: group work presentations and debates „„ practical work „„ „„

To enhance your language skills you will mostly be taught in Japanese in your final year.

Resources

Let’s Read Japanese

With over half a million books, DVDs and CDs, a vast range of databases, e-journals and reference materials, the library provides all the resources you need for your study. You can also take advantage of the Library Electronic Information Network (LEIN), giving you access to a range of biographical searching tools, databases and electronic journals. Once you reach the stage of researching your dissertation you will have access to Oxford’s Bodleian library.

We have published our own series of graded reading materials for students learning Japanese. The Let’s Read Japanese series has six graded levels, each comprising a set of ten stories. Developed by our experienced Japanese teachers with the input of students, they are designed to be easy to read and eye-catching. The books include retellings of classic tales, Japanese legends and poems as well as some new stories, allowing you to learn about the culture and traditions while also improving your reading skills.

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We have state of the art e-learning tools to ensure you have the very latest technological support to advance your oral, listening and writing language skills.

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The Japanese team should be congratulated for the high quality of teaching and the achievements of students. Jonathan Bunt, External Examiner

Enhance your language skills Our Modern Languages unit offers you the opportunity take a module in another language as part of your course. You can choose to learn a language from scratch or improve your existing skills in French, Spanish, German or Mandarin.

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RESEARCH AND EXPERTISE

Don’t just read the book. Be taught by the person who wrote the book. Develop your research skills and become an expert yourself. Research expertise

Will I get involved?

You’ll be taught by experts whose teaching is driven by the very latest academic thinking. Our main areas of researching and expertise include:

We value research highly and we actively encourage you to become a researcher in your own right.

Japanese religions „„ Japanese cinema „„ Japanese anthropology „„ Language acquisition „„ Developing teaching materials, such as the Let’s Read Japanese graded readers „„

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You will have the opportunity to take part in an annual Undergraduate Research Conference, at which you can create an exhibit or give a talk based on your research project and explain it to visitors at the conference. Prizes are awarded for the best display and for the best oral presentation.

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I’d bought a book on Japanese culture which was really interesting and when I was selecting which university to go to I realised that one of the professors at Brookes had actually written the book.

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Andy Banks, Japanese Studies

CAREERS

A degree in Japanese Studies will provide you with the confidence, academic maturity, and communication skills you need to tackle a wide range of careers. Japan remains the world’s third largest economy and many Western businesses maintain offices in Tokyo or work closely with Japan. Language skills are highly sought after by employers. Achieving fluency in a complex language like Japanese will impress employers both in the UK and abroad.

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In addition to language skills you will graduate with cultural awareness, team working and presentation skills that will also make you attractive to potential employers.

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Brookes did what a good university is meant to do, which is offer a world of opportunities and support to aid you in your career choices post-graduation. Adelaide Amissah, graduate

Graduate opportunities Studying Japanese opens up a wide range of career options to you. In addition to language-focused roles like translation and interpretation, recent graduates have found employment at the Japanese Embassy, the Japan Foundation and within Japanese businesses such as All Nippon Airways (ANA).

Careers centre Our Careers Centre is on hand throughout your time at Oxford Brookes, guiding your development from graduate to professional. The Centre can provide you with information throughout your studies, from career guidance and advice, to application procedures and practical interview skills. www.brookescareercentre.co.uk

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STUDY ABROAD

It’s the best bit. Eat octopus. Meet a bunch of different people. And come home speaking Japanese. Oxford Brookes is renowned for offering one of the best year abroad experiences. Your year abroad

First year scholarship

You will go to Japan in your third year and study at one of our partner universities. We have exchange arrangements with 14 partner universities in the areas of Tokyo, Yamanashi, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, and Kyushu. You will attend intensive language courses and lectures that complement your programme of studies at Oxford Brookes.

Each year one exceptional first year student is awarded a scholarship to take an intensive Japanese language course in the summer between their first and second year. The selected student attends the course at the Japan Foundation Kansai Centre, which offers cultural workshops and city visits as part of the experience. The scholarship covers all expenses, including airfare and accommodation.

While studying in Japan you will carry out an independent research project on contemporary Japan. Immersing yourself in Japanese life and social activities with fellow students will give you a high level of linguistic competence and cultural awareness. During your second year special meetings will be held to prepare you for choosing your host institution, application and life in Japan.

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a ge, Odaib id r B w o Rainb

Andy in K yoto

My year abroad: Andy Banks

Andy’s advice

For my year abroad I chose to study at Aoyama Gakuin University in Shibuya, Tokyo. It’s the best university from a cultural capital standpoint and is ideally located in Shibuya, near most of the more interesting places in Tokyo. I had visited the university while on holiday in Japan so I had a very good idea of where it was and what it was like.

I’d recommend you visit beforehand, if you can, to get an idea of what you want to get out of your year abroad experience. Consider where you want to study and why as location can be very important depending on what you want to do; you’ll find travel costs can get high quickly if you want to repeatedly visit places - particularly if you need to use the Shinkansen (high speed trains). Finally, study lots of kanji as they’re everywhere!

My year abroad experience has been amazing. I’ve had fantastic opportunities to go on various trips and activities due to Aoyama Gakuin’s excellent Japanese Studies programme. I’ve met many different students from different countries and have made many friends with other Japanese students and exchange students. I’ve enjoyed every single day; travelling around Japan to different cities and enjoying different foods and specialities has been amazing. I’ve eaten raw chicken, cow heart, horse, pig lips, chicken hearts, intestines and various other foods which are actually very tasty. I encourage you to be open to trying new foods in Japan!

I’ve enjoyed every ling single day; travel the around Japan to various different g cities and enjoyin d different foods an en specialities has be amazing! 9

MODULES

YEAR 1 Japanese Language Skills Both beginners and post-beginners will take a module in Japanese to develop their language skills appropriate to their level. Japanese Reading and Writing I This module will develop your reading and writing language skills in Japanese and will focus in particular on learning Kanji. Introduction to Japanese Society and Culture This module provides an introduction to modern Japanese society and culture, primarily from an anthropological perspective, incorporating overviews of Japan’s geography, religion, economy and modern history. Topics covered include the cultural basis of Japanese patterns of behaviour; marriage, family and kinship; social organization and relations in urban and rural communities; education; work and employment; religion and ritual; popular culture; minorities; and the globalisation of Japanese culture.

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Introduction to the Arts of Japan An introduction to traditional and contemporary Japanese arts, exploring style and techniques in detail alongside key issues such as representation of gender and sexuality, class and religious/ philosophical assumptions. Introduction to Chinese Culture and Society Here you will study many aspects of Chinese culture and Chinese society. Topics covered will include different aspects of traditional Chinese culture with a view to understanding contemporary Chinese society. YEAR 2 Japanese Language Skills This module is designed to enable you to improve your Japanese to intermediate level through the study and practice of the structures and function of the language. Japanese Reading and Writing II A course for further improving your reading and writing language skills in Japanese with a focus on intensive development of Kanji learning.

Japanese Oral Skills You will develop oral and aural skills at upper beginners’ level, allowing for more creativity while learning essential conversational strategies and skills. Japan at Play A study of Japan made by examining forms of play in society from an anthropological perspective. Personhood, gender and the body in contemporary Japan This module introduces anthropological perspectives on personhood, gender, and the body, and examines these with reference to ethnographic material from Japan. It includes a discussion of some issues relating to medical anthropology, including medical systems in Japan, and beliefs and practices surrounding reproductive technologies, end of life, and organ donation. Work and the Japanese Taking an anthropological perspective, this module will look at the significance of work and the company in the lives of people working in Japan or in Japanese companies located elsewhere. You will learn about company organisation, industrial relations and the nature of employment. Understanding Manga This is a study of Japanese popular culture through visual media called manga (Japanese comics). This module provides an understanding of how certain visual media have developed in Japan, how they are presented and received in the Japanese context, and how they reflect social and cultural issues through analysing these works. Contemporary Japanese Cinema This module explores contemporary Japanese cinema. You will gain an overview of Japanese film history in order to gain some insight into the contemporary film industry. You will then focus on selected contemporary directors, such as Shinya Tsukamoto, Mamoru Oshii and Takeshi

Kitano, to investigate the directions Japanese filmmakers are taking and how their films reflect social and cultural issues. Tandem Language Learning An independent study module whereby people with different native languages (English and Japanese) work together in pairs and groups in order to improve their oral language skills and learn from each other’s culture. Japanese Religions This module will provide an overview of the religious traditions of Japan from pre-history through to the present and examine historical issues of interpretation concerning religion. The Making of Modern Japan Here you will study Japan’s extraordinary rise from a feudal, resource-poor nation in the 1850s to the world’s second largest economy in the early twenty-first century. We will examine the social, economic and political changes of this period through primary source materials, secondary scholarship, literature and films. Methodology of Foreign Language Teaching This is an introduction to the theory and practical application of the principles of foreign language teaching at secondary or adult levels. You will develop an awareness of a range of teaching techniques and apply these to the language classroom. The course will familiarize you with aspects of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and classroom management which are essential to the language teacher. Independent Study in Japanese This option allows you to pursue a defined academic project in greater depth.

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YEAR 4 Japanese Language Skills Building on your existing language skills you will read a variety of texts in different genres, such as reviews and reports, and practise writing essays in these genres. Japanese Cinema and Contemporary History This module will enable you to situate Japanese films in context by relating the style and content of films to social and political developments in Japan during the twentieth century. Advanced Japanese Reading and Translation The module develops students’ ability to read Japanese texts at an advanced level. Minorities and Marginality, Class and Conflict in Japan You will examine the historical and contemporary experiences of Japan’s ethnic minorities and marginalized groups. Our discussions will also reach to broader concerns about ethnic and cultural identity and conflict, class structure, nationality and diaspora.

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Japan: Myth and Reality This module provides a historical view and critical analysis of the status of Japan and the Japanese. Japan through Contemporary Texts On this module you will further develop your advanced language skills by examining current affairs and events in Japan through a wide range of contemporary literary texts including novels, newspapers and magazines. Advanced Japanese Communication This course aims to enhance oral and aural skills for more effective communication at an advanced level. You will engage in practical and creative tasks that require you to apply your knowledge of the Japanese language and draw on your experiences from your year abroad. As courses are reviewed regularly, the module list you choose from may vary slightly from those shown here.

KEY FACTS TEACHING LOCATION Gipsy Lane campus ACADEMIC FACULTY Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

HOW TO APPLY Application is through UCAS. See our website for course codes.

TYPICAL OFFERS A level: BBB IB Diploma: 32 points GSCE English at Grade B is preferred. You do not need a GCSE or A level in Japanese. You can study Japanese as a beginner or post-beginner.

DURATION Full time: 4 years Part time: up to 8 years

For combined honours, normally the offer will lie between the offers quoted for each subject. Applicants over 21 years of age who do not meet these requirements are encouraged to contact Admissions to discuss their application.

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