Japanese | Modern Languages & Linguistics

Faculty of Arts & Science

Modern Languages

The Minor In

japanese Are you fascinated by traditional or modern Japanese culture? Martial arts or anime?

Business or manga? Do you want to learn how to communicate in Japanese? Read and write kanji, hiragana and katakana?

Discover the world around you—study Japanese.

Faculty of Arts & Science

What are Your Future Prospects?

With more than 125 million native speakers, Japanese is the eighth most commonly spoken language in the world and the national language of a the third largest economy in the world. Studying for a Japanese minor allows students to acquire a strong working knowledge of the Japanese language and to understand important aspects of Japanese culture, with an emphasis on contemporary Japan. The program helps prepare students for work in contexts where the language and culture are pertinent, or to live and work in Japan as informed and capable individuals equipped with appropriate intercultural skills and awareness.

Those who minor in Japanese may seek employment with local companies that do business with Japan or Canadian companies abroad. Employment may also be available in new media, government service, domestic and foreign offices, teaching English as a Second Language, the United Nations or other international agencies. In addition, an increasing number of domestic and multinational companies are seeking employees who have backgrounds in multicultural studies as a way of dealing with the global market.

What Will You Learn?

In language classes we focus on speaking, listening, reading and writing proficiency and knowledge of cultural and societal issues associated with speaking Japanese.

In culture classes you will learn about traditional and contemporary Japanese society including history, religion, family, education, work, pop-culture, social structure, customs, minorities and subcultures.

A placement test is required for those with prior knowledge of Japanese to help place you at the right level.

The minor in Japanese is available for all BA, BSc and BASc majors.

What Other Programs Include Japanese? • • •

Japanese is one of the minors offered in International Management One course in Japanese is required for the Asian Studies Minor Japanese is one of the disciplinary streams for a General Major in the Humanities

Japanese Courses Required for the minor

Six courses (18 credits) in Japanese language and culture: 1. Four of the following language courses (must include the 3000 level) • JPNS 1000 - Beginners’ Japanese I • JPNS 1100 - Beginners’ Japanese II • JPNS 1500 - Intermediate Language I • JPNS 2000 - Intermediate Language II • JPNS 3001 - Advanced Language 2. Two of the following courses (may include one Independent or Applied Study) • MODLANG 2850 - Japanese Society & Culture • IDST 2008 - Japan & the Japanese • IDST 2006 - Study Tour of Japan

Not Required for the minor • •

RELS 2300 - East Asian Religions HIST 2290 - Main Themes in East Asian History

Scholarships & Awards The Nikkei Cultural Society of Lethbridge and Area Book Prize and Scholarship: • Each year a book prize worth $60 is awarded to two students who excel in JPNS 2000 or JPNS 3001 • Each year a scholarship in the amount of $500 is awarded to a student in the later stages of the Japanese Minor

“My advice for students hoping to study abroad: If you’re thinking about doing it, do it! Don’t hesitate on what might be a once in a lifetime opportunity for an amazing experience in another country. If you can, definitely try to live with a homestay family, as they will make your experience so much better. Also, be sure to travel light, with lots of extra space to take things back home with you.”

Steven Henke, BSc Computer Science

Department of Modern Languages 403 329 2560 languages@uleth.ca ulethbridge.ca/languages

Japanese Coordinator Abigail McMeekin 403 329 5106 abigail.mcmeekin@uleth.ca ulethbridge.ca/artsci/japanese

Study or Work in Japan Study abroad & exchange opportunities

The Faculty of Management and The International Centre offer international exchange opportunities to all U of L students at the following partner universities: Faculty of Management | Full-semester • Kansai Gaidai University - Osaka, Japan • Nagoya University of Foreign Studies - Nagoya, Japan • Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University - Beppu, Japan Faculty of Management | Summer (2 months) • Ritsumeikan Asian Pacific University Summer Program - Beppu, Japan The International Centre | Full-semester or one year • Hokkai-Gakuen University - Sapporo, Japan • Gakushuuin - Tokyo, Japan (Coming in Fall 2015) For more information about these unique opportunities, please visit the following websites: uleth.ca/management/study-abroad and uleth.ca/international/content/exchanges

The JET Program

The world’s largest exchange teaching programme, the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme is a Japanese government initiative that brings university graduates to Japan as Assistant Language Teachers and Sports Education Advisors in Japanese kindergartens, elementary, junior high and high schools.

Students apply in their fourth year of university studies and, if chosen, will teach in Japan for a year after they graduate, with an option to renew for up to 5 years. Find out more at jetprogramme.ca/.

Discover the world around you—study Japanese. uleth.ca/artsci/japanese