Language Centre

Japanese Studies

Why study Japanese?

The study of Japanese opens up a whole new world of linguistic and cultural experience that offers employment and research opportunities as well as intellectual stimulation. It provides an insight into a country with a long history and a culture that features both traditional and modern elements. The study of Japanese also provides access to the wonderful world of Japanese anime, manga, literature and film. 

Japan is one Australia’s major trading partners (as well as that of many other countries) and plays an important role on the Asian-Pacific political and economic stage. At university, the study of Japanese encourages the development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills as well as intercultural communication skills. When mastered well, these skills provide graduates with an additional edge in a competitive and increasingly globalised employment market. As well as these benefits, Japanese is stimulating and challenging, and also a lot of fun.

People with Japanese language skills have opportunities to work both in Japan and in non-Japanese speaking countries (such as Australia) in industries such as:

  • translation and interpreting
  • tourism
  • banking
  • trade
  • foreign affairs
  • education
  • journalism
  • law

Graduates of Japanese at UOW are employed as:

  • Researchers in Japanese government organisations;
  • Assistant Language Teachers (ALT) or Co-ordinators for International Relations (CIR) on the Japan Exchange Teaching (JET) Program.

The opportunity to study at one of UOW’s exchange partner universities in Japan is available to any student interested in Japan.

Japanese can be studied as a major, minor or an elective in many degree programs. It can also be studied concurrently with a bachelor's degree through the Diploma in Languages.

Graduates with a major in Japanese may apply to continue their studies by enrolling in the Graduate Diploma in Arts (Japanese). This year long program enables graduates to further develop their linguistic and cultural skills by undertaking studies at one of UOW’s partner universities in Japan.

Studying Japanese opens up a whole new horizon of opportunities and discoveries.

Research Areas

The research interests of the staff in the Japanese programme include:

  • art
  • cultural studies
  • education
  • gender
  • history
  • linguistics
  • literature
  • politics and international relations
  • textual/discourse analysis

General Information

Teaching Staff

Dr Helen Kilpatrick
Room 19.2092
Phone 4221 4939
Email: helenk@uow.edu.au

Ms Ritsuko Saito
Room 19.2113
Phone 4221 3260
Email: rsaito@uow.edu.au

Dr Rowena Ward
Convenor of Japanese
Room 19.G100E
Phone 4221 4751
Email: roward@uow.edu.au

 

 

Last reviewed: 24 May, 2013