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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 and film. 

Japan is one Australia’s major trading partners (as well as that of many other countries) and is important 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
• law

The study of Japanese at UOW offers opportunities for living in Japan during, as well as after graduation.  For instance:

• an in-country experience is an integral part of the major in Japanese;
• postgraduates can study at a Japanese university as part of JAPA550 (Graduate Diploma in Arts (Japanese);
   
• A number of UOW graduates in Japanese have worked as an Assistant English Teacher (ALT) or as a Co-ordinator for International Relations (CIR) on the Japanese Exchange Teaching (JET) Program.

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

General Information

• UOW Course Handbook - Japanese
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Why Learn Languages?
• Ten Foreign Language Study Tips
• Assignment Cover Sheets
• Timetable
• Referencing and Citing
• Student Conduct Rules
• Useful Links

If you already have a degree and would like to study Japanese, a Graduate Diploma in Arts (Modern Languages) and a Graduate Diploma in Arts (Japanese)

Research Areas

Research areas of the staff in the Japanese programme include the following:

• art
• cultural studies
• education
• history
• language
• linguistics
• literature
• psychology
• textual/discourse analysis

Teaching Staff

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

Ms Ritsuko Saito
Room 19.2090
Phone 4221 3260
Email: rsaito@uow.edu.au

Dr Rowena Ward
Convenor of Japanese
Room 19.2089
Phone 4221 4751
Email: roward@uow.edu.au