Kumamoto University (Kumamoto)
Study Japanese language and culture under faculty advisors and Japanese instructors.
■Introduction ■Program Outline ③ The Number of Students to be Accepted: 12 ・By Embassy Recommendation: 8 ① Characteristics and overview ① Training Objective ・By University Recommendation: 4 Kumamoto University is a national The following two courses have been prepared in line with the goals of ④ Qualifications and Requirements university established in May 1949 the students. (a)A course focusing on training about Japan and ・The students must be majoring in Japanese from several institutions, including Japanese culture, with supplementary training in improving Japanese language or Japanese culture and have the Fifth High School where Soseki language ability. completed at least two years of Japanese Natsume had taught. Now, we have (b) A course focusing on the improvement of Japanese language language studies at their home university. 7 undergraduate departments and ability, with supplementary education about Japanese affairs and ・450 or more hours of Japanese language study 9 graduate schools with about 10,000 ※from National culture. or JLPT N3-N2 or above is preferred. students and about 2,600 staff. In 2014, Diet Library ② Course Feature ⑤ Program Goals we were selected for the MEXT Top Global There will be regular coordination between faculty advisors and ・To improve one’s proficiency in Japanese University Project. Japanese instructors to provide careful guidance to select the language necessary for academic research as ② International Exchanges appropriate course. well as community life (equivalent to N1 of JLPT). As of October 11, 2018, Kumamoto University has (a)Japanese Studies and Japanese Culture Program ・To acquire knowledge and methodologies international exchange agreements with 247 Subjects Number of Credits Note necessary for various fields of Japanese studies. colleges, universities and institutions in 52 Japanese Language 6 or more credits ・To deepen understanding of various aspects of countries and 1 region. Research Subjects Japanese society and culture through various ③ The Number of International Students and ①Japanese Language Research 8 or more credits In total 24 credits or experiences in Japan. MEXT Japanese Studies Students ②Japanese Culture Research from ⑥ more in a Duration of the Program In 2018: 522 International Students, ③Japanese Literature Research ① to ④ October 1, 2019 – August 31, 2020 5 MEXT Japanese Studies Students year ④Japanese Society Research Closing ceremony will be held in the middle of (Cambodia, Vietnam, Czech, France) Elective Subjects 10 or more credits* August, 2020. (September 7 in 2018) ） In 2017: 507 International Students, 4 MEXT Japanese Studies Students A course completion report and oral examination are required (Thailand, Romania, India, Brazil) (b)Japanese Language Intensive Program In 2016: 527 International Students, Subjects Number of Credits Note 1 MEXT Japanese Studies Student Japanese Language 12 or more credits (Indonesia) Research Subjects In total 24 ④ Kumamoto Overview ①Japanese Language Research 4 or more credits credits or Kumamoto city is located in the center of Kyushu ②Japanese Culture Research from more in a island and its population is about seven hundred ③Japanese Literature Research ① to ④ year thousand people. You can study in clam ④Japanese Society Research surroundings. Elective Subjects 8 or more credits* It takes one and half hours to Tokyo by plane and An essay in Japanese which is approved by a supervisor is required. three hours to Osaka and Kyoto by Shinkansen. *Elective subjects may be chosen from Japanese Language, and With a statue of Soseki Natsume on campus Research Subject. ⑦ Program Outline ＜Japanese Culture Research＞ Each program consists of Japanese Language and 2 : Research Subjects, and Other subjects Students will acquire fundamental points of view and Research Subjects (Japanese Language, Japanese ・Japanese Language Intensive Program: methodologies necessary to gain further knowledge Literature, Japanese Culture and Japanese Society). 4 credits, 60hours or more about Japanese history and culture. *Note that the classes are subject to change, and that ・Japanese Studies and Japanese Culture Program: [Subject example] classes not shown on this course guide may be able to 8 credits, 120 hours or more Introduction to the History of Japan II be approved as a program completion requirement. ＜Japanese Language Research＞ Students will learn the fundamentals of early modern 1) Required Courses (Students are required to take Synchronic and diachronic analysis of various Japan, up to the present day, through exploring the a number of credits specified by their respective characteristics such as phonemes, grammar, meaning and social and political movements of the times. program from the subject lists 1 and 2 below.) vocabulary of the Japanese language from a linguistic 1 : Japanese Language point of view. Introduction to the History of Culture I Students will learn the history of modern Japanese ・Japanese Language Intensive Program: [Subject example] 12 credits, 360 hours or more from the Meiji Restoration to the end of World War II to Introduction to the Japanese Language I ・Japanese Studies and Japanese Culture Program : criticize commonly accepted theory. 6 credits, 180 hours or more Students will learn the fundamentals needed for studying modern Japanese language; discussing it from Japanese Culture and Society ＜Japanese Language＞ phonological, grammatical and lexical viewpoints. Students will learn the basics of Japanese society, The aim of the classes is to improve your Japanese Introduction to the Japanese Language II culture and history. The subjects and materials for language proficiency. Various types of classes to Students will learn the theory of Japanese grammar. discussion will be decided by the students. improve your skills in listening, reading, speaking, and Other subjects: Composition in Japanese, etc. writing are offered. You will choose appropriate Other subjects : Introduction to Japanese History, etc. classes based on your interests and the result of the initial placement test in each semester. ＜Japanese Literature Research＞ ＜Japanese Society Research＞ Through studies of several topics in Japanese literature, Classes are designed to analyze current social issues [Subject example] students will acquire points of view and methodologies of politics and education in Japan. Introduction to Academic Reading necessary for literature. [Subject example] Students will learn sentence structure and grammar for [Subject example] Introduction to Regional Sociology I Lectures will be given on the structure and function of academic reading. Through paraphrase practice, Introduction to Japanese Literature II students will acquire the basis of academic writing. families and regional societies - the basic structural Lectures will be given on the nature of Japanese literature, Advanced Oral Expression (Research Design) factors of society in Japan, and further on the based on its history. They will help students learn basic Students will learn how to show the data, the structure 'prototype' of regional society. knowledge and advanced academic approaches for of presentation and useful expressions to give studying Japanese literature. convincing presentations at seminar in university. Introduction to Regional Sociology II Academic Writing Introduction to Japanese Language and Literature Lectures will be given on the problems in Japanese Students will learn how to write an academic paper Lectures will focus on the significance and methodology of regional societies after World War II and their solutions. step by step. They will write their papers and make an studying Japanese language and literature. They will deal Case studies will be used for discussions. oral presentations. with standard Japanese and dialects, written and spoken Other subjects: Introduction to Sociology, languages, storytelling, literature and 'waka'-poems. Sociology of Education, etc. ※Students can learn useful Japanese to get a job in Other subjects: Reading of essays, novels, article ,etc. 2) Participation Type Courses (These courses are Japan. Reading of Writings in Japanese included in Research Subjects.) Artistic Culture Develop your reading ability by means of Japanese novels, Business Japanese Basic This course will provide lectures and practicum by essays, and articles, paying attention to the vocabulary Through practical training, students will learn people in Kumamoto prefecture who are involved in used and the style. Students are expected to present what necessary Japanese for business situation. artistic culture. they learn from their readings. Japanese Reading Proficiency Selected Topics in Human Geography Students will develop their reading proficiency to Other subjects: Introduction to Japanese Literature I Field research of the change in one year after the pass N1 which is often required to get a job in Japan. Kumamoto earthquake in the downtown. 3) Content of Completion Research ⑨ Support ■Follow-Up (Career Path) By the end of March 2020, students decide the subject of Students will be assigned to a faculty (Literature, etc). We continue to interact with former students through their essay or completion report after consulting with A faculty teacher and a Japanese language instructor the internet. supervisors. Then, students will complete the essay or will co-teach and act as your supervisors. After graduation: report under the guidance of supervisors. ○ Program Committee ・Going to graduate school in Japan In August, Japanese Language Intensive Program Committee members are selected from professors of ・Working in Japanese company students have a presentation about their essays and various faculties. They are in charge of accepting ・Japanese translators Japanese Studies and Japanese Culture Program Japanese Studies students, evaluating students’ students have an oral examination. achievement and certifying their completion. Now, three former Japanese Studies Program students 4) Opportunities to study with Japanese Students are working in Kumamoto. We invite them and hold Most of Research Subjects are offered by the Faculties of ⑩ Certificate of Program Completion meetings about study abroad life and work in Japan. Letters, Education, Law and General Education. In these Students who have earned 24 credits during the classes, students can study with Japanese students. Also academic year, have submitted an essay in Japanese in extracurricular activities, there are many opportunities which is approved by a supervisor is required or a to interact with Japanese students. program completion report and have passed an oral ⑧ Annual Events examination will receive a certificate.