Please note - Swinburne University of Technology

~083 Graduate Diploma in Japanese
The Graduate Diploma in Japanese is an intensive language
course based on an examination of Japanese current affairs.
It is designed to enable students to develop their language
skills through reading recent Japanese newspaper articles
and listening to media broadcasts and to extend their
knowledge of contemporary Japan. Specific training is
focused on reading, aural comprehension and speaking.
The course is planned so that students who have completed
a three-year undergraduate program in Japanese can further
their knowledge of the Japanese language to a stage where
they are competent enough to deal with a wide variety of
topics in the written and spoken language.
Development of expertise in grammar is essential, particularly
in the understanding of long and complex sentence
structures, the acquisition of a wider vocabulary and in the
inclusion of a large number of characters. Students become
familiar with a wide variety of journalistic and written styles
found in newspapers. Training in precis writing, and in the
various styles and speech levels which characterise modern
spoken Japanese is also a part of the course.
Language development is focused on four major areas of
Japanese studies: social, cultural, business and political.
$ Students consider:
(a) general problems and trends as they are analysed by
5.
Japanese writers within the framework of the society as
a whole; and
$ (b) the validity of assertions and generalisations which are
made by Japanese, as well as foreign wfiters.
Entrance requirements
Applicants must have a degree with a major in Japanese
language, or equivalent, from a recognised university, college
or institute. All applications are assessed by a selection committee
and in certain cases applicants may be required to
complete appropriate units of the Bachelor of Arts degree
course, or undertake a preliminary reading course before
being accepted for enrolment.
Course structure
The course may be completed part-time in the evening over
two years. It comprises eight semester subjects in all and
each subject involves four hours of class meetings per week.
Usually students enrol for two subjects concurrently in each
of the four semesters but may, in special circumstances,
enrol for only one subject per semester.
Subjects on Japanese society and culture, and on business
and politics are offered in alternate years. Reading materials
are available from the course coordinators. In all subjects
students are required to complete one research project and
two tests per semester.
The subjects offered at present are:
A1400 Japanese Society A
A1401 Japanese Society B
A1402 Japanese Culture A
A1403 Japanese Culture B
A1404 Japanese Business and lndustry A
AJ405 Japanese Business and Industry B
AJ406 Japanese Politics A
AJ407 Japanese Politics B
Preliminary reading
Machida, T. A Collection of Japanese Newsaper Articles,
1987-1991. Melbourne: Swinburne Press. 1991
References
Masuda, K. (ed.) Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English
Dictionary: 4th edn, Tokyo: Kenkyusha, 1974
Kindaichi, K. (ed.) Shinmeika Kokugo Jiten. 2nd edn, Tokyo:
Sanseido, 1979
Nelson, A. Modern Readers: Japanese English Character
Dictionary. Rev. edn, Tokyo: Tuttle, 1978
Spahn, M. Japanese Character Didonar)! Tokyo: Nichigai,
1989
NO87
Graduate Diploma in Japanese for
Professionals
The Graduate Diploma in Japanese for Professionals is an
intensive language course designed for graduates with no
previous studies in Japanese. It provides vocational language
skills and basic knowledge of the cultural, social, political
and economic aspects of contemporary Japan.
The course is planned so that graduates in Business, Law.
Medicine, Engineering, etc., who are working, or planning to
undertake employment, in an area requiring Japanese
language skills and knowledge of Japan, can acquire the
main principles of the written and spoken language as well
as vocabulary and expressions pertinent to their professional
needs.
Entrance requirements
Applicants must have a degree or equivalent, from a
recognised university, college or institute.
Course structure
The course entails two years of part-time evening study.
The language component is six hours per week over four
semesters.
Year 1
The language component in fint year includes basic
grammar, situational dialogues, aural comprehension and
readinglwriting sections which provide students with the
basic knowledge of the mechanics of the language.
Semester 1
A1420
Graduate Diploma in Japanese for Professionals
1A
Semester 2
A.421 Graduate Diploma in Japanese for Professionals
1 B
Year 2
The language'component at the second year level is divided
into a 'core' segment of advanced grammar and a segment
in which language pertinent to the students' professional
needs is studied through reading and conversation.
Semester 1
AJ422
Graduate Diploma in Japanese for Professionals
2A
Semester 2
AJ423 Graduate Diploma in Japanese for Professionals
2B
Supporting components
Equivalent to two hours per week over four semesters.
The four supporting components are culture, society,
communication and economy.
These components take the form of five three hour seminars
per semester, at times to be arranged.