Japanese (2024)

Japanese is available as a specialisation within the International Languages and Cultures major. Details of the requirements for the Japanese language specialisation can be found under International Languages and Cultures.

Japanese may also be taken as a minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.

The point of entry into the Japanese language papers depends on previous experience. Those with no previous experience of Japanese, take JAPAN131 followed by JAPAN231 in the subesequent year. Students with 14 credits at Level 3 in NCEA Japanese or equivalent, will gain direct entry into JAPAN232. Students with excellent results at Level 2 in NCEA Japanese or equivalent, may, at the discretion of the Convenor of Japanese, begin with JAPAN232. Native speakers of Japanese may not enrol in JAPAN131, JAPAN231, JAPAN232, JAPAN331 or JAPAN332. Students whose heritage language is Japanese and who wish to enrol in a Japanese language acquisition paper should contact a lecturer in the subject to determine the appropriate level. Please consult with the Programme Convenor for general advice on entry point into Japanese language acquisition papers.

On this page

• Prescriptions for the GradCert(Jap) and GradDip(Jap)
• Prescriptions for the PGCert(Jap), PGDip(Jap), BA(Hons) and MA
• Prescriptions for the MPhil
• Prescriptions for the PhD
• 100 Level
• 200 Level
• 300 Level
• 800 Level
• 900 Level

• Prescriptions for the GradCert(Jap) and GradDip(Jap)

  A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Japanese at an advanced level in their first degree.

  For further details, contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office.

• Prescriptions for the PGCert(Jap), PGDip(Jap), BA(Hons) and MA

  To complete a BA(Hons) in Japanese, students must gain 120 points at 500 level, including at least 30 points in research (normally JAPAN591) and at least 30 points from papers listed for Japanese.

  To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in the MA in Japanese, a student should have completed either:

  a) a BA with a major in International Languages and Cultures: Japanese pathway (or equivalent) and have gained at least a B average across the 300 level papers, or

  b) a BA(Hons) in Japanese (or equivalent) and have gained at least second class honours (second division).

  Completion requirements for the MA in Japanese vary depending on admission criteria:

  Students admitted under a) above must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, including JAPAN502 and either a 120 point thesis, or a 90 point thesis or a 60 point dissertation.

  Students admitted under b) above must complete a 120 point thesis, or a 90 point thesis and a further 30 points from approved 500 level papers, or a 60 point dissertation and a further 60 points from approved 500 level papers.

  Note: There will be no new intakes into all of these postgraduate qualifications in 2022 onwards.

• Prescriptions for the MPhil

  The Master of Philosophy is a one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.

• Prescriptions for the PhD

  The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.

• 100 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  JAPAN131	Japanese for Beginners	15.0	24B (Hamilton)
  This paper assumes no previous knowledge of Japanese. It takes an integrated approach to the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking.

• 200 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  JAPAN231	Basic Japanese 1	15.0	24A (Hamilton)
  This language acquisition paper is designed as a continuation from JAPAN131, a paper designed for absolute beginners. Students will acquire further basic written and spoken communication skills in Japanese language.
  JAPAN232	Basic Japanese 2	15.0	24B (Hamilton)
  This language acquisition paper follows JAPAN231, a paper designed for learners with a rudimentary knowledge of Japanese. Students will acquire further basic written and spoken communication skills in Japanese language.

• 300 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  INTLC301	Research Methods in International Languages and Cultures	15.0	24B (Hamilton)
  After workshops covering intercultural contexts in research, bibliography, literature reviews, ethics, data collection and editing, students will prepare a research report.
  INTLC303	Visual Cultures of East Asia	15.0	24B (Hamilton)
  This paper critically examines key forms of East Asian visual culture, with a focus on film and art, and within a comparative context.
  INTLC380	Study Abroad 1	15.0	24G (Block), 24I (Block) & 24X (Block)
  This paper will enable students to undertake appropriate individual study abroad programmes as part of their undergraduate degree. Each study programme should have a significant component of time spent offshore, with a series of assessments being agreed in advance with the paper convenor.
  JAPAN331	Japanese for Communication 1	15.0	24A (Hamilton)
  This paper focuses on advanced Japanese language learning and is a continuation of JAPAN232.
  JAPAN332	Japanese for Communication 2	15.0	24B (Hamilton)
  This paper is the continuation of JAPAN331.

• 800 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  JAPAN800	Japanese MPhil Thesis	120.0	24X (Hamilton)
  No description available.

• 900 Level

  Code	Paper Title	Points	Occurrence / Location
  JAPAN900	Japanese PhD Thesis	120.0	24I (Hamilton), 24J (Hamilton), 24K (Hamilton) & 24X (Hamilton)
  No description available.