Japanese Studies (with Year Abroad)-BA

You will take a double module in Japanese language, including the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening, a module in Japanese culture introducing the philosophy, art and literature of Japan, a module in Japanese history and two option modules from an extensive list.

Core modules:
• Japanese Language 1 (double)
• Introduction to Japanese Culture
• Introduction to Japanese History.

You will take a double module in Japanese language, including the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening, a module in Japanese culture, a module in Japanese history and two option modules from an extensive list.

Core modules:
• Japanese Language 2 (double)
• Japanese Culture: The Body and the Extremity of the Senses.

One of the level 2 Japanese history modules currently:
• Translation and the making of Modern Japan
• Power and Primacy: Sino-Japanese Relations in the Long Twentieth Century.

The third year is spent in Japan studying the language full-time at a Japanese university. You are required to take all the examinations specified by your host university, but the marks for these do not count towards the final degree mark. You will complete a 5, word project in English with a 1, character abstract in Japanese on some aspect of Japan, at your choice with guidance from Durham staff.

You will take a double module in Japanese language, a single text reading module in Japanese and a -credit Dissertation plus one other module

Core modules:
• Japanese Language 4 (double)
• Japanese Historical and Literary Texts
• Dissertation in Japanese Studies.

We attach great importance to your time abroad, during the third year of your degree, which you may spend as an English assistant in a school, as a student in a foreign university, or perhaps in employment with an overseas organisation. This is a time of enormous linguistic and personal development from which you should gain a high level of fluency in your language(s) and enjoy a unique opportunity to make new friends, appreciate new cultures and learn to work and study in new ways. Employers at home and abroad are impressed by the lasting benefits, especially in increased linguistic confidence and general self-motivation. During the year abroad you will complete an academic assignment related to each of the countries in which you stay. You will need to pass these in order to fulfil the requirements of the BA in Modern Languages with Year Abroad.