A new major in Japanese will be unveiled in fall 2012
Foreign languages have been a major part of Western Michigan University since its earliest days, and for good reason. Learning about languages is an integral link to the world at large; it serves as a bridge across culture and perception.
As global openness increased over the last century, interest in other languages expanded past the traditional study of the classical languages. Languages clear roads and enable cultural discourse and expression. At Western Michigan University, the Department of Foreign Languages is growing to accommodate this global outreach.
In fall 2012, WMU and the Department of Foreign Languages began offering a major in Japanese to allow interested students to pursue their Japanese education to the highest level possible as an undergraduate.
“Those who choose to major in Japanese will complete their courses with a level of proficiency that is high enough that they should be able to communicate complex ideas in culturally appropriate ways,” notes Jeffrey Angles, professor of foreign languages and advisor for the new major.
The major will help students develop a high-level proficiency in the four skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
A Japanese minor also will be available and will provide a basic working knowledge of Japanese language and culture, and basic proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
In addition to declaring Japanese their major, students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of study abroad opportunities through WMU’s exchange institutions in Japan.
Currently, study abroad opportunities exist for…
- Keiō University (Tokyo)
- Rikkyō University (Tokyo)
- Daitō Bunka University (Saitama)
- Ritsumeikan (Kyoto)
- Otaru University of Commerce (Hokkaido), and
- Japan Center for Michigan Universities (Hikone).
Shorter, semester-long programs are offered at:
- Nihon University (Tokyo), and
- Japan Center for Michigan Universities (Hikone).
A two-week study abroad Japan Religion and Culture tour also is offered.
“We believe that it is only through spending a significant amount of time in Japan that students will have enough knowledge about the language and culture to make Japanese useful in their future career plans,” says Angles. “Students are in class between two to four hours per day, so many students return from Japan with an immense improvement in abilities. Students whose primary goal is to develop high-level knowledge about Japan and its language should consider the new major in Japanese.”
A variety of scholarship opportunities are available to help students study abroad. http://homepages.wmich.edu/~jangles/studyabroadinjapan.htm
For more about the differences between the various study abroad opportunities or information about scholarships, please contact Dr. Jeffrey Angles in 419 Sprau Tower or by email at jeffrey.angles@wmich.edu; or Dr. Rika Saito in 518 Sprau Tower (rika.saito@wmich.edu).
