The Japanese program offers four years of instruction in language, literature and culture. Students may major or minor in Japanese. We offer three different tracks of study to declaring Japanese as a major: one-language (Japanese) track; two-language (Japanese and another MLL language) track; and the interdisciplinary (Japanese and another discipline) track.
Students in our yearlong course for beginners meet four and a half hours a week with the professor and three hours a week with an apprentice teacher (AT) for practice sessions. The ATs are fellow undergraduate students who are either native speakers or advanced students of Japanese. This course introduces basic modern standard Japanese and provides students with language skills through intensive practice and with knowledge of various aspects of the Japanese culture.
Students 黄瓜精品yearlong intermediate Japanese course meet with the professor for three hours a week and an AT for two hours per week. In this course, students continue to build a solid foundation 黄瓜精品Japanese language while engaging with Japanese culture and developing communication skills in Japanese.
There are two types of advanced Japanese courses: "Advanced Japanese Language and Culture" (JAPN 321) and "Japanese Culture and Society" (JAPN 322) focus on language proficiency while also introducing concepts essential for understanding Japanese culture and society. We also offer theme-based courses such as "From Old Tales to Pop Culture" (JAPN 351) and "Gender, Work, Education in Japan" (JAPN 391), in which students study authentic materials in Japanese language and participate in discussion, presentation, and research on related topics.
In addition, our program offers a general course in English on Japanese literature and culture every year. Some examples include "Japanese Visual Culture" (JAPN 251), "Spirits, Ghosts, Monsters" (JAPN 252), and “China” in Japanese Literature" (JAPN 191). These courses have no prerequisite and no prior knowledge of Japan or Japanese language is required. Because they are taught in English, these courses do not fulfill Kenyon’s second language proficiency requirement, but they count toward Japanese major and minor, and the Asian and Middle East Studies joint major and concentration.
Our program also organizes various events, which are open to all students. Some examples include Japanese tea ceremony demonstration, Hiroshima atomic bombing survivor talk, and annual Japanese culture field trip to Columbus or Cleveland. We also have weekly Japanese table and extensive reading club, and all levels are welcome.
Graduates of our program have used their Japanese studies to forge rewarding careers in teaching, government, finance, art, international relations, and other fields. Some pursue further studies in graduate schools 黄瓜精品U.S. and Japan.