Research Topics in Japanese: History & Society

This course develops Japanese language skills at a higher advanced level. It is designed for students with advanced Japanese language competency who are interested in applying their language skills to the study of topics in Japanese history and society. The course serves three purposes. First, class meetings during the initial semi-intensive phase (weeks 1-6) provide a venue for students to read and discuss issues relating to Japanese history and society in Japanese at an academic level. Second, during the subsequent research phase (weeks 7-12) the course develops student's ability to conduct research using Japanese language materials (e.g., academic research, primary sources, government materials, media publications, high school textbooks etc.) and to produce original academic research papers in Japanese. Third, the course provides students with opportunities to deliver formal academic-level presentations in Japanese. The focus and topics of the course will vary depending on the instructor and students’ interests and needs. Although aimed at advancing Japanese language skills, the course is best understood as a disciplinary course (e.g., history, sociology) taught entirely in Japanese. It is an opportunity for students to move beyond standard language learning (grammar, kanji, quizzes, tests etc.) and to apply their language skills within an academic discipline (e.g., history, sociology). Students will be assessed on their ability to actively formulate research questions, acquire relevant scholarly materials, and produce scholarly writing in Japanese.