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Japanese In-country Program: Kanazawa

Information Sessions

2012-2013 Japanese In-country Program: Sunday 18th November 2012 – Saturday 26th January 2013

Information Session:
Date/Time: Friday 27 July, 1:00pm-2:00pm (tentative)
Venue: TBA

Application Due: 3:00PM on Thursday 16 August 2012

Overview of the Program



Given the demand for Japanese language graduates with high levels of proficiency, a growing number of students are seeking to attain the highest possible level of proficiency in Japanese whilst doing their degree. To assist students in the achievement of that goal the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics offers an intensive Japanese language course at Proficient 1 & 2 and Advanced 1 & 2 in Kanazawa.

The courses are offered from late November to late January/early February each year at the Ishikawa Japanese Studies Centre within the Ishikawa Foundation for International Exchange, Kanazawa City, Japan. This intensive program is designed to give selected full-time and part-time students in the Intermediate 2 or Proficient 2 Japanese course at Monash University (or a comparable course) the opportunity to complete Proficient 1 & 2 or Advanced 1 & 2 over the Australian summer break. This then allows students to progress to Advanced 1 & 2, Advanced 3 & 4 or a comparable course upon returning to Australia in February. The program is spread over ten weeks, including one week over the Christmas and New Year holidays. The program is offered on a full-fee-paying (non-HECS) basis, and Monash students will be awarded 12 points credit (one quarter of a full year load).

Kanazawa City is located along the coast off the Japan Sea in Ishikawa Prefecture and is one of Japan's most beautiful cities. With a long history, Kanazawa offers an ideal setting for experiencing the blend of traditional and modern culture in contemporary Japan.

A homestay is arranged for each student in the program. A variety of cultural activities and visits to various institutions are arranged along with a number of other excursions. These are seen as important ingredients which make the program a valuable and stimulating experience.

The number of students selected for the program each year will vary, depending upon the quality of applications. It is expected that approximately 10 students for each course will be sent for the 2012-2013 program.

The program covers a demanding workload, and applicants must be committed to studying very hard whilst in Japan. Note participants are not allowed to work in Japan.

Program Outline

Period: Sunday 18th November 2012 – Saturday 26th January 2013
(10 weeks including one week New Years holiday 12月25日～1月2日)

Subject offered:
ATS2165/ATS3165 Japanese Proficient 1 (Kanazawa) and
ATS2166/ATS3166 Japanese Proficient 2 (Kanazawa)
ATS3167 Japanese Advanced 1 (Kanazawa) and
ATS3168 Japanese Advanced 2 (Kanazawa)

Institution: Ishikawa Foundation for International Exchange, Kanazawa, Japan

Eligibility

The following students are eligible to apply:

  1. All Monash undergraduate and postgraduate students currently enrolled in Japanese Intermediate 2 (for Proficient 1 & 2 course) or Proficient 2 (for the Advanced 1 & 2 course) in the Japanese Studies Program with a result of C (credit) or above for the first semester. Information about the levels can be found in the Monash University Handbook.

  2. Students from other institutions who are currently enrolled in a unit equivalent to Japanese Intermediate 2 or Japanese Proficient 2 offered in the Japanese Studies Program at Monash University.

  3. Other applicants such as teachers or professionals (i.e. businessmen or academics) will be assessed by the Japanese Studies Program for their eligibility.

Selection Criteria

Selection of the students will be based on the following criteria:

  1. past academic performance in Japanese;
  2. past general academic performance;
  3. evidence of self-discipline and high motivation; and
  4. the overall benefit likely to flow to the student in terms of their career and future study plans.

Applicants will be interviewed when necessary.

Fees to Cover the Program in Japan

This course is offered on a full-fee basis, and does not attract HECS. It is subsidised by the Ishikawa Prefectural Government and classes are held in offices made available through the Government's Office for International Cultural Exchange.

The fees for the 2012-2013 program will be announced shortly.

The fees for the 2011-2012 program were approximately A$5000 for Monash students and A$5600 for non-Monash students, which is considerably below the cost for other similar programs. The fees cover tuition costs, homestays, and some excursions. The final cost will be determined in August and will depend upon the exchange rate at that time.

All the participants will be required to pay the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics a 30% holding fee via ecart online (http://ecommerce.arts.monash.edu.au) by a specific date in September. The remaining 70% will be due in October. Cancellations between these dates will result in forfeiting the 30% deposit, and between a specified date in October and 14th November, a forfeiture of 70% of the total amount. After 17th November, the School will retain the entire program fee unless another student is able to fill the cancellation.

Other Costs

The cost of a return airfare from Melbourne to Japan and related travel costs and insurance etc. will be approximately A$2000 to $2500 including airport tax.

Students will be required to buy textbooks which will cost approximately $100.

Past experience suggests that students will need an additional A$2000-3000 to cover daily lunches, transportation and various incidentals.

Please note that participants are not allowed to work in Japan.

Credit

Monash students, upon successful completion of the course of study, will receive credit for 12 points. Non-Monash students will receive a letter of certification stating that work and material equivalent to the Proficient 1 & 2 course or the Advanced 1 & 2 course respectively at Monash have been satisfactorily covered. However, it is up to each institution to decide whether they will allow the participant to transfer these credits to the degree they are undertaking there. Students are advised to check with their home institution before enrolment.

Please note that the course to be offered in Kanazawa is only the language component for second-year or third-year Monash students seeking to major in Japanese. In order to complete a major in Japanese, students must enrol in 12 points of electives, in addition to 36 points (3 years) of language. The additional twelve points may be chosen from elective reading and writing subjects (ATS2154 / ATS3154: Japanese intermediate reading skills and ATS2155 / ATS3155: Japanese advanced reading skills) at the appropriate level, or studies subjects. For doing Honours, the normal prerequisite is ATS3747 (Theory and research in Asian studies). Alternatively, double-degree and part-time students may choose to study an extra semester or year of language subjects in their fourth year of study. Language study abroad subjects may also be used to complete the major.

Monash Abroad Grant

Monash Abroad scholarship funds are available to Monash students to support language study abroad in a country where the language is used on an everyday basis. Applications for this grant will be processed by the school.

Once students are notified that they are successful in their application to study in Kanazawa, they have to pay up all the necessary fees, including purchasing a flight ticket, immediately. As the results for the application for the Monash Abroad scholarships may not be out by then, students will have to make available their own funds to pay for the course fees and airfares in the first instance.

Current Monash Intermediate 2 or Proficient 2 students may be able to receive a grant. (the 2011-2012’s grant was $750,, but this may change for the 2012-2013 program.)

Program Enrolment

It is the students' responsibility to complete all their enrolment before they leave for Kanazawa. Manual enrolment is only available for summer semester.

Students who are unsure of the correct code to use should consult the unit coordinator.

Students not enrolled at Monash must consult their own institution regarding enrolment procedures or application for credit transfer.

Pre-departure Orientation

(Early November, the date and venue will be notified later.) All selected students must attend on this day.

The program will include:

Applications for the Kanazawa In-country Program

Application forms for the Kanazawa In-country Program: (will be available on this website in June 2012)

  1. To apply for the program, student must pay the deposit (30% of the fee) via ecart online (http://ecommerce.arts.monash.edu.au). Ensure an electronic receipt is obtained.
  2. Download the Application Form, complete and submit to:

General Office
School of Languages, Cultures, and Linguistics
Room S423
Building 11
Monash University
Clayton Vic 3800

2012-2013 Application close: Thursday 16 August, 3:00PM

Enquiries

Contact Japanese Studies

 

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