Japanese Language/Studies Applicants for 2012

I find that Korean dramas aren't really something I can really immerse myself into like Japanese dramas, but Korean variety shows are a different story DD
I'm a big fan of JRock (visual kei, particularly) and even that, I feel, has given me the ability to distinguish key words and phrases. It's the same with dramas and anime, although I am only limited to speech patterns and pronunciation :/

Do you recommend any Japanese Language support sites? (This question is open to everyone btw)

Yeah, the two are rather similar in some aspects from the very little amount I studied. I was going well with Korean, but then I started having doubts over the value of doing a Korean course and suddenly stopped, and haven't managed to find the motivation to pick it back up now school has started again.
On a slightly unrelated note, the reason I'm not so sure about Japanese is how much I've heard about just how hard it is (or at least the Sheffield course). But when I found out you don't start Japanese until 3rd year in Korean with Japanese I think I've gotten past my dilemma of making a choice between the two, even though this way I won't learn Japanese to a level I would have if I was doing it as a Single, and I won't spend a year there, but I'm more concerned with learning the language than going there really. Then again, there's still the worry I won't be able to cope with both languages after 3rd year and will have to drop Japanese anyway, but we'll pass that hurdle when I (hopefully) get to it.

That is a huge relief to know!

I've applied to Selwyn - I've sent my UCAS to my referee already. He's started to send the Oxbridgers' apps off today in my college and he's said he'll send mine off tomorrow *crosses fingers*)

Korean has always been more of a hobby to me as opposed to a future career option. There's no getting around the fact that Japanese is one of the most challenging languages for a native English speaker to learn but if you are dedicated enough you'll be able to reach a good level of fluency, even whilst doing a joint degree. You may have to sacrifice a lot of sleep and fresh air, but it'll be worth it.

Isn't Sheffield quite flexible with student changing their courses? I have a friend who did so in her 2nd year, but I'm not applying there so I'm not entirely sure!

I don't really know, but I remember seeing somebody say how they downgraded from Chinese/Japanese/Korean Studies to plain East Asian Studies because they found it too hard.

I only really started looking into Korean media and language when I started looking for uni courses and stuff and saw Korean on offer, so I've not been into it very long. I think I'd be able to do plain Japanese Studies by itself if I tried hard enough, but this way I get to do both instead of constantly weighing up pros and cons of each and frequently changing my mind. Also, I'm thinking that if I do manage to do both Korean and Japanese, even though my Japanese won't be as at high a level as if I did the Single it'll be at a high enough level once I leave that teaching myself to a higher level won't be too hard. Ugh, decisions, decisions

Sacrificing sleep and fresh air shouldn't be too much of a problem, because I don't get either of them much now anyway haha

I've also heard good things about
http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar
for grammar, although I haven't read much of it myself.

I used smart.fm to learn Kana, but it's been replaced by a new site which you have to pay for.

I was planning to use
http://kanjidamage.com/
for Kanji because it seemed like it'd work quite well, but textfugu.com also have a pretty good method for learning it I found, despite my failings.

Selwyn was in my shortlist! Fortunately since I'm the only Oxbridge applicant at my school, they were able to do mine pretty quickly. I'm part way through completing the SAQ, but I really did not expect it to be so long. Jrock/Vkei was my raison d'etre in secondary school! I was so into Alice Nine, AnCafe, the gazette, SuG, etc I'd go to almost every Jrock gig in the UK. Now I mainly listen to Oku-roku and enka!

Really?! I was stuck between Emmanuel and Selwyn, and picking one or the other was a headache >.<

OMGackt that's amazing! I'm currently into Miyavi's new sound, but I still listen to Gazette, A9, SuG and Plastic Tree XD
Unfortunately, I have not gone into gigs (I was absolutely distraught when I found out Gazette performed in Islington in 2007 and Miyavi a few months ago!)
K-pop is also growing on me, especially YG groups e.g. 2NE1 and Big Bang

Hey, kind of unrelated but I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the JLPT tests. I understand that they are really beneficial but was wondering whether it is possible to skip N5 and go straight to N4 for example or whether all of the tests needed to be done. I have already completed a GCSE in Japanese as well as a year of AB initio and would appreciate any advice on the matter.

I am currently registered to sit the N3 paper in December (I should really be studying for it right now, not on tsr). GCSE is practically N5 level so your best bet is to aim for the N4, you do not have to have taken the previous level in order to move on to the next one. Unfortunately entry for December this year at SOAS is now closed but I know that Edinburgh University is also hosting the exams so you may want to check if theirs is still open. If not then I know that SOAS is also running the exams in June/July, however if you are intending to get your results back for university entry be aware that they won't reach you until around October.

The JLPT is very beneficial if you plan to use your Japanese skills outside of the UK as A level/GCSE may not always be recognised in other countries, whereas the JLPT is an internationally recognised qualification. If you are planning to do a degree in Japanese though it may not be particularly useful unless you're a masochist like me who enjoys taking lots of exams!
Good luck

They both seem like really lovely colleges. Maybe you can narrow down the criteria by size, accommodation, facilities etc.

The Gazette gig was literally a few days after I came back from Japan so I missed it as well! And to this day they still haven't returned (perhaps they were disappointed that we weren't there? ) I went to Miyavi's first two gigs in London but I missed this year since it was so close to exams. He new album is beyond amazing but I do like his older stuff too. I'm part of the minority that adored his Kabuki boys days As for Kpop I'm mainly into the pre-2009 groups (DBSK, BB, 2NE1, 2PM,Shinee, etc), I've been quite put off by the recent influx of talentless groups.

I think I should stop talking about VK and Kpop now (;^^)

UCAS sent off today!!! I chose Selwyn in the end; as beautiful as Emma was, Selwyn's further away from the town centre but enough that it's still accessible for me
Plus the Master of Selwyn is a Professor in Japanese, and the book on 'The Tale of Genji' that I'm buying is his work!

i got an offer from manchester today!

Hi i'll be applying for Japanese Studies at Sheffield and Manchester for 2012 entry.
I have no previous knowledge of Japanese unlike most of you on this thread but i have learnt the both kana syllabaries and i am trying to learn some basic grammar points.

I was just wondering though when writing your personal statement do you just write about parts of the subject that interest you and how you came to become interested in the subject? Also, in terms of writing about your a levels do you just talk about what general skills your a level subjects have given you seen as i have never done Japanese before?

Thanks for any help you can give.