Japanese at Sheffield

franpgb

Oi! I read it kind of wrong. I got it mixed up - thinking that less credits means less intensity I suppose. Hmm dodgy thinking actually. Ah there's all the non-language modules too aren't there? I heard a Literature one is hard word - not sure which one.

There is one in the fourth year which you read books written IN Japanese rather than just being written by a Japanese person.

Do your abilities from other languages, if you've done them, transfer to Japanese as in certain abilities? Like at good ol' GCSE (French and Spanish), I was stronger at writing and oral..and sometimes reading, in both. I know though that Japanese script is completely different so it won't be similar at all, but do these er strong and weak points transfer a bit? OR is it all over again, discovering your strengths and weaknesses?

You know *how* to study a foreign language, which is a bonus given that some people have never done anything beyond GCSE French and they sometimes struggle with it for the first few weeks. Case in point, was me scribbling down every single new word I came across in class. I think Dan was saying his listening was good because he was used to it in A-level German. I swear to god, even though I have an A-level in a foreign language, my listening is sooo bad. However I can absorb a lot of vocab very quickly.

I think my speaking again is okay, because I've learnt how to mimic foreign languages before and pick up on things like social cues, nuances, fillers etc. But that's maybe through hanging out with a lot of Japanese people all the time. :indiff:

It really depends though. That's just for me, I can't say the same for everyone.

Reply 102

gaijin

But that's maybe through hanging out with a lot of Japanese people all the time. :indiff:

How do you manage that? :eek:

It must be really helpful for you?

Reply 103

Dilerious

How do you manage that? :eek:

It must be really helpful for you?

Here's the coda for that....

My flatmate is Japanese.

Reply 104

Heyhey!
Well I am Kim and I'm hoping to apply for 2009 entry for Japanese in Sheffield! :smile:

I was wondering.. how difficult is it to get in? I remember I went to the open day and they said some shocking statistic that kinda scared me a bit. I have AAAABB at AS level if that is any help.

Also.. what is Sheffield uni like itself? I went on the open day and I was really really impressed but I'm wondering whether that was just because it was a really well done open day.. obviously they only show their best traits etc :smile:

Thanks! (:

Reply 105

kimoso

I was wondering.. how difficult is it to get in? I remember I went to the open day and they said some shocking statistic that kinda scared me a bit. I have AAAABB at AS level if that is any help.

No you have no chance, its not as if your grades aren't good enough for the most competitive course at the most competitive unis. :erm:

Reply 106

Um, I dunno if you're being sarcastic or not. :/

Reply 107

kimoso

Heyhey!
Well I am Kim and I'm hoping to apply for 2009 entry for Japanese in Sheffield! :smile:

I was wondering.. how difficult is it to get in? I remember I went to the open day and they said some shocking statistic that kinda scared me a bit. I have AAAABB at AS level if that is any help.

Also.. what is Sheffield uni like itself? I went on the open day and I was really really impressed but I'm wondering whether that was just because it was a really well done open day.. obviously they only show their best traits etc :smile:

Thanks! (:

Difficult to get in? No.
Difficult to graduate? Oh boy that's a huge chestnut.

I'm surprised they don't do the old and now very famous Harvard Law introduction of;

Look to the left of you, look the right of you, etc etc...

Don't come with the notion of loving Japan though - because some people (especially me) will come to hate you. Hahaha. J/K. Yes, its quite alright to be studying Japanese and yet feel really negatively about Japan. Hahaha. Honest to God, I must be the only person doing Japanese who openly criticises Japan and how much I hate it! :s-smilie:

I think I tend to share sensei's cultural observation humour a lot more. For example, I once wrote a homework on why Japanese people like things like cartoons, cute characters and young girls? "Are the Japanese a bunch of kids who only listen to Mickey Mouse?" I retorted on my paper. Often if you are lucky, sensei may even respond to your sarcastic comments on paper.

On the notion of sensei, if you stay long enough - she will get to know everything, and I mean everything about you. In fact you ever go head to head with her, don't. Because she has more information about yourself that you do! In one year she has more dirt on me than my parents. :laugh:

On average only 16 per year will pass the degree. And I think the intake is around 50+, but the majority will drop out after the first year/first semester. So if you have braved the first year, you probably have a decentish chance of finishing it (I HOPE!)

I wouldn't worry about it though, as long as you focus on yourself you'll be fine. Just don't give two ****s about how everyone else is progressing and if you are catching up to them. Some people advance much quicker and some people can nail kanji and wing other exercises with ease.

You should be made an offer given your obscenely high grades - some people like myself have fairly mediocre results from about 5 years ago, so I wouldn't be hung up on the whole "I am good enough to get in" fact. You are intelligent enough to see that you will be made an offer on the basis of your a-levels.

I don't know how I could *bash* Sheffield in any sense other than I hated the huge classes in the first year - but that's in part to their intake, so I can't possibly criticise that. The teachers has have been stated, are awesome and always have time for you. One time during the easter holidays, sensei said if people wanted some help with their Japanese, she would meet them in Sheffield and help them out! :eek:

I mean, does this happen elsewhere? Maybe not...

Plenty of Japanese people in Sheffield to ~~sodomise~~ speak Japanese with on a daily basis, so its pretty cool to start practising and making friends.

I guess the only other thing I hate about Sheffield is the hills. Good people, good union, good course. Meh, no real gripes tbh. Just the fecking work-rate of the course.

Reply 108

quue2

^You make it sound more daunting than it needs to be. Be a bit more positive for the new undergrads :smile:

But then again it's a language course so the reading/writing aspect would be hella hard, no? Speaking shouldn't be a huge difficulty though. But I guess if you really focus and learn and study to the your hardest and enjoy it, there should be no reason for a student to not do well in their course (language or not)

Reply 109

username42053

7

Having looked at Leeds, Manchester, SOAS and Sheffield I can say that Sheffield was the best - especially in terms of the course itself.

Leeds less language based (well in first year anyway) and go to Japan in your 2nd year.

Manchester still relatively new.

SOAS similar level to Sheffield - but Sheffield is apparently better with learning the language with regards to practicality; they teach you to live in Japan. SOAS is more business-like and 'rounded'?! Ok that came from someone at SOAS..but Sheffield is better with language by a smidge as they teach you as if you're going to live in Japan.
So I've heard.

So SOAS vs. Sheffield eh.

And erm why wouldn't you get in with those grades you loon?! I was predicted AAB. 3 as I didn't put down about General Studies ha (got an E). Got in fine, and you need ABB to get in, so you're bound to get in.

Reply 110

franpgb

And erm why wouldn't you get in with those grades you loon?! I was predicted AAB. 3 as I didn't put down about General Studies ha (got an E). Got in fine, and you need ABB to get in, so you're bound to get in.

Indeed, you would think that someone who got more than 3As would be able to open a website and take a look at the entrance requirements :rolleyes:

I smell the Brag train :fan:

Reply 111

quue2

^You make it sound more daunting than it needs to be. Be a bit more positive for the new undergrads :smile:

But then again it's a language course so the reading/writing aspect would be hella hard, no? Speaking shouldn't be a huge difficulty though. But I guess if you really focus and learn and study to the your hardest and enjoy it, there should be no reason for a student to not do well in their course (language or not)

It is daunting and you should be prepared to work hard and enjoy it. I can't say its a piece of cake and the course is ran at a slow mediocre pace - its just isn't.

There is no question if you work hard you will pass.

Nowhere in my post did I suggest otherwise... :confused:

The problem is, some people come with the idea of being able to speak and learn Japanese is an easy thing. People can be guilty of seeing the end product without the input that goes into it (myself very much included in that.) I would be doing a huge disservice to any new undergraduates by telling them that the course is not intensive and the work load is relatively easy. Would you like me to lie, or simply sugar-coat it, so you get a whopping great shock when you decide to study this language at undergrad level?

Speaking easy? Not really, there is the whole social system you have to work out. I mean, a girl can learn to use watashi all the time in front of her friends, but I would probably be derided by my male friends as being a 'soft' if I used that all the time. Likewise, I would never say 'da' or 'boku' to sensei...

Its complicated, because you have to often develop two systems for one language. And I find it a pain to use polite forms when speaking, because I only ever do it to my superiors.

Also, you have to learn to bow when saying stuff...

And I am being deadly serious here...

最後に

まぁ、日本語を勉強すればするほど、やさしくなるということだけど、実は違っているよね。

四年生によると、一年間日本にいた後で、何も分からなさそうだ。

日本語を勉強してれば、仮定が違うと思っているね。日本語が勉強してるの？ことがあるの？

やっぱり、だれかもっと勉強すると、当たるようになるね。バカじゃん。

Reply 112

quue2

of course! :smile:

just try not to goof off and stay focused and anybody should be fine. To be honest i think the one (and only) time during Uni in which you shouldn't work hard is during freshers week (as that's because the course doesn't start then anyway haha)

Reply 113

gaijin

It is daunting and you should be prepared to work hard and enjoy it. I can't say its a piece of cake and the course is ran at a slow mediocre pace - its just isn't.

There is no question if you work hard you will pass.

Nowhere in my post did I suggest otherwise... :confused:

The problem is, some people come with the idea of being able to speak and learn Japanese is an easy thing. People can be guilty of seeing the end product without the input that goes into it (myself very much included in that.) I would be doing a huge disservice to any new undergraduates by telling them that the course is not intensive and the work load is relatively easy. Would you like me to lie, or simply sugar-coat it, so you get a whopping great shock when you decide to study this language at undergrad level?

Speaking easy? Not really, there is the whole social system you have to work out. I mean, a girl can learn to use watashi all the time in front of her friends, but I would probably be derided by my male friends as being a 'soft' if I used that all the time. Likewise, I would never say 'da' or 'boku' to sensei...

Its complicated, because you have to often develop two systems for one language. And I find it a pain to use polite forms when speaking, because I only ever do it to my superiors.

Also, you have to learn to bow when saying stuff...

And I am being deadly serious here...

最後に

まぁ、日本語を勉強すればするほど、やさしくなるということだけど、実は違っているよね。

四年生によると、一年間日本にいた後で、何も分からなさそうだ。

日本語を勉強してれば、仮定が違うと思っているね。日本語が勉強してるの？ことがあるの？

やっぱり、だれかもっと勉強すると、当たるようになるね。バカじゃん。

Haha I can read most of that Japanese aloud but I don't really know what most of it means.. *sigh*. I am just a beginner I guess. I think you said something like studying japanese is perceived to be easy but it's actually not? Could be very wrong I guess!

And thanks for all the information! :smile:

Actually I think the intensive language teaching would be kind of a relief (I know I will be looking back and rolling my eyes at this though probably). Yeah it's just that my current japanese evening class is at an excruciatingly slow pace and it just doesn't motivate me y'know? I work better under pressure. Although, I am slightly apprehensive as to just how much pressure there will be haha. I'm sure perserverence is the key (:

Oh, I was also wondering, with the course being so full on - do you still have time to do normal student stuff such as going out clubbing etc? I do enjoy a good rave :yep:

Delirious

Indeed, you would think that someone who got more than 3As would be able to open a website and take a look at the entrance requirements :rolleyes:

I smell the Brag train :fan:

Why the **** would I want to brag about getting 2 Bs?! :lolwut:

And yeah of course I know the entrance requirements, I've been looking at universities since I was like 15 haha :ninja:

. However, those are requirements for A2, and those are my AS results, and if the course was as competitive as I had been led to believe at the open day I was obviously worried that they would secretly be mainly looking at people who were predicted all As, which I don't know if I will be. Why are you so bothered by my grades anyway? :curious:

Reply 114

Ezikio

7

There's been a lot of talk here about SOAS and other Universities that do Japanese but does any one have any information on Edinburgh(Lower tuition fees are tempting :p:

).

I'm going to be applying for 2009 entry and my main choices are both SOAS and Sheffield but I can't seem to get much info on Edinburgh. From what I can make out Sheffield has the most demanding course which is why I'm leaning towards it.

Also, probably a long shot but do any of you know much about the Management course at Sheffield?(I should probably start another thread right?) I'm more tempted to go with Economics at SOAS over Management at Sheffield but the Japanese at Sheffield looks so much better.

Looks like there a few people here who could be starting Japanese in 2009.I look forward to [potentially] seeing you in a year. :smile:

今GCSEの日本語を勉強しますでコレジ。
がんばって, おやすみなさい。

Did I say that right? :smile:

Reply 115

kimoso

Why the **** would I want to brag about getting 2 Bs?! :lolwut:

And yeah of course I know the entrance requirements, I've been looking at universities since I was like 15 haha :ninja:

. However, those are requirements for A2, and those are my AS results, and if the course was as competitive as I had been led to believe at the open day I was obviously worried that they would secretly be mainly looking at people who were predicted all As, which I don't know if I will be. Why are you so bothered by my grades anyway? :curious:

4 As and 2 Bs - I was referring to the As predominantly.

:rolleyes:

Just goes to show that common sense and intelligence don't go hand in hand.
Please tell me how your brain worked out that a course whose entrance requirements is ABB would look for applicants with all As - REGARDLESS - the average person only does 3 Alevels anyway, you have 4 As at AS + Bs, you should have all As predicted anyway.....

So please, do tell me why the entrance requirements would be ABB if they were looking for AAA students. You aren't applying for Medicine at Imperial/Cambridge lassie.

Reply 116

Dilerious

4 As and 2 Bs - I was referring to the As predominantly.

:rolleyes:

Just goes to show that common sense and intelligence don't go hand in hand.
Please tell me how your brain worked out that a course whose entrance requirements is ABB would look for applicants with all As - REGARDLESS - the average person only does 3 Alevels anyway, you have 4 As at AS + Bs, you should have all As predicted anyway.....

So please, do tell me why the entrance requirements would be ABB if they were looking for AAA students. You aren't applying for Medicine at Imperial/Cambridge lassie.

Nah, the average person does 4 A levels.. general studies? :smile:

So I will only be doing one more than the average person and this is because I bothered to learn a language outside of school.

And what I meant is that like, because there are so many applicants and so little places.. obviously people predicted AAA would have a high chance of getting in, whereas someone predicted ABB, which is like.. the bare minimum would have a lower chance.. if you catch my drift. I really was not trying to "brag" about my results as I really feel I have nothing to brag about. :/

Reply 117

username42053

7

4 A levels? 3 is the average ain't it? Oh times change :getmecoat:

General Studies is crap. I hope you've dropped it :wink:

Like I said I didn't even put mine in my form - E to win.

Hmm I don't know. Depends on subjects. Someone may have been predicted ABB, but that's what the requirement is so it's ok, and I think they'd let someone in who dropped a grade, and someone may have AAA but someone with ABB may have a language A level under their belt for example.

If that made any sense.

BASICALLY you'll get in. As long as your PS ain't crap.

Reply 118

franpgb

4 A levels? 3 is the average ain't it? Oh times change :getmecoat General Studies is crap. I hope you've dropped it :wink:

Like I said I didn't even put mine in my form - E to win.

Hmm I don't know. Depends on subjects. Someone may have been predicted ABB, but that's what the requirement is so it's ok, and I think they'd let someone in who dropped a grade, and someone may have AAA but someone with ABB may have a language A level under their belt for example.

If that made any sense.

BASICALLY you'll get in. As long as your PS ain't crap.

Haha, can't drop general studies :lolwut:

My school takes the piss :')

Haha yeah that makes sense.
Ohh yeah! The PS - have you got any tips? I need to start writing it soon :eek:

Reply 119