Japanese at Sheffield

Hmm Edinburgh? Not as er, dedicated to SEAS, you could say. To be honest, I don't know much about it, but I think I could say it's not as good as SOAS and Sheffield at all. I don't know though.

Ask about the Management/Economics courses on the Sheffield thread - I don't know anything sorry. Well it depends what's more important: Japanese or the other one? Or are they equal?

Waste of time, and you could concentrate more on your other studies..only got one more year at your school. Damn I'd hate to be in a school like that.

Errrrrrrrr. I can't remember loads sorry. Don't say anything about anime or manga ha - well not recommended. Erm how you got interested in Japanese?

And thanks for all the information! 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

Waste of time, and you could concentrate more on your other studies..only got one more year at your school. Damn I'd hate to be in a school like that.

Errrrrrrrr. I can't remember loads sorry. Don't say anything about anime or manga ha - well not recommended. Erm how you got interested in Japanese?

Ima, 'koreji' de nihongo wo benkyoushiteimasu.

I'm not really sure how the modules work so I have a little query. Seeing as I'm going to be doing two subjects does mean that I will only be able to pick modules that involve one or the other? I heard that in single degree subjects you can pick modules that have nothing to do with your primary subject of study.

Well by means if you like it, then write about it! But be more specific, don't generalise. I mean I enjoyed Japanese films and the literature so I just waffled off some of my favourite artists and films etc.

Finally the crux should be your reason for studying the degree. I.e. what is your goal and purpose once you graduate. If you don't know, just ******** it by saying something like; it will open up more opportunities and increase your awareness of Japan and Japanese and hopefully will help you seek a career path during your four years.

Not the case with Managment I don't think, because its not really an Arts related subject. Because Linguistics is a fancy, waffly Arts based degree I have 20 free credits to what the hell I like. I think Management people must take all those dry and dreary statistics modules. However you get some free credits (40 in years II and IV) in the SEAS department - so you can study about Japanese politics, Korean literature or Chinese Language if you want.

They keep changing them, so I'm not 100% sure how they work now. They are in the process of changing the single honours Japanese Studies degree I think.

Hmm... well Anime and Video Game were really the reason that got me interested in Japanese. I'm quite into Japanese music, do you think I should write about that? I don't really know anything about Japanese Literature either so I won't be using that. Do you think that mentioning you are thinking about applying for the JET programme will help?

The thing is though.. my interest is mainly in the language itself!
I mean, I am interested in Japanese TV dramas, visual kei and I've read some Japanese literature but being honest I am interested in the language itself more than anything else!

Do you think I should put this? Or would that just be a complete no-no.

Incidentally, I'm taking that new Nic Tranter module this semester, so I'm not sure how well it will work up amongst things. Obviously its a lot better not having to do a basic social science module with a shed load of reading and no Japanese language to look at. Plus there is no exam, which takes some load off during the Xmas holidays.

Hmm... well Anime and Video Game were really the reason that got me interested in Japanese. I'm quite into Japanese music, do you think I should write about that?

Just talk about your favourite artists and games and possibly why you like them. For instance I'm being fan of Touhou Project games.

After first experiencing the satisfaction of communicating using a modern foreign language in Spain several years ago, it was clear that a languages course would be a rewarding path to follow. However, it was my fascination in the many facets of Japanese culture that cemented my interest in pursuing a language degree in Japanese. Although I have never undertaken formal tuition in the subject, it is a language that I was intending to learn, but no self-tuition method would offer such a varied and detailed understanding of both language and culture as a university degree. The opportunity to experience a year in Japan would be an incredible experience and one that would be rewarding both in forming a greater appreciation of Japanese culture and in encouraging my own personal development. Not only is Japanese a worthwhile language to learn because of Japan’s status as having the second highest GNP in the world, but it also of personal interest. Many of my hobbies throughout my life have centred around Japan, particularly contemporary Japanese music, including the works of Noriyuki Iwadare and Yuki Kajiura, as well as animation and video gaming, providing a practical use for the language skills gained and a good opportunity to practise them during the course.

A language course would understandably require a number of skills gained from A level studies. The AS Philosophy course has helped me develop necessary skills in forming a clear and coherent argument both in writing and speaking. Similar skills have been created from both history and classical civilisation, including analytical skills and the ability to study the effects the past can have on contemporary culture and civilisation, vital in a culture such as that of Japan that is still influenced greatly by its heritage and traditions. English has allowed me to develop more complex thinking on the formation of language, particularly in the language change modules and close examination of grammar and syntax. A greater appreciation of my own language should assist in the learning of another. Studying Latin for GCSE gave me the experience of learning an inflected language with complex syntactical structure and provided me with a solid base on which to learn any language, and learning French for many years until the end of GCSE gave ample language-learning practice in a classroom situation. As a result of my interest in this course I am currently undergoing private tuition in Japanese at school both for further practice and to provide some experience at learning a language so radically different from my own.

Up until the start of this year, when pressure of work intervened, I was an NCO in the RAF section of the college Combined Cadet Force. This greatly improved my communication skills, as I had to assist and instruct small groups of younger cadets in various activities to build their teamwork skills, which in turn improved my own. I am also passionate about writing; although I have not succeeded in getting anything published it is nevertheless something I would like to achieve, and further work with language would undoubtedly help in developing both a creative mind and writing skills. I love reading and greatly enjoy classical novels from various cultures such as Harper Lee’s 'To Kill a Mockingbird', Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein', as well as the epic poems of Homer and Virgil, studied during my Classical Civilisation course.

The language section of the course is what drew me to want to study Japanese initially, but other aspects such as examining literature and history are highly appealing, and would add extra dimensions to the study by allowing me to place the language in a social context.

So long as it's part of a well-rounded personal statement, feel free. Obviously there are limits, your PS wouldn't go down too well if you wrote something like "I have been enthralled in Japanese pornography since a young age, and thought studying Japanese at university level would be the fastest way to learn to understand the intricate plotlines." But showing a knowledge of aspects of music and television can hardly hurt you. I glossed over the issue as just 'popular culture such as animation, music and video games' but was actually told to include a couple of specific examples (though I lost most of my interest in anime about a year ago and ended up replacing it with more games playing) and was accepted, so clearly it's not grounds for immediate disqualification.

Didn't see that one coming. I'm going to assume you're significantly better than me though, who has yet to clear any of them on normal without dying.

Hi there, I'm new to this place but it's been very interesting reading this thread. At the moment I just finished school and I had applied to Leeds do Japanese & International Relations. I got AAB so I got in fine. I choose not to apply to Sheffield primarily because the open-day talk for the Japanese was (in my humble opinion) abysmal. The room marked as having the talk was empty, a person (who I think must have just been an on-site builder) directed me to another room where it he claimed it was taking place although this was just another empty room. I met a girl who was equally confused and together we finally met someone who, very flustered and stressed out, knew what was going on and could tell us where the talk was actually taking place. Then when we arrived since the talk was so late in starting as many others had been arriving later due to the confusion of the rooms a lot of the talk felt very very rushed, and was over extremely quickly. I left with a strongly negative, critical opinion of the Sheffield Japanese department. On the other hand the Leeds open-day talk was fantastic. The people there were very nice and the Japanese talk lasted for an hour or so and was very relaxed, with the speaker often taking questions, as well as having students present who people could ask questions about the degree to.

As a result of my sour experience with Sheffield, I decided not to put it as my first choice, and instead apply to Leeds as my firm choice. However, upon getting my grades of AAB I am fully capable of getting there and (to not sound elitist or anything) to an extent I feel I should attend a university that accepts people of similar academic ability to myself. I suppose I feel I would be wasting my grades if I went to a university in which the requirement to study sole Japanese is "three passes at A-level" whereas with Sheffield it is a far higher level of ABB, a level that is far closer to what I achieved. This line of thinking triggered a small thought in my mind that perhaps I was too hasty in dismissing Sheffield out of hand, and that I should give it a second chance. So I did I bit of searching for Japanese at Sheffield and thus I arrived here.

Upon looking through this thread I am getting very good vibes about the department and the people at Sheffield and I feel that perhaps my judgement was misplaced in condemning Sheffield for simply having a disorganised open-day presentation. Indeed in terms of the other subject I intend to study (Politics) Sheffield was far more impressive in it's open-day offerings, although I felt this was of lesser importance as I am confident in my ability at Politics, where as I am not as certain about my capability to learn Japanese and I therefore feel a strong department for that part of my course is very very important and should be the priority.

As I am taking a gap year (going to Tokyo for 10 months in 6 days time!) I do have the option to reapply and change my choice from Leeds to Sheffield. Now, looking into things at Sheffield in greater depth instead of just rejecting from my mind because of that open-day I experienced, I am getting good feelings from the place. The Politics department is extremely strong, the university has a much higher overall ranking, and perhaps most importantly, it seems that Japanese department is indeed strong, and not the disorganised mess I perceived it to be. Indeed a further perk of Sheffield is that the year abroad is in the third year, unlike Leeds that for some reason goes in the second year. I have a brother who recently graduated from Exeter with a degree in Russian and I asked him about the year abroad and, in the context of his language ability, he was glad the third year of his course was in Russia rather than the second and felt it far more suitable that way.

So! Any comments or words of advice or lessons you have learnt from your experience that you can lend me? I would very much appreciate it as the university one goes to is an important decision to make. Thanks.