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Japanese at Sheffield

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Reply 160
Raguna
Haha, I have similar recollections of the Sheffield open day. A very large, sweaty chap wearing an anime t-shirt made his Mum ask the speaker whether they study anime or have a Naruto module on the course. :no: So shameful. Man oh man, no offence to anyone if they like anime, but I hope the majority of people doing Japanese at university won't be the crazy obsessed otaku types that love everything Japanese, simply because it is Japanese and come to class screaming out anime catchphrases. Sure, watch and enjoy anime, but just don't go overboard on it all.


Oh sweet jesus. That guy will last about ten seconds once he starts to tackle the grammar.

Some are.... the majority who see past the first semester aren't. There are plenty of Japanese nerds rather than otaku (like myself) who know more about Japanese culture than most Japanese people do. I'm weird like that. Often if people hear I'm doing Japanese and ask if I like anime, I often do one of three things; one: punch them in the mouth, two: ignore them and just say "I have no idea what the **** you are talking about you dateless freak", and three: え、何じゃそれ?アニメ?あそう。。。じゃぁ、一番好きなアニメ番組は?They'll then hide in the corner.

If however you want to approach me and talk about Haruki Murakami -then I'll turn into the obsessive nerd. Funny thing is, lots of people like Murakami on our course and you're sure to get a nice debate if you bring one his books into class.

I've only recently started watching anime - but I prefer the movies rather than that shounen crap which is meant for 12 year olds in Japan.

Sadly if you want an experience where you can study Japanese without the presence of otaku - then you unfortunately you aren't going to find it. Better off going to Japan and enrolling in a class with a bunch of Chinese and Korean students.


To finalise this point, I think this personal account of the Leeds second year abroad is a good illustration of why I agree with you that the third year is a better year to go in terms of language ability.


I honestly don't think if you go with say a knowledge of 500 kanji you would not be in the same or better position than someone who has a knowledge of 1000 kanji and can hold at least basic conversations in Japanese. Unless you are supremely confident you would be limited to doing certain things on the YA. Taking non language classes would be the main one. To reach a very good standard to the same level as others who go in Year III you would have sit very intensive language classes in Japan - which I imagine means you will not be able to spend a lot of time socialising, especially if your Japanese is not great and you need to work on it. And then again, this sorta reduces the social factor if you are not confident and can't speak great Japanese.

There are some people in my year who aren't that confident. For me at least, I'll practice my Japanese on anyone, regardless of how bad it is.

She also loses points for transliterating 留学生の経験 into very bad romaji. She fail good.
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University of Sheffield
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kimoso - Yer I saw some 'nerds' too but that's inevitable. At mine, there was quite a good mix actually - February I think it was this year. I'm going to go to another one too. September 8 one. Now, as I've forgotten the timetable, is this one of the early Open Days, or a late one? Popular in September? God I really can't remember at all.

Raguna - :eek: He asked that!? That's so bad and embarrassing. Good God he would not last at all I suspect. Some people are crazy obsessed with anime etc. Bound to be a lot of people who like it, but hopefully they won't go too crazy/overboard and shove it in everyone's face.
Blimey that link. Thanks for that. 2nd is far too early, and I think it's good to come back from YA and have only 1 year left; not 2.

I've yet to read Murakami though he is on my book list. I love books so I'll make sure I read him to see what he's like. I suppose if you say you're doing Japanese, people will ask whether you like anime. Hmm knowing me, I'll probably practice my Japanese a fair bit even if I'm rubbish. I can already see my poor sister on the other end of the phone.

edit: Sorry if it's been asked/said, but Raguna and kimoso, how much Japanese do you know?
Reply 162
franpgb

edit: Sorry if it's been asked/said, but Raguna and kimoso, how much Japanese do you know?


For the last academic year I went to a night-school for basic Japanese. It was very casual, and although there was proper reading/writing/listening/oral tests, I didn't learn a massive amount from it. I am happy though that I did learn the hiragana and katakana, some vocab, as well as some, albeit very very basic, kanji and grammar. Even if I can't understand what it means, it is satisfying to be able to read the syllabary aloud. I viewed the class more as a way to familiarise myself with the language, rather than learn a lot.

Come Monday I'm flying to Tokyo for a year, so I would hope that I would pick up some conversational Japanese while there.

What about yourself?
Raguna
Haha, I have similar recollections of the Sheffield open day. A very large, sweaty chap wearing an anime t-shirt made his Mum ask the speaker whether they study anime or have a Naruto module on the course. :no: So shameful. Man oh man, no offence to anyone if they like anime, but I hope the majority of people doing Japanese at university won't be the crazy obsessed otaku types that love everything Japanese, simply because it is Japanese and come to class screaming out anime catchphrases. Sure, watch and enjoy anime, but just don't go overboard on it all.



To finalise this point, I think this personal account of the Leeds second year abroad is a good illustration of why I agree with you that the third year is a better year to go in terms of language ability.



Argh, I like anime,some almost obsessively, and lots of Japanese things, but the thought of someone asking if there is an anime, let alone bloody Naruto module makes me ashamed to admit I do, lest I be labeled as the same!
However i don't force it on everyone, I joined an anime group and we talked about it together, or I enjoy watching it myself in my own time, like anything, no one gives a **** if it ain't there thing, so don't bother ramming it down their throat!

I can understand a question asking if anime is mentioned at all in a modern culture/media/entertainment module, but if it is the first and only question and Mummy had to ask for him, oh deary me.

I wonder if Mummy will come to all his lectures to ask questions :rofl:

On my Japanese course, I was the biggest anime fan I knew, but there were a lot of silent geeks who wore aniem tshirts and never spoke to anyone, so who knows about them?
However in my anime group i was the tamest fan there, watched the least, knew the least, so there is a very large range of "otaku" ness to be afraid of, most of the people in my Japanese course seemed to like Japan for one of the following reasons:

1. They studied it at A-Level and liked it better than a few other subjects so took a why not study it more approach
2. They liked the fashion and style, not the gothic/cosplay stuff but the serious catwalk/high-street style fashion (never really understood this)

Lots on the course seemed to have no interest in anything Japanese, and I had no idea why they were even on the course! One guy was only on it because he hated England and thought Japan would be "more his kinda place"

Most didn't liek any J-pop/Rock, Anime, Japanese Cinema, Japanese History or anything :confused:
Maybe I am only confused because I am interested in the country for a lot of modern things like the prevalence of technological advancements as well as movies/anime etc, and the difference of how society functions, respect/polite/good service etc, along with a few areas of the history.
Of course the language itself is facinating too:p:
Ha a lot more than me. Never taken any Japanese classes, let alone qualifications. I prety much know the kana, and a few random words. I don't know any kanji (well I know how to write 1-10 and cat, but not pronounce or anything else about it) or grammar. I plan to learn some kanji before I go, and grammar too, but I'm travelling for 5/6 months so I can't really practice then. I really don't know much ha.

Wow you're going to Tokyo for a year?! Brave. You will learn a fair bit I would say! Damn. I was hoping someone would know as little as me :wink:

Ha asking if there's a module on Naruto is just horrendous. Oh really? I see I fit in:
1) Don't watch anime (well seen some Ghibli but that's more like our Pixar :wink:)
2) No qualifications
3) Fashion. Eh. No.

No interest in Japan!? That's a bit crazy considering you're studying it for 4 years, and spending 1 year there. That's mental. Ha yer forgot about the language there.
Reply 165
Oh god, I'm going to look a right scruffy bastard and this intro talk thing. My hair is getting messy now. Well, I always look a scruffy bastard. :smile:

Anyway... I'll try and organise something for my birthday beforehand and we'll try and get a few Japanese studies people and Japanese out if we can. Probably go to the sushi restaurant behind the cathedral and then take in some favourite drinking and dancing spots (Bungalows, Devonshire, Leadmill... etc.) It will be on the 22nd.

Just PM me nearer to the date if you are interested dear stalkers of this thread. I'll post something on the facebook group though just to let people know. We will also organise something more formally after we meet you all during freshers.

Plus of course there is the Japan Soc intro party! :biggrin: More reasons to get hammered amongst Japanese people again. :cheers:
Are you doing an intro talk? For what..an Open Day?

Aw shame I'm not joining this year. Damn miss out on the party. Maybe I should come this year. Sod travelling.

I'm really looking forward to joining the Japan Society actually. Sounds so fun from what I've heard on here and on Facebook or whatever.
Reply 167
Yeah Fran you SHOULD have come this year! You are so enthusiastic yet you aren't coming? :O

22nd you say? Sounds good to me :biggrin: What facebook group will you add the info too Gaijin?
I want to desperately but want to travel first and be super ready for this hardcore course. I will follow your blog so you better update it when you're there.

I assume the Japan Society group? Or the Japanese at Sheffield 2008 one.
Reply 169
Meh. I think I'll be at that thing - its probably the same day as the activities fair, so I'll be donning my happi coat and hachimaki and hanging around campus anyway. It keeps me off the street selling drugs.

I'll just come down and scare you all by showing you my JLPT level 2 kanji book. Mwahaha. :cool:

I'll post summit on that facebook group for Japan 2008 or whatever its called (the one keenly hijacked by me and James.) But like I say if you ain't on it - just PM me.

Its fair bit off now though - I don't go back to Sheffield for another 2 weeks. And my flatmates are still not in the UK. :woo:
Maybe see you 8th September then. I'll look out for you.

Yer that group has been hijacked completely! Useful info from both of you though.

2 weeks? You up to date on all yer studying? Looking forward to next year? :biggrin:
Reply 171
franpgb
I want to desperately but want to travel first and be super ready for this hardcore course.


Yea, travelling is a good plan. Better to do it now while you are young (instead of when you're a retired old woman!) and have fun during this time in your life when you are not tied up or preoccupied with finding or working a career. Well, in my opinion at least.

Anyway, I'm curious as to what you're doing to be "super ready" for the course as I wish to be the same. Are you travelling to Japan or taking night classes?
Definitely - I agree.

Ha well. I mean super ready, as in:
1) My mind won't be distracted as I want to travel
2) To be honest, I'm not a naturally hard worker (revised day before A levels :redface:) but I hope this will change my attitude to work and sort me out a bit.
3) Become an even more confident and independent woman, ready to take on anything
4) Well I'm so excited now, what will I be like waiting all this time? I'll be crazy excited and super ready to go.

Sorted. And I want to proper master the kana - I mean really nail it, as well as learn 200 kanji (will probably end up at about 100). I'll be able to revise them whilst I travel. I want a bit of a head start, though it will be a very short-lived one. You'll learn a lot in Tokyo - very jealous. May I ask, how are you able to afford to live there? Have you saved a lot then..what are you doing there too?

And I'm not travelling to Japan at all - a wideish variety of countries - nor am I taking night classes. I have pdfs though of:

-Basic Kanji Book 1 and 2
-Remembering the Kanji 1, 2 and 3
-Remebering the Kana
-A Guide to Hiragana and Katakana
-Genki 1 and its workbook

Plus numerous websites so I need no classes ha.
Reply 173
franpgb
Definitely - I agree.

You'll learn a lot in Tokyo - very jealous. May I ask, how are you able to afford to live there? Have you saved a lot then..what are you doing there too?


While I have been saving my money, I haven't been stockpiling *loads* of money as I didn't work while I was a student as I chose to focus on my studies, which ultimately paid off and allowed me to get the grades I did. Over the Summer however I got a job with a Canadian Audio Visual company which paid pretty well in comparison to the type of money I would have made from a standard retail job in England.

This money was managed to cover the basics such as the flight and initial stay in a hostel and I have some leftover as well as my savings for back-up. I really intend to support myself with a job, most likely as an assistant in a classroom, but there are also other opportunities such as those who wish to pay just to converse with someone whose Mother tongue is English. There are websites like GaijinPot.com which are great for foreigners seeking jobs. This salary will then cover the rent in a "Gaijin house", which is basically a place in which many people stay for cheap. It won't be luxury, but I'm not expecting nor requiring that.

It's kind of scary as I am organising this all independently (albeit with a friend). There are organisations such as Project Trust that set everything up for you for many thousands of pounds, but I would prefer to have independence and live and organise things for myself. I feel it will be a good way to grow-up and mature, rather than have everything on a plate for you. I talked to the guy in the Japanese Embassy in London and obviously they only accept people who will be able to support themselves as they do not want foreigners coming in and ending up tramps on the street, so that assured me as well.

However, I am not totally alone as there are dedicated, government offices dotted throughout Japan dedicated to my "Working Holiday" visa which aid people to find jobs and accommodation. It is a exchange type system our governments have in which Japanese people will come over here and do a similar thing.

Initially I was doing my gap year with a company known as Real Gap, but after some research I found them to be total scam artists. If there any lurkers lurking, do not go with them! They ask £700 of you to pay for their job/accommodations services, but all they simple do is redirect you to this Japanese government run charity organisation which is open to everyone! An account of someone who went through this experience can be read here.

Departing this Monday at 7:55 AM. So soon... :eek:
Reply 174
I really want to make sheffield my firm next year after looking round and getting grades that are decidedly too bad for cambridge :wink: not that i'd really want to go there anyway looking at it... there were only 9 people doing Japanese there this year. bah.

soo anyway, i would just like to ask what grades people got before they got in as a rough guide for what to aim for, i know it's ABB but for AS i got ABBC (one B was close to an A so i'm retaking that, and the C was one off a B... hoping to get that to an A anyway because it's music so i think i cannn)

but yeh
the A was in English Lit, which is a liked subject I think. Should I aim higher or are the grades actually normally ABB anyway?

blahh, sorry about the rambling :smile:
Reply 175
franpgb
Maybe see you 8th September then. I'll look out for you.

Yer that group has been hijacked completely! Useful info from both of you though.

2 weeks? You up to date on all yer studying? Looking forward to next year? :biggrin:


No and no... heh.

Want to start now and get sensei no jiro-jiro suru when I can't remember anything. Anyways, because my exam finished on May 27th and I have been technically off for four months. It seems like four years. :woo:
Raguna - Blimey. Independent or what - I'm all for independence myself too. You seem to have a pretty mature outlook on life which is encouraging.: I think it's crazy when people go to Uni and they've never cooked or ironed or washed clothes etc. God that's tomorrow! Ha wow er have fun and I'm jealous - which I'm sure you'd like to know :biggrin:. I suppose I'll see you in September if you choose Sheffield.

randomjak - I'd prefer Sheffield anyway :wink: Well I got my A levels as ABB so I got in. I applied with AS levels: AABC (though the C was 1 mark off a B but I don't know if they know that or not). They were in English Lit, Sociology, History and Psychology (in that order) and I dropped the C. What are you dropping, or are you taking all 4? Aim for ABB obviously, but they may let you in on BBB or ABC, BUT it's getting more popular now so next year (entry in 2009 will be more busy than usual as they're de-capping tuition fees the next year aren't they? And I think Asian Studies gets more popular each year? Not sure on that one) they may be less lenient but I'm not completely sure about that.

edit: Just went on Zangetsu and saw your comment. I'm off to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, China and end in New York. Pretty unoriginal but I'm looking forward to going to Australasia, Asia and America as I've never been to any of those places. During term times I hope to go to other places with this friend - like South America, Europe, the bottom bit of Central America etc. We love the idea of travelling, and she went round America for 5 weeks so has some experience, unlike me.

gaijin - 4 months?! Jeez. How were the exams? Ok this sounds crazy, but when I was looking at modules and exams etc, I couldn't see any signs of an oral exam. Do you get one? When are you back exactly..you said 2 weeks so about er 14 September or so?

edited: Said Oxbridge wasn't that good when it was only Oxford that ain't so good.
Reply 177
I didn't think cambridge were that bad for oriental studies...
Hmm perhaps I phrased wrong again - my bad. Think it's my own preferences.

Well like randomjak said - only 9 people were in the course; don't know if that's in the beginning or not but seems pretty low.
They also do some/a lot of Classical Japanese and I think some of their modules are pretty boring.
Also, it's one of the Oxbridge, I swear you don't spend all your year abroad. Cambridge says most of your third year. I think it's more Oxford.
Of course the teaching there would be of a pretty high standard, and if you go there you will learn a lot, same as Sheffield and SOAS etc, and I think they win a lot of speaking competition (as do SOAS) but I don't think it'd be as practical as Sheffield for example.
Still believe SOAS and Sheffield are the best, but this is indeed my biased opinion. So actually thanks for pointing that out as otherwise I may have discredited a perfectly good course. Or maybe it really ain't that great, who knows eh?

edit: Yer looked at Oxford. In the table for Japanese, under "1st and 2nd year" it says: "Period of study abroad (term 3)". Definitley don't like the fact you don't spend a year there - or near enough.
Reply 179
Yeah, I wasn't talking about oxford. I know they are ****.

In cambridge classical japanese is an optional module for second year students who want to study history in more detail and be able to read original sources. I don't really see what is so 'bad' about that. Nobody is forced to do it.