Looking for language university

[Tyraxx]

Hi everybody,

this may sound a bit vague, but I was looking for an university where you can study Japanese.
I already looked for Germany, but they are studying like language, culture, etc.

I don't know if they're university which only concentrate on the language part, but I'd also accept the possibility here in Germany.
The only thing is, that I don't like to study in German, since I've always been learning Japanese in English and many words in Japanese are derived from the English language.

I hope someone can help me, for now I'm not looking for a specific place, but only for universities.

PS: I'm new here in this forum, I'm sorry if I posted in the wrong forum, which I hope I did not.

 

[Angel Valis]

I'm not sure if there's a University that only teaches the language without also teaching about elements of culture and such as well.

If you don't mind studying abroad, you could try looking into 関西外国語大学 (Kansai Gaidai). You'd have to take culture-type classes, but they teach their lower level Japanese classes in English, and their mid to upper level classes in Japanese. All other classes are taught in English.

 

[FinancialWar]

Bachelor Art with a major in Japanese from Usyd, U.Melb or ANU.

But seriously, a degree in language is a waste of time.

 

[Tyraxx]

Bachelor Art with a major in Japanese from Usyd, U.Melb or ANU.

But seriously, a degree in language is a waste of time.

Hmm, "waste of time"?

Well, I really never thought of it, what I'd do, when I learned the language.
It is just, that I really want to learn the language, but if start to work or visiting another Japnese-unrelated-university, it would be more difficult to manage the time to learn.

That's why I thought to go for a Japanese-University.
(And it doesn't need to be language only anymore, changed my mind.)
But I don't know whether this is the wisest chioce...

 

[FinancialWar]

it's a "waste of time" because the opportunity cost is too high. If you are going to spend three years in uni getting a degree, get something worthwhile. Get a degree that can actually get you a real profession, even better get a degree that can get your professional exemptions, for example, Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (3 years course) from MQU, ANU, UNSW etc, can get you all Part 1 exemptions towards a AIAA (follow by a FIAA) accreditation.

Unless you combine a Art degree with something like Law or Engineering or Finance or something.

 

[Angel Valis]

Or just do what you want. You've only got one life to live; try to enjoy it.

I spent 6 years getting my BA in Japanese. I changed my major from Computer Science (which I already have an associates degree in) because I didn't enjoy it as much anymore.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but even if I don't get a job that takes advantage of my degree, I would have never gotten to the level of Japanese proficiency that I'm at (which is admittedly not all that great because I have trouble finding motivation and studying) without seeking a degree in Japanese. I love Japanese and I hope that somehow I'll find the motivation and methods to keep on studying and getting better.

Life doesn't have to be about making money. If you're not enjoying life, then what's the point if you have all the money in the world?

 

[Tyraxx]

Well, I sometimes also need the motivation to learn.
For now my Japanese skills are rather, well not beginner but like between beginner and average, or maybe average, dunno...
Though I only learned via the internet, I never had a real (time-)schedule for learning.
So I was just learning a bit grammar here, than a bit kanji there, and so on...
That's why I wanted to attend a Japanese Course/university, so that I have this push.

Life doesn't have to be about making money. If you're not enjoying life, then what's the point if you have all the money in the world?

Well, but in order to enjoy your life, you still need a life and in order to have a life, money is inevitable.

 

[Angel Valis]

Well, but in order to enjoy your life, you still need a life and in order to have a life, money is inevitable.

My point was that always thinking, "how can I profit (monetarily) from this?" isn't a very fulfilling way to go through life. Sometimes you just need to do something because you enjoy it.

 

[nekojita]

I would think seriously about what you want to do in the future - that doesn't necessarily mean forcing yourself to do finance if you're not interested in it, but if you are interested in that, or in law/science/engineering etc, then a course in one of those areas (at a university which offers Japanese courses as well) may give you more options in the future.

If you are definitely set on a pure language course I'd suggest looking for something that incorporates specific skills (translation&interpretation for example), and includes a year/summer abroad option.

Another option would be to look into the Monbukagakusho Scholarship. I believe the undergraduate scholarships include an intensive language course before you go into the actual university course of choice.