Language Skills Open New Doors
Increasing numbers of people worldwide speak and study Japanese. Indeed, it has become a major language in Asia and Australia as well as in Europe and America.
Knowledge of Japanese is valuable within the context of a professional career. Japan’s economy has long been one of the world's largest and offers great opportunities in almost every professional field. Whether you want to deal with international trade or programming, or whether you dream of a career as an artist or cartoonist, knowledge of Japanese is a valuable credential.
As a country, Japan is fascinating to explore, and its culture has become increasingly integrated into our own. Whether reading manga or haiku poetry, watching anime or TV dramas, playing computer games or practicing karate, knowledge of Japanese can open doors to new worlds. With Japanese in your repertoire of skills, you can take paths that lead well beyond the tourist destinations that Japan is well-known for.
Japanese - Online Distance Studies
At Dalarna University, you can study Japanese from the beginner level to the undergraduate level. In our courses, we focus on active language use and communication, and there is opportunity for you to specialise in translation, linguistics, cultural anthropology, and literature.
All our courses are web-based (online), which means you can take them no matter where you are. Teaching is in real time, and seminars involve a great deal of interaction with your teacher and other students. We teach in small groups and focus on active language use and communication.
Tips and useful information for studies online
Our Courses in Japanese
Basic Level
Level I
The lowest level equates to one semester of full-time studies. At this level, you complete the first textbook Genki I. The level is divided into two courses, each worth 15 credits:
- Japanese 1: Basic Language Proficiency (15 credits)
- Japanese 1: Language Proficiency (15 credits)
The first course requires no previous studies or knowledge of Japanese, and focuses on both oral and written communication in Japanese. The second course is a follow-up course that you can take directly after taking Japanese steg 3 (in Swedish upper secondary school).
In addition to the language courses, there are also two courses on culture and society in Japan. They do not require prior knowledge of Japanese and teaching and course literature are in English:
- Modern Japan: Culture and Society (7.5 credits)
- Japanese Pop Culture Represented in Anime and Manga (7.5 credits)
The course Modern Japan: Culture and Society is mandatory for students who want to apply for exchange studies in Japan.
Level II
Level II is divided into two courses, the second taught directly after the first:
- Japanese II: Language Proficiency 1 (15 credits)
- Japanese II: Language Proficiency 2 (15 credits)
These are full-time studies, and, at present, they are taught daytime only. The textbook Genki II is used for both courses. Completion of the courses takes you to the end of the book.
After finishing 30 credits of Japanese, you may also sign up for a course in academic writing:
- Japanese: Academic Writing (7.5 credits)
If you are planning to complete the Bachelor's Degree, we recommend that you take this course. The academic paper you write in this course may also be used for receiving a two-year Foundation degree in Japanese.
Level III
- Japanese III: Language Proficiency (15 credits)
- Japanese III: The Modern Short Story (7.5 credits)
- Japanese III: Reading Manga (7.5 credits)
Level IV
- Japanese IV: Introduction to Linguistics (15 credits)
- Japanese IV: Haiku and Text Interpretation (15 credits)
- Japanese IV: Introduction to Translation (15 credits)
- Japanese IV: Cultural Anthropology (15 credits)
Two or more of these courses are offered every semester.
Level V
- Japanese: Research Proposal (15 credits)
This course prepares you for your thesis and is therefore obligatory if you intend to write a thesis.
Bachelor's Level
- Japanese: Bachelor's Degree Thesis (15 credits)
Advanced Level
For further studies at the advanced level, a two-year master's degree is offered in the main field of study Intercultural Literature Studies (follow the link for more information).
Courses at the advanced level in Japanese are under development and will also be included in this main field of study. Currently the following course is available:
- Japanese: Intercultural Communication (15 credits)
- Japanese: Practical Translation (15 credits) This course is a follow-up to the translation course at level IV. It is offered once only each year.
Study Abroad
If you are studying Japanese at Dalarna University, then you can take part in an exchange with one of eight universities in Japan with which we have partnerships.
The eight partner universities are:
- Kanda University of International Studies in Chiba,
- Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka,
- Miyagi University of Education in Sendai,
- Nagoya University of Foreign Studies,
- Ochanomizu University in Tokyo,
- Shitennoji University in Osaka,
- Showa Women's University in Tokyo,
- Tsuru University in Tsuru, Yamanashi.
To go on an exchange, you need - at the start of the exchange - to be registered at least as a half-time student (50%) at Dalarna University and have already taken courses worth 60 credits, of which 30 credits must have been at Dalarna University. Most of the Japanese universities only accept students who have finished 60 credits in Japanese language proficiency. You must also have completed the course Modern Japan: Culture and Society before submitting your application, and be prepared to join an interview with some of the Japanese teachers. Plan for an exchange keeping in mind the deadlines and also the fact that places are limited.
Outbound Exchange Studies and Traineeships
Degree
Dalarna University has the right to award a Degree of Bachelor with Japanese as the main field of study.
Courses
Course Packages
Study and Career Counselling
We offer study and career counselling both to current and prospective students.