News and events
Japanese language opens a ‘real’ world of opportunity
A childhood interest in all things Japanese has taken Mitch Aked along a path of self-discovery. A graduating Bachelor of Arts student majoring in Japanese, Mitch works part-time at Japanese newspaper Nichigo Press on the Gold Coast.
Mitch began working at Nichigo Press as part of a Work Integrated Learning program introduced by the School of Languages and Linguistics in 2008. WIL enables students to immerse themselves in language learning by working with industry partners including in travel, communications, retail and community groups.
Mitch began studying Japanese language in earnest in Year 11 and visited the country for the first time in senior year. “It was the best part of all my schooling,’’ he said. He also visited Japan in 2007 and taught English at a kindergarten in Osaka.
Mitch admitted it was a little difficult to learn the grammar because of its difference to English. “The actual writing of Japanese is hard and takes practice and effort. I wouldn't say I write well, I would say well enough. That being said, typing Japanese into a word processor is much easier.
At Nichigo Press, he started with filing and getting to know the system before moving into sales. “It was a huge challenge, and so much more pressure but also a lot more exciting to use my Japanese in a situation other than the classroom.
“I enjoy my work at Nichigo Press. It is a great learning environment, just being surrounded by Japanese people all the time, and it greatly improves the level of politeness I can understand.”When he completes his degree Mitch is looking forward to spending some more time teaching in Japan.
“The thing I find inspiring about learning another language is the ability to communicate with people from other cultures and then realising that we all do have very similar views on almost everything.”
Work Integrated Learning in the School of Languages and Linguistics
Career possibilities are linked to language study through:
- *Specific Japanese language training relevant to a work context
- *Cultural knowledge appropriate for a cross-cultural work context
- *Web-based job search activities focussing on bilingual work contexts
For more information on studying Japanese on the Gold Coast campus contact: Susan Anderson
Tel: 55528610
Email: s.anderson@griffith.edu.au
2009 International Symposium on Face and Politeness
It is our pleasure to announce an International Symposium on Face and Politeness to be held in Brisbane, Australia on 10 July 2009. This one-day symposium, endorsed by the Linguistic Politeness Research Group, focuses on the relationship between face and im/politeness, although any papers relating to theorizing or analysing im/politeness and face more generally are welcome. Researchers and postgraduates working in linguistics, pragmatics, conversation analysis, and communication studies, as well as education, business and organizational studies, sociology, psychology and any other fields with an interest in face and/or politeness are cordially invited to Brisbane, Australia.Click here to visit website
2009 Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)
The 2009 Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), or Nihongo Nouryoku Shiken, will be held at Griffith University Nathan Campus on Sunday 6 December 2009.Application period 27 July – 28 August, 2009 (LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED)
Test fees are:
Level 1, A$70
Level 2, A$70
Level 3, A$60
Level 4, A$60
A guide to the JLPT, information on how to complete the application form and the application form itself can be downloaded in Adobe format below.
Letter to Applicants (PDF 38K) (includes all the steps and application procedures)
Test Guidelines (includes information about the JLPT different levels and how to complete the application form)
Application Form
If you want to know more about the JLPT, visit http://momo.jpf.go.jp/jlpt/e/ or alternatively: http://www.jpf.org.au/03_language/jlpt/index.html
For test sample material visit the following website: http://momo.jpf.go.jp/jlpt/e/result_e.html. (Results of Past Tests Section).
If you are a Griffith University student you can borrow preparation material from previous years’ tests from the university library, search under “Nihongo noryoku shiken taisaku mondai”.
If you Google “JLPT”, you will find numerous online resources to prepare, and also useful forums.
For further information in relation to applications for the test, please contact:
Dr Catherine burns, JLPT Administrator, Email: c.burns@griffith.edu.au, office number (07) 3735 7481.