Japanese Language Courses at the Graduate School of Science & Technology

Why Learn Japanese in a Scientific Environment?

Japan remains a global leader in engineering, robotics, materials science, and information technology. For researchers and engineers, proficiency in Japanese opens doors to:

• Collaboration with Japanese research institutes and companies.
• Access to highquality Japaneselanguage journals and patents.
• Participation in conferences, workshops, and joint PhD programs.
• Enhanced career prospects in multinational firms that value bilingual talent.

Program Overview

The Graduate School of Science & Technology offers a tiered curriculum that aligns language learning with the technical demands of each discipline.

1. Foundations Japanese for STEM Beginners

Target audience: Firstyear graduate students with little or no prior exposure to Japanese.

• Duration: 12 weeks (3hour weekly seminars + 2 hours labbased practice).
• Focus: Hiragana, Katakana, basic kanji, pronunciation, and everyday academic expressions.
• Outcome: Ability to introduce oneself, describe ones research area, and understand simple readings.

2. Intermediate Technical Japanese

Target audience: Students who have completed the Foundations module or have equivalent proficiency.

• Duration: 16 weeks (2hour lectures + 3hour labs).
• Focus: Disciplinespecific vocabulary (e.g., semiconductor, molecular dynamics), reading scientific papers, writing abstracts, and presenting data in Japanese.
• Outcome: Confidence in participating in seminars, reading journal articles, and drafting technical reports.

3. Advanced Japanese for Research & Publication

Target audience: Students preparing for joint publications, scholarships, or industry placements in Japan.

• Duration: 20 weeks (3hour seminars + 2hour writing workshops).
• Focus: Advanced kanji, formal writing styles, peerreview etiquette, grant proposal language, and oral presentation skills.
• Outcome: Ability to author a full research paper in Japanese and deliver a professional conference talk.

Course Delivery Methods

All courses blend classroom instruction with handson activities to reinforce language acquisition in technical contexts.

Classes are kept small (max 12 students) to ensure ample speaking practice and personalized feedback.

Assessment & Certification

Progress is evaluated through a combination of continuous and final assessments:

• Weekly quizzes on vocabulary and grammar.
• Lab reports written in Japanese, graded for technical accuracy and language use.
• Oral presentations on research topics, assessed on fluency and clarity.
• Final exam covering reading comprehension of a peerreviewed article and a written abstract.

Successful students receive a Certificate of Japanese Proficiency for Science & Technology endorsed by the Graduate School and recognized by partner institutions in Japan.

Enrollment and Prerequisites

Enrollment is open each semester. Prospective participants should:

• Submit an online application form.
• Provide a brief statement of research interests.
• Complete a placement test (optional for those who have prior Japanese study).

There are no formal language prerequisites for the Foundations module; however, for Intermediate and Advanced tracks, a passing score on the placement test or completion of the preceding level is required.

Career Pathways Supported by Japanese Language Skills

Graduates who combine technical expertise with Japanese fluency can pursue a range of opportunities:

• Research positions at RIKEN, Toyota Research Institute, or Sony Advanced Technology Lab.
• Technical liaison roles in multinational corporations AsiaPacific divisions.
• Postdoctoral fellowships jointly funded by Japanese ministries (e.g., JSPS).
• Consultancy projects involving technology transfer between Japan and the home country.

Contact Information

For further details, program schedules, or to arrange a campus visit, please contact the language program coordinator:

Dr. Maya Tanaka
Graduate School of Science & Technology
Email: maya.tanaka@gsst.edu
Phone: +1 (555) 1234567