The Duke Japanese program emphasizes communication and the performance of tasks. It offers a 4-year curriculum built on communicative, task-based and content based approaches. Instruction aims at developing proficiency from novice to advanced level and a cultural awareness in an integrated manner through tailored materials and interactive learning.
Placement in a Japanese language class follows the AMES department placement policy.
These guidelines are to help you choose a proper course. Please note that self-placement has to be approved or corrected by the instructor. If you have studied Japanese prior to Duke, you must take a placement test to be officially placed into the right course. Please contact the instructor of the course to schedule a placement test.
Elementary Japanese - 100 level courses
JPN 101 (Elementary Japanese) uses a textbook “Genki” LL.1-9, JPN 102 (Elementary Japanese) “Genki” LL. 10-17.
JPN 101 (Elementary Japanese)—fall only
- You have never studied Japanese.
- You studied Japanese in middle school but not in high school.
- You studied Japanese in high school, but do not think the program was strong.
- You can read and write hiragana & katakana, but you do not know many kanji.
JPN 102 (Elementary Japanese)—spring only
- You have successfully completed JPN 101 (Elementary Japanese) or its equivalent.
- You studied Japanese for 3-4 years in a strong high school program.
- Your AP score was below 3.
- You can read and write about 100 kanji.
Intermediate Japanese - 200 level courses
JPN 203 (Intermediate Japanese) uses Genki LL.17-23, JPN 204 (Intermediate Japanese) Tobira LL.1-5.
JPN 203 (Intermediate Japanese)—fall only
- You have successfully completed JPN 102 (Elementary Japanese) or its equivalent.
- You had 4 years Japanese in a strong high school program.
- Your AP score was 3 or higher.
- You have acquired basic language skills of Japanese informally such as in your home or through living in Japan.
- You can read and write about 200 kanji.
JPN 204 (Intermediate Japanese)—spring only
- You have successfully completed JPN 203 (Intermediate Japanese) or equivalent.
- You had 4 years of high school Japanese and your AP score was 4 or higher.
- You have acquired basic language skills of Japanese informally such as in your home or through living in Japan.
- You can read and write about 300 kanji.
Advanced Japanese - 300 level course
JPN 305 (Advanced Japanese) uses “Tobira” LL.6-10, JPN 306 (Advanced Japanese) “Tobira” LL.11-15.
JPN 305 (Advanced Japanese)—fall only
- You have successfully completed JPN 204 (Intermediate Japanese) or its equivalent.
- You had 4 years of high school Japanese and your AP score was 5.
- You have acquired intermediate level language proficiency in Japanese informally in your home or through living in Japan.
- You can read and write about 500 kanji.
JPN 306 (Advanced Japanese)—spring only
- You have successfully completed JPN 305 (Advanced Japanese) or its equivalent.
- You have acquired intermediate or higher level language proficiency in Japanese informally in your home or through living in Japan.
- You can read and write about 700 kanji.
Advanced Japanese - 400 level courses (use mainly authentic materials)
- You have successfully completed JPN 306 (Advanced Japanese) or its equivalent.
- You have acquired advanced level language proficiency in Japanese informally in your home or through living in Japan.
- You can read and write about 1000 kanji.
*If you have passed JLPT N2 or N1, please contact the coordinator, Yunchuan Chen at yunchuan.chen@duke.edu or the instructor of the course to take a placement test.
Students studying Japanese may choose from a variety of study abroad programs below. These programs are offered for summer, one semester, or a full year and in different cities in Japan. In all semester long and full year programs, courses are offered in humanities and social sciences as well as in language study.
Duke Approved Programs:
- Associated Kyoto Program (semester)
- Princeton in Ishikawa (summer):
- Nanzan University (semester):
- International Christian University (semester)
Other Programs:
Duke Japanese Speech Contest
Duke Japanese Speech Contest is held annually in the spring semester. Students from Elementary to Advanced level courses of Japanese participate in the preliminary stage, and finalists compete with contestants from other institutions.
Japanese Language Table
Japanese language table is held every Friday. Please contact the Japanese program coordinator Professor Yunchuan Chen (yunchuan.chen@duke.edu) for the location.
Duke Language Partners Program
Students have opportunities to interact with Japanese community members on campus. Students who wish to practice Japanese outside of class can meet with Japanese speaking partners throughout the academic year to practice the target language and enhance understanding of the culture. To apply for the program, visit IHouse website.
News
Study Tools
- Duke kanji/vocab practice site
- Genki Verb/Adjective Conjugation Practice
- http://www.hiragana.jp (to read Japanese websites with furigana)
- http://language.tiu.ac.jp/index_e.html (a reading help tool)
- http://rikai.com (a reading help tool)
- http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp (online dictionary)
Scholarship
Others
Funding is available to full-time Duke students who plan to go to Japan for academic purposes.
- study-abroad scholarships for undergraduates on financial aid only
- summer or academic year research support for undergraduates working directly with AMES faculty on a senior thesis
- student travel to conferences including the Japan-America Student Conference
Funding is given to the students who
- are majoring or minoring in Japanese in AMES (need to be declared at the time of applying)
- must continue to take Japanese courses upon returning to Duke and finish JPN 306
Undergraduate Students Grants are also available at Asian/Pacific Studies Institute at Duke:
Japanese Language Program Coordinator
Japanese Program Faculty
- Leo Ching, Professor
- Yunchuan Chen, Assistant Professor of the Practice
- Eileen Chengyin Chow, Associate Professor of the Practice
- Naoko Kurokawa, Senior Lecturer
- Azusa Saito, Lecturing Fellow