BA Chinese and Japanese Studies

Year 3

Learning outcomes

Students will undertake two Years Abroad, a year studying at a partner institution in a Japanese-speaking country in Year 2 followed by a year studying at a partner institution in a Chinese-speaking country in Year 3. These two periods of residence abroad may be swapped over subject to the approval of the relevant Programme Manager(s).

During both periods of residence abroad, students will have the opportunity to:
- make substantial linguistic progress, over a wide range of registers, in respect of Chinese and Japanese;
- face the linguistic, intellectual and psychological challenges of living in Chinese- and Japanese-speaking countries;
- acquire a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the target culture;
- develop the intercultural/social/personal/transferable skills necessary for gaining maximum benefit from living in a different community;
- seek to enhance their future employability by familiarizing themselves, when appropriate, with the world of work within the target culture, or by reflecting on the utility of skills that they are acquiring while living abroad for their future employment.

Overall, on completion of both periods of residence abroad students should be able to demonstrate:
- an ability to communicate confidently and proficiently with native or other competent speakers of Chinese and Japanese across the sometimes unpredictable and complex range of aspects of everyday life, work and/or study in a foreign culture;
- first-hand knowledge and appreciation of the target cultures;
- enhanced cultural self-awareness.

Transferable (key) skills

Students will have had the opportunity to develop and practise:
- interpersonal and transferable skills required to operate successfully in Chinese- and Japanese-speaking societies, in a variety of roles and situations;
- resourcefulness and self-reliance.

Assessment

Achievement will be assessed (on a Pass/Fail basis) by:
- submission of a year-abroad log;
- regular tests and examinations set by the Chinese university and the University of Leeds;
- successful completion of all courses taken at the Japanese university.