Kyoto

Academic Program

Language Prerequisites

SPRING QUARTER
JAPANLNG 8B for technical internships (or for those who opt out of the internship)
JAPANLNG 18B for non-technical internships

The Japanese Language Program at Stanford has designed a series of language courses for students learning Japanese for the purpose of studying or working abroad. Japanese Language Culture and Communication (JLCC) classes focus on solid communication skills in both spoken and written Japanese, in addition to providing students with basic cultural understanding.

Minimum language requirements for the SCTI program in Kyoto differ depending on whether a student chooses to complete an optional summer internship and whether it is technical or non-technical in nature.

Technical Internships or No Internship:

Students interested in a technical internship or those who are NOT intending to complete an internship must complete two quarters of five-unit JLCC (JAPANLNG 7B and 8B) or five quarters of three-unit JLCC (JAPANLNG 7A through 18A).

Non-technical Internships:

Students proposing internships in non-technical fields are required to take five quarters of five-unit JLCC (through Japanese 18B).

If students are uncertain if their internship proposal falls in the technical or the non-technical category, they should contact the SCTI Director, Terry MacDougall immediately, so they can plan their language sequence accordingly.

Beyond the minimum requirements, students will greatly benefit from as much language preparation as they are able to incorporate into their schedule.

For more information on the SCTI internship, refer to the Research & Internships page.

NOTE: We require that the last quarter of required Japanese language be taken for a letter grade. It is also strongly recommended that all Japanese language courses taken in preparation for the SCTI program be taken for a letter grade.

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Directed Reading

Students studying in Kyoto with SCTI can arrange a directed reading guided by a mentor who is either a local faculty member or a Stanford faculty member.

Those interested in pursuing a directed reading should work closely their academic advisor and the Kyoto Program Director in developing these projects. Students planning to work with a Stanford faculty member should also consult with this mentor as well.

A Directed Reading Proposal (downloadable form) must be submitted to the Bing Overseas Studies Program office at least one month prior to the quarter of intended study. A directed reading may be taken only in addition to twelve units of regular coursework offered directly by the center.

Students who are having difficulty planning around sequence courses, particularly those majoring in scientific and technical fields, may be able to fulfill one of these courses through a directed reading.

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Course Credit

The SCTI Program offers courses that provide credit toward Stanford graduation and most classes also count toward an undergraduate major. Students must enroll in a minimum of twelve units from the courses offered through the program. For a list of all classes and information on which ones earn departmental credit or fulfill General Education Requirements, students should consult the BOSP course database or Axess. Participation in the SCTI program may satisfy the Technology in Society requirement for engineering majors.

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Cultural Events and Trips

Students who study with the Stanford Center for Technology and Innovation (SCTI) participate in a wide range of class-related field trips supplemented by a variety of cultural events and excursions. Examples include:

• “Religion and Japanese Culture” class attended an outdoor Noh performance at Heian Shrine, meditated at Tofukuji Temple, and visited other important shrines and temples such as Kiyomizu-dera, Daitokuji, and Kitano Tenmangu.
• The Japanese Political Economy class visited ATR in Kansai’s new science city to observe cutting edge research on human-computer interaction and telecommunications technology.
• The Japan in Contemporary International Affairs class visited Osaka’s multi-ethnic communities and peace museum and discussed the rise of China and U.S.-Japan relations with Japanese university students.
• Students in the Analyzing Innovation is Japan course visited Kyocera, Horiba and other local companies for expert tours and individual research and did final presentations of their team-based projects at the Venture Business Laboratory of Kyoto University.
• courses taught by Stanford faculty have brought students into a variety of Japanese research labs and production facilities.

Students are further exposed to the riches of Japanese culture by attending performances of Noh, Kyogen, Kagura, or Bunraku theater as well as group dinners at local restaurants. The group usually enjoys a two- or three-day excursion. A favorite trip is to Hiroshima, where students visit the Peace Museum, view the Itsukushima Shrine at Miyajima, and stay in a traditional Japanese ryokan.

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