Nowadays the Chinese and Japanese languages have become two of the most widely taught foreign languages in the United States. Many Hamilton students take Chinese or Japanese and combine them with their studies at Hamilton.
Why learn Chinese or Japanese?
You may find learning Chinese or Japanese language and culture daunting at first, but think about the advantages of being able to communicate with one-quarter of the world's people and consider the advantages of working in China or Japan without any communication barriers! Learning Chinese or Japanese language and culture will prepare you to seize many of the new opportunities that are rapidly arising both in the U.S. and in the Pacific Rim area, especially in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and of course China and Japan. When you develop the skills of speaking Chinese or Japanese and understand the culture, you may choose to pursue graduate studies, professional careers in international trade, government service, diplomacy, private business, journalism and other related fields. Studying Chinese or Japanese language and culture will sharpen your understanding of both the Western tradition and the rapidly changing world today.
How do you benefit from studying Chinese or Japanese at Hamilton?
Chinese
The Chinese Program offers three different but co-related areas for study. You may choose one of them, or combine all depending on your needs:
1. Intensive Chinese language courses systematically built from beginning to advanced levels for incoming students who have no previous experience in the language to start their Chinese study immediately. A multimedia, communicative and proficiency oriented approach further facilitates the learning process for beginners, who can extend their study by taking advantage of the specially designed multimedia software with interactive, authentic materials equipped for these language courses in the Language Lab.
2. A Chinese Concentration (an area studies) in Chinese language, literature and culture. The Chinese Concentration emphasizes work in the original language as key to understanding China and China related issues. It is designed for the diversified liberal arts education in the 21st century and to meet the urgent need for Chinese specialists who are competent in the language and aware of and sensitive to the cultural differences in the globalization process. Courses examining and analyzing Chinese linguistic code, literature and culture are all offered in the original language to help fulfil the requirement of the concentration.
3. Off-campus, study-abroad opportunities in Beijing, China. Students taking Chinese are urged to study in Beijing with the department-administered Associated Colleges in China (ACC) program (see related web site), one of the three nationwide, highly ranked study-abroad programs in China. The ACC program emphasizes studying the Chinese language through individualized instructions with a high level of participation and interaction. The courses of ACC are taught entirely in Chinese and encompass topics in advanced language, Chinese society, economy, politics, religion, art and literature. The ACC program is open to sophomores, juniors and first-semester seniors. It is in principle a full-year program (summer, fall and spring); however, application may be made for any of the three sessions.
After-class events and opportunities
In addition to the three areas for study, the Chinese Program offers many other after-class events and opportunities for students to practice and use the language, learn and experience the culture, and interact with native speakers of the language. The following features further highlight these opportunities:
1. Professors, Instructors, and Teaching Fellows are all native speakers 2. Individual sessions of practice 3. Native speaker’s tutorial session 4. Multimedia program with interactive, authentic materials for all language courses 5. Weekly Language Table 6. Annual Study Tour to China (during Spring Break) 7. Cultural events and movie series
Japanese
If you study Japanese, you can focus on the language and literature courses offered by the Program, which has been recently enlarged by adding two new Professors. The following features highlight the courses offered by the Japanese Program:
1. Intensive Japanese language courses built from the beginning to advanced levels suitable for incoming students who have no previous experience in Japanese 2. Five contact hours per week to intensify the learning process 3. Weekly Language Table 4. Native speaker’s tutorial session 5. Literature and culture courses for all students 6. Professors and Teaching Fellows are all native speakers
If you are interested either in Chinese or Japanese, take the opportunity to start your studies now at Hamilton. We are one of the few liberal arts colleges which offer this extraordinary combination of these two languages, a Chinese concentration, and a highly acclaimed Chinese study-abroad program.
Chinese
110F First-Term Chinese.
An introduction to spoken and written modern Chinese through conversational drills, comprehension, reading and writing practice in classwork and homework. Four hours of class, with additional lab work and individual sessions for each student. T Huang, X Sun, and X Zhuansun.
120S Second-Term Chinese.
Continued work in speaking, listening and reading. Emphasis on patterns that facilitate speaking and reading. Four hours of class, with additional lab work and individual sessions for each student. Prerequisite, 110. Huang, Sun and Zhuansun.
130F Third-Term Chinese.
Comprehensive review of grammar and development of language skills through communicative teaching. Four hours of class, with additional lab work and individual sessions for each student. Prerequisite, 120 or consent of instructor. Lin and Sun.
140S Fourth-Term Chinese.
Continuation of third-term Chinese. Development of spoken and written skills, as well as familiarity with current Chinese culture. Class discussions in Chinese. Four hours of class, with additional lab work and individual sessions for each student. Prerequisite, 130 or consent of instructor. Lin andSun.
150F Chinese Culture, Society and Language.
A survey of both traditional and modern Chinese cultural norms and values through the examination of the people, land, history, philosophy, politics, society, economy, customs, literature and art, and language. Lectures and discussions. Taught in English. Xu.
200F Advanced Chinese I.
Designed for students who wish to use Chinese beyond everyday conversation. Concentrates on subtleties of Chinese grammar and builds a vocabulary through extensive use of short texts. Includes expository writing. Four hours of class, with additional tutorial and laboratory work. Taught primarily in Chinese. Prerequisite, 140 or consent of instructor. The Department.
203S Women in Chinese Literature.
Explores Chinese literature through the lens of gender, examining the ways women are represented in the Chinese literary tradition from ancient times to the present day—as trope, as voice and through their own writing in verse and prose. All readings and discussions in English. The Department.
205F Modern China Through Film.
This course examines how films produced in diverse socio-economic contexts generate conflicting modern representations of China, ranging from a legendary land, an everlasting patriarchy, to a revolutionary battlefield, and how these representations produce hegemonic and subversive cultural knowledge. Students will gain a broad understanding of post-1959 Chinese cinema and history, theory of film and cultural studies, and pertinent Hollywood films. All films have English subtitles.
Requirements include film viewings, presentations, quizzes, class discussions, and a final paper. All lectures and discussions in English.
(Same as Comparative Literature 205.)
The Department.
210S Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature: Traditions and Modernities.
Since 1919, Chinese literature has played a decisive role in interactions between tradition and modernity. This course examines the development of Chinese literature(s) against such interactions in three contexts: Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Students will familiarize themselves with the most representative modern and contemporary Chinese literary works and gain a broad understanding of many modernity-related issues, including politics, culture, class, labor division, ethnicity, gender and sexuality. All lectures and discussions in English. Requirements: presentations, class discussions, film viewings and a final paper. Wang.
[215F]
Chinese Literature in Translation.
Study and analysis of pre-modern Chinese literature in English translation. Texts will be selected from far antiquity to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Lectures will introduce authors, major genres and theories in their social and historical context, while tutorials will be spent reading and discussing samples of significant texts. Students will give oral presentations and keep abreast of prescribed readings. All lectures and discussions in English.
(Same as Comparative Literature 215.)
220S Advanced Chinese II.
Continuation of Advanced Chinese I, with emphasis on making the transition from textbook to an advanced level of competence for reading periodicals and journals in China. Discussion, written and oral work. Taught in Chinese. Prerequisite, 200 or consent of instructor. The Department.
[230]
Translation Workshop.
The work of literary translation is intensely intellectual and deeply creative. Focuses on the theory and practice of translation by developing practical translation skills (from any language, but especially Chinese) through translation exercises and individual projects. We will also read translation theory to better understand cross-cultural communication. No knowledge of Chinese required.
(Writing-intensive.)
Prerequisite, competence in any non-English language.
Maximum enrollment, 20.
[320S]
Chinese Press and Television.
Study and analysis of selected multimedia materials from the Chinese press and television dealing with social conflicts between traditional Chinese values and Western influence, the old socialist system and new privatization, natural earthly life and modern technology. Oral presentation required; written and oral work. Taught in Chinese. Prerequisite, consent of instructor.
[360S]
Readings in Modern Chinese Literature.
Study and analysis of selected modern works from 1949 to the present within the sociopolitical and intellectual context. Discussion, written and oral work. Taught in Chinese. Prerequisite, 220 or consent of instructor.
400F The Changing Face of China.
Study and analysis through selected journals and magazines. Students will examine aspects of the changing face of China, including in-depth coverage of population, housing and employment policies. Taught in Chinese. Prerequisite, any 300-level course in Chinese or consent of instructor. The Department.
420S Selected Readings in China’s Post-Cultural Revolution Era.
Study and analysis of selected literary and cultural works from various schools of post-cultural revolution writers, including poetry, prose, short stories and novels from 1978 to the present. Lectures, discussions and written reports. Taught in Chinese. Prerequisite, any 300-level course in Chinese or consent of instructor. The Department.
425F Current Issues in Contemporary China.
Presentation and analysis of different perspectives on 21th-century China, including geopolitical issues, economic reform, social changes, political situation, and popular culture. Class materials includes documentaries, video/films, web sources, and traditional texts. Short papers and oral presentation. Particularly designed for students who wish to improve their speaking and writing skills before working on their senior projects.
(Writing-intensive.)
Prerequisite, 220 or consent of instructor. Taught in Chinese. Huang.
430F Masterpieces of Chinese Literature.
Reading and discussion of the masterpieces from Chinese literature including essays during the early Qin and Han dynasties, poetry and prose from the Tang and Song dynasties, the novels from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Taught in Chinese. Prerequisite, any 300-level course in Chinese or consent of instructor. Wang.
445F Classical Chinese Language and Culture.
Study and analysis of selected readings from Confucian and Taoist classics and other literary, philosophical and historical texts. Attention given to linguistic analysis and intellectual patterns and to problems of modern Chinese translation. Taught in Chinese. Prerequisite, any 300-level course in Chinese or consent of instructor. Xu.
450S Remembering the Chinese Revolution through Film.
The 20th century saw waves of revolutions shape the history of modern China. This course examines how Chinese films produced in diverse socio-economic contexts represent this century of revolution. Students will gain a broad understanding of the history of modern China, familiarize themselves with film analysis techniques and post-1949 Chinese cinema, and learn to understand film as the most powerful modern art form for constructing historical memories. Requirements for the course include group presentations, film analysis assignments, and one final paper. Taught in Chinese.
(Oral Presentations.)
Prerequisite, A 300-level course in Chinese or permission of the instructor.
Maximum enrollment, 16.
Wang.
470S History of Chinese Language.
Study and analysis of the Chinese language from Ancient Chinese (221BC), Middle Chinese (601AD), Early Mandarin (1324), to Modern Chinese (1919). Attention given to the evolution of the sound, grammar, lexicon, and character system over the 2,000 years. Prerequisite, A 300-level course in Chinese or permission of the instructor. Taught in Chinese Xu.
[490S]
Advanced Readings in Chinese Literature, History and Philosophy.
Continuation of the study of Chinese literature, history and philosophy. Attention given to the in-depth reading and analysis of selected texts.Taught in Chinese. Prerequisite, 445 or consent of instructor.
495S Practicum in Chinese Language Education.
Students in the course, who are teaching one or two Chinese language and culture courses at K-5 programs in the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES school districts, participate in weekly development workshops focusing on various aspects of the teaching through group discussions, papers, and presentations about curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Prerequisite, Chinese 420 or above, or permission of the instructor. May not count toward the Chinese concentration. Evaluated Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.
Maximum enrollment, 16.
D Xu, T Huang.
550 Senior Project.
A research project using sources in Chinese culminating in a paper, designed by the student, in consultation with at least two members of the East Asian Languages and Literatures Department. Students are expected to develop analytical and linguistic skills in the Chinese language through culture study in upper-level coursework and/or study abroad. The Department.
552S Honors Project.
Independent study programs, consisting of the separate preparation and oral defense of a paper, for students who qualify as candidates for program honors. Only students with an average of at least 88 in courses counting toward the foreign languages concentration at the end of the first semester of the senior year qualify. The Department.
Japanese
110-120F,S Elementary Japanese.
Introduction to basic structures and vocabulary. Emphasis on oral communication, with practice in reading and writing, using the two syllabaries (hiragana and katakana) and about 100 Chinese characters. Credit given for completion of one term. Kamiya.
130-140F,S Intermediate Japanese.
Completion of presentation of the basic structures of the language. Continued emphasis on oral communication, with practice in reading simple texts. An additional 500 characters will be introduced by the end of the term. Prerequisite, 120 or consent of instructor. Omori.
[150]
Introduction to Japanese Culture and Language.
Surveys Japanese cultural norms and values via an examination of Japanese language and communication styles. Designed to provide substantial knowledge on Japan and to facilitate an appreciation of the Japanese culture and related issues. Taught in English.
200-220F,S Advanced Japanese.
Increasing emphasis on written Japanese, with acquisition of an additional 500 Chinese characters. In the second term of the sequence, guided practice given in reading unedited modern texts. Prerequisite, 140 or consent of instructor. Omori.
205F Issues in Japanese Language.
Language is an interface of various contexts and is interpreted in various ways. Investigates how gender and class affect communication among Japanese people by analyzing the similarities and differences between English and Japanese in grammatical perspectives. Topics include onomatopoeia, word classes (verbal nouns or adjectival nouns) and word orders. Explores the universality of language. Prerequisite, Japanese 110, Anthropology 201 or consent of instructor. Kamiya.
213S Anthropology of Japan.
Examines how anthropologists have studied Japan and Japanese culture, including how self and gender are socially constituted in Japan and the ways Japanese society is organized through such institutions as education, religion and the workplace. Finally, examines other topics such as language, literature and pop culture as cultural expressions that both shape modern Japanese society and serve as a means for a national understanding of self.
(Proseminar.)
Prerequisite, One course in anthropology, Asian Studies 180 or consent of instructor.
(Same as Anthropology 213.)
Maximum enrollment, 16.
Moskowitz.
[235S]
Love, Family and Loneliness in Modern Japanese Literature.
Love has always been a central theme in Japanese literature. Focuses on how Japanese writers of the modern period (particularly late 19th century to the present) depict the struggle with new concepts and forms of "love" and relationships. As well as basic readings about modern Japanese history and culture, assigned texts range from canonical work, various forms of early twentieth-century modernist mystery, technical and avant-garde writings, to contemporary "coming of age" novels. We will also examine such media as cartoons and films. Readings and discussion in English.
(Same as Comparative Literature 235.)
[239]
Modern Life and War in Japanese Literature.
To a global audience, Japan may be associated with images of both a brutal assailant during WWII and a symbol of peace as the only victim of A-bombings to date. In the postwar period, Japan has also come to be known as a technology giant. In either case, rapid modernization during the 20th-century have shaped the contours of Japanese society and culture. Explores the perspectives of people in 20th-century Japan through readings (and some films) ranging from mystery, science fiction and war. Taught in English. No knowledge of Japanese language or history required.
(Same as Comparative Literature 239.)
[251]
“Modern” Youth in Japanese Literature and Culture.
This course examines stories and other forms of cultural expression related to the emergence of “modern” youth in Japan. We pay particular attention to the cultural, historical, and political backgrounds that facilitated the establishment of such a category. Primarily focusing on literature, readings also include other modern expressive media such as film, cartoons, animation, and online bulletin boards. We will also examine the production and dissemination of certain images of “youth” by mass media. (Same as Comparative Literature 251). Readings and discussion in English.
(Same as Comparative Literature 251.)
[263F]
Deconstructing Orientalism: Representations of Japan in Popular Culture.
Progressing chronologically through Japan's modern period, an examination of a variety of popular culture, discovering how art, literature, performance and film have shaped (mis)understanding of Japan's people and culture. From Gilbert and Sullivan's 1885 comic opera The Mikado to Ridley Scott's 1982 film Blade Runner, Japan has repeatedly been represented as an exotic and often incomprehensible "other." Explores why this stereotype developed and how it can be deconstructed.
[277F]
Literary Rebels: Modern Women Writers of Japan.
The women writers of Japan’s modern period (1868-present) were literary rebels who set out to leave their mark on society– and succeeded. Critical readings of short fiction, poetry and novels cover the historical context of these writers and their significant contribution to the development of modern Japanese literature. Particular attention to the representation of women, their changing roles in Japanese society, and their relationships with themselves and others. Taught in English translation.
356S Introduction to Japanese Film.
Traces the history of one of the world’s most innovative film industries. Since the early 20th century, Japanese film makers have experimented with and improved upon cinema; their work has been influential not only in Japan but throughout the world. From the drama of early silent movies to anime, we’ll cover some of the “greatest hits” of Japanese film, whether widely popular or critically acclaimed. This exploration of cinema in Japan will offer both a new perspective on cinema itself as well as an opportunity to view the genre’s development in a specific cultural context.
(Oral Presentations.)
Prerequisite, Cinema and New Media Studies 120, Comparative Literature 120 or Art History 120, any 200-level course in Asian Studies or Comparative Literature, or consent of the instructor. No prior knowledge of Japanese history, language or film is required.
(Same as and Comparative Literature 356.)
Omori.
401F Readings in Japanese.
Reading in literary and non-literary modern texts and mastery of the remaining Chinese characters on the joyo kanji list of 1,945 characters. Prerequisite, consent of instructor. Maekawa.
402S Conversational Japanese.
Designed for students who want to use the Japanese language in various contexts. Emphasis on conversations and the substantial knowledge of social and cultural aspects in Japan. Prerequisite, consent of instructor. Maekawa.
