MA Korean Studies

This dissertation enables the students to work on a research topic in relation to their chosen major. They will learn how to approach the topic they have chosen from an academic angle, under the supervision of a member of staff. The dissertation is normally written over the summer period and submitted in September.

This module aims to sharpen student awareness of both the interconnectedness and the specific regional cultural variations within the East Asian sphere. The course will be team taught, but the course convenor will attend every week in order to maintain intellectual integrity and student focus.

The 10 teaching weeks begin with two methodological classes (general introduction and library/sources), followed by eight thematically defined classes that provide students with a range of approaches to East Asian studies. 

The module provides an introduction to Chinese language with emphasis on practical written and spoken Chinese. It covers some simple newspaper articles and internet texts.

The module provides students with a basic knowledge of Chinese and practice of using Chinese in a variety of everyday situations. It allows students to interact with Chinese speakers in Chinese.

This module introduces history, theory and methodology in the study of Taiwan cinema through examining key works by major filmmakers from Taiwan and the Chinese diaspora as well as the socio-cultural condition of their production, distribution, exhibition and consumption. Special attention will be paid to issues such as the construction of local and national identities through film, national film historiography, as well as mainstream and alternative film practices.

This module aims to provide students with a broad knowledge base to understand Taiwan's culture and society. Because of its multifaceted cultural and ethnic mix and the complex colonial history, the module looks at Taiwan’s contemporary culture, unpicks the various dimensions of the complicated social change, and considers the colonial legacy and the impact of globalization. The focus of the module is placed on the highly contentious issue of identity politics of the post-war era. By exploring contemporary Taiwanese cultural change and social development, this course facilitates a solid understanding of the complexity of this place, offers an interesting reference point to think about China and Japan, and provides a better understanding of the greater East Asian society. Because most courses cover China, Japan and Korea, this module can connect the dotted line to form a more complete picture of East Asia.

Chinese for Business

This is a basic introductory language acquisition module for absolute beginners in the written and spoken language. The module covers several basic constructions of the language, enabling students to acquire basic skills in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking. At the end of this module, successful students will be able to function at Lower A1 of CEFR or Band 1 of HSK.

This module aims to introduce students more basic vocabulary and grammar points at beginner and elementary level. At the end of the semester, successful students are expected to be able to read and write simple texts and communicate on basic everyday topics and function at A1 of CEFR or Band 2 of HSK.

This module offers a textual and contextual survey of modern Chinese literature, exploring seminal literary works in connection with key political movements.

This module aims to develop and consolidate students' advanced Chinese language knowledge and skills, including listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. It also aims to allow students to develop advanced mediation skills both from English to Chinese and from Chinese to English.

The module is designed to offer a critical overview of Chinese cinema, and its progression from the beginning to the present day. It will be looking at how actors and directors are involved in the industry.

This module aims to introduce students more basic vocabulary, grammar points, and sentence structures at elementary level. At the end of the semester, successful students are expected to be able to read and write simple texts and communicate on basic everyday topics and function at Lower A2 of CEFR or Band 3 of HSK.

This module is for students who have successfully completed Chinese 2A or equivalent to progress in the learning of Chinese. It will introduce more basic vocabulary, grammar points, and sentence structures at elementary level. At the end of the semester, successful students are expected to be able to read and write simple texts and communicate on basic everyday topics and function at A2 of CEFR or Band 4 of HSK.

This module is for students who have successfully completed Chinese 2B or equivalent to progress in the learning of Chinese. It will introduce more vocabulary, grammar points, and sentence structures at higher elementary level. At the end of the semester, successful students are expected to be able to read and write short texts, communicate on everyday topics; and function at Lower B1 of CEFR or Lower Band 5 of HSK.

This module is for students who have successfully completed Chinese 3A or equivalent to progress in the learning of Chinese. It will introduce more vocabulary, grammar points, sentence structures and linking words at lower intermediate level. At the end of the semester, successful students are expected to be able to read and write short texts, communicate on familiar topics; and function at B1 of CEFR or Band 5 of HSK.

The module aims to familiarise students with the process and techniques of translating from Japanese into English, developing their skills to a high level of proficiency, and provide them with much practical experience of translation. The module will raise students’ awareness of issues relating to literal and free styles of translation, to targeted readership, to degree of formality, and to cultural implications.

The complex linguistic system serving the marking of social relations in Japanese is examined in this course through studies in the sociolinguistic, pragmatic and indexical traditions. Students are guided to go beyond a superficial reading of linguistic meanings and appreciate the broad sociocultural significance of keigo (honorifics) and other ‘politeness’, identity and relational markers.

This course is designed to develop students’ understanding of key moments in modern Japanese history from the collapse of the Tokugawa hegemony (the 1850s) to the end of World War II (1945) in regional and global context. The module examines social and political epochs such as the rise of the Meiji government, the social and political contexts of modernisation, the process of nation-building, the establishment of an overseas empire and the rise of militarism, and the Sino-Japanese and Pacific Wars.

The module examines modern and contemporary Japanese fictional works across literature and popular culture. The texts and audiovisual sources (manga, anime) selected all offer alternative visions of Japan, challenging notions of a supposedly homogeneous and monolithic modern country. Through careful analyses of primary sources, the module reflects on fictional representations of peripheral identities in literature, such as rural communities, social, ethnic, and cultural minorities, but also on the representations and consumptions of popular media related to so-called “subcultures”, including manga and animation as well as their fandom.

In this module, students will learn how to communicate in very simple Japanese on concrete and familiar everyday topics. Both spoken and written Japanese will be taught from the very first day. On completion of this module, students should be able to convey very simple information about themselves, their family and friends, their belongings etc., and ask questions about others. They will also learn to socialise with Japanese-speaking people in familiar everyday contexts. From the beginning, they will be exposed to Japanese cultures as reflected in various situations and expressions used therein.

In this module, students will learn how to communicate in simple, but structured Japanese on concrete and general everyday topics. Both spoken and written Japanese will be taught, including more Kanji characters than those covered at Japanese 1A. On completion of this module, students should be able to convey simple information about them with some elaboration when asked, and to continue the conversation by asking about others

Korean 1A is available to students on a wide variety of programmes across SOAS. This module aims to offer opportunities for students to acquire introductory/basic communicative knowledge and skills needed to participate in the target language community so that they can apply these in the context of their academic or professional needs, regardless of their degree programme. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write short simple texts, and communicate on simple everyday topics.

Korean 1B is available to students on a wide variety of programmes across SOAS. This module aims to offer opportunities for students to acquire introductory/basic communicative knowledge and skills needed to participate in the target language community so that they can apply these in the context of their academic or professional needs, regardless of their degree programme. Successful students will gain the ability to read and write short simple sentences consisting of past and future tense, and honorifics, and communicate on familiar topics concerning their everyday life.

This module is directed to students planning to conduct research on various aspects of social and cultural life during a period of residence in the region of their interest – and particularly recommended to students who are also learning a language as part of their programme.

This module introduces students to some of the most prominent themes of East Asian mythology. From mythical culture bearers and warring monkey kings to mischievous fox spirits and perfidy sensing goats, we will examine the origins of various myths, their sources and evolution over time, as well as their historical and cultural significance.

The module is designed to offer a critical overview of Japanese cinema, and its progression from the beginning to the present day. It will look at how actors and directors are involved in the industry.

This module examines themes and notions of 'modernity' in the Korean cultural context, through a syllabus which considers issues surrounding representation, identity, landscape and memory in Korean literature and film. It aims to provide students with the skills to read, analyse and understand Korean literary works and films against past and present socio-historical contexts and critical discourses.

This module examines Korea’s emergence as a modern nation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and subsequent development as two separate states after division in 1945. We will look in detail at the key historical themes and events that have shaped 20th century Korean culture and society.

This module focuses on Choson (1392-1910), the last dynasty of traditional Korea, and covers in depth aspects of society and culture that are of crucial importance for our understanding of not only traditional Korea but also developments on the Korean peninsula in the 20th and 21st centuries.It situates Korean culture and society in the context of the larger East Asian region and highlights aspects of traditional culture that are frequently discussed issues in contemporary South Korea, such as gender norms, environmental notions, and the importance of education.

This module examines issues surrounding the practice and activity of translation, and offers students the opportunity to develop their skills and methods in translating texts from Korean into English. The syllabus combines practical translation exercises with critical analyses of context, strategies, methods, and their socio-political and cultural implications.