BA East Asian Studies

This module will run for two terms, three hours per week. It is designed for students who have successfully completed?Chinese 1B or equivalent. It aims to introduce more grammar points, vocabulary and sentence structures enabling students to develop skills in reading, writing, and speaking at elementary level.? Upon successful completion of this module, students are expected to be able to read and write simple texts and communicate on certain everyday topics with confidence.  

This first year module is an intensive introduction to modern Korean language.  At the end of this module, students should have a good basic knowledge of spoken and written Korean language skills including phonetics, morphology, comprehension and translation from and into the language, reading of easy prose texts, elementary conversation.

Develops further the range of language skills attained in the first year, with emphasis on reading and comprehension. A wide variety of Korean texts is read and discussed in class, along with closely co-ordinated grammar practice.

In this module students will learn to communicate in relatively simple tasks that require a direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters in both everyday and college contexts. You also practice in describing aspects of their background and matters in areas of your immediate need and academic interests. 

This module is designed for students who have mastered basic modern Chinese grammar and a vocabulary of at least 600 words. It concentrates on consolidating the grammar and expanding the vocabulary.

This module aims to develop a solid elementary level of interactional competence by using both productive (speaking/writing) and receptive (reading/listening) skills in Japanese. In addition to the four skills mentioned above, acquiring skills such as translation to and from Japanese/English also form part of learning Japanese at this module. The students will also acquire some knowledge of cultural aspects in relation to uses of the language and deepen intercultural understandings through language learning.

This module introduces spoken elementary Cantonese. It will cover the 26 lessons and approximately 1400 items of vocabulary in Hugh Baker & Pui-Kei Ho: Cantonese.

The objective of this module is to prepare students to understand the main points on familiar matters regularly encountered in contexts such as university, leisure, etc. It builds on knowledge gained in the early beginners’ level, developing further students’ understanding of some aspects of Japanese customs and cultures and encouraging them to reflect on intercultural understanding.

The objective of the module is to attain the higher beginner level of Korean language by consolidating the linguistic knowledge of the basic level, whether acquired through ‘Basic Korean I’ module or elsewhere, and preparing for the next level, ‘Intermediate Korean’ module, where near-authentic materials are used.

This course 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.

The module introduces students to the core academic skills they will use while studying at university. The module is designed to lay the foundation for students to develop into experts in their particular area. This includes fundamental academic skills such as finding, assessing and using resources and evidence in their research, writing for different audiences, and practical skills like attributing and referencing others work correctly. It also includes an introduction to the different ways East Asian Studies students can research the topics that interest them, laying the foundation for the dissertation work they will carry out in the third and fourth year of their degrees.

The intermediate module introduces further grammatical aspects of the modern Chinese language and aims at improving the students' all-round language skills in reading, listening, speaking, and writing by mastering topics at suitable linguistic level. Students begin studying topics relevant to modern China, using authentic Chinese texts in an effort to better prepare to deal with original Chinese source materials. 

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.

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 Chinese into English. The syllabus combines practical translation exercises with critical analyses of context, strategies, methods, and their socio-political and cultural implications.  

This module aims to develop and consolidate students' advanced Japanese 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 Japanese and from Japanese to English. The focus is on developing advanced transferable skills around language and communication that can be used in society and will increase students' employability.

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 Japanese into English. The syllabus combines practical translation exercises with critical analyses of context, strategies, methods, and their socio-political and cultural implications.

The module introduces grammatical aspects of the modern Korean language and aims at improving the students' all-round language skills in reading, listening, speaking, and writing by mastering topics at suitable linguistic level. Students begin studying topics relevant to modern Korea, using authentic Korean texts in an effort to better prepare to deal with original Korean source materials.

This module aims to develop and consolidate students' advanced Korean 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 Korean and from Korean to English.

The upper intermediate module introduces further grammatical aspects of the modern Korean language and aims at improving the students' all-round language skills in reading, listening, speaking, and writing by mastering topics at a suitable linguistic level. Students begin studying topics relevant to modern Korea, using authentic Korean texts in an effort to better prepare to deal with original Korean source materials.

This module follows the J100: Elementary Japanese module and will develop further the intermediate language competence in both productive (speaking/writing) and receptive (reading/ listening) skills in preparation for the Year abroad in Japan in Year 3. Besides the four skills mentioned above, students will also develop some knowledge of cultural issues in relation to the uses of the language.

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.

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.

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 introduces students to some of the major topics and approaches to the study of East Asian civilization, including rulership, religion, warfare, otherness, and gender, from prehistory to the 19th century.

In this module, students will begin their studies of the areas of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The module will use the city-spaces and urban life of London to begin to engage with cultures from these regions as they are transported and transformed as they find roots in this post-imperial centre.

This module introduces students to the history of the part of the world that was profoundly influenced by the Chinese cultural sphere through a gendered lens. Chronologically, it covers the periods of early state formation and the rise of the first unified empires, the centuries of political and religious plurality of the first centuries of the common era, and the heyday of Chinese civilization following the 'reunification' in the Sui/Tang and the social and economic transformations of the Song dynasty. We will look at this history through the experience of women from different walks of life and study how women were represented in different kinds of texts, from the Classics to biographies of exemplary women and tales of the strange. This perspective will provide a focused and engaging way to learn about the ideological foundations and hierarchical and patriarchal social structures that supported the expanding Chinese states.

This course introduces selected popular music cultures of the world, examining case studies from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, as well as diasporic and globalised styles. Each lecture will introduce: representative musical styles with their characteristic sounds, instruments and forms; the cultural contexts within which they have developed; relationships between music and global and local forces including political power structures, gender, nationalism, tourism and globalisation; the roles of musicians and those working in music industries; circumstances surrounding musical performance, recording and dissemination of music.

Japanese manga and anime, as well other popular products, have firmly taken hold of global popular culture. In addition, Japanese food, such as sushi and bento have become a staple for many busy people in London and elsewhere in the world, leading to the image of Japan as a cool country with great food. The Japanese government has therefore proclaimed the Cool Japan initiative in the effort to brand Japan and lift it to the public consciousness around the world. However, many of these images are formed by the media, some within Japan, some outside of Japan. Looking at Japan via the various channels of its consumption – manga, anime, media and food – this module aims to analyse how the various aspects of our ‘imagination of Japan’ come together, working outhow some of our stereotypes are formed. It will enable student to understand how the concept of ‘Japan’ came about. Students thinking of writing an ISP on popular culture/media or any other topic in relation to the topic of the module in their final year are strongly encouraged to enrol in it.

This module will examine the social and historical context of the recent boom in South Korea's popular culture, both domestically and internationally. It will look at the role of rapid economic development and the transition from dictatorship to democracy in providing the conditions for the creation of a ruthless and highly successful system of cultural production.

This module takes its title from the book China in Ten Words by contemporary Chinese novelist Yu Hua. It is designed to introduce students to a range of key concepts in the study of China and Chinese cultures.

The second of a pair of modules, East Asian Civilizations B continues with a thematic approach to the study of premodern East Asia, with units on Buddhism, warfare, and gender, law, and hierarchy. The structure of the module encourages students to compare the civilizations of China, Korea, and Japan so that they can see their commonalities and intersections as well as identify the particularities of each that arose from local contexts.

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 provide an overview how imperialism from within East Asia itself as well as the outside, has shaped the region.

What are the political and institutional underpinnings of China’s rise as a global power? How has the country’s rapid economic development shaped the social and cultural fabric of Chinese society?  Taking an interdisciplinary approach, this module offers a critical overview of changes occurring in the late 20th century Chinese culture and society. It explores processes of change and continuity in the People’s Republic through various topics, including the rural-urban divide, women and migration, ethnic and racial discourses, cross-strait relations and Chinese internet culture.

The module is designed to offer a critical overview of changes occurring in the late 20th century Japanese culture and society. The module will prepare students for the year abroad, by providing an overview of issues facing contemporary Japanese society.

The module is designed to offer a critical overview of changes occurring in the late 20th century Korean culture and society. The module will prepare students for the year abroad, by providing an overview of issues facing contemporary Korean society.

This module is directed to language learners who are planning to conduct research on various aspects of social and cultural life during a period of residence in the region of their interest. It explores ways in which “culture” can be conceptualized and observes in particular the role of language in the construction of culture and cultural identity.

This module will introduce students to the history of Chinese characters and their use in Korea as hanja. Students will learn how characters are formed and how to use hanja dictionaries. From week two, each lecture will introduce a set of hanja characters related to a certain topic and students will be required to achieve both passive and active knowledge of these characters. The material for each week will consist of exercises prepared by the convenor and a text that exemplifies the use of the characters in question.

This module is an introduction to the grammar and basic vocabulary of Classical Chinese, the standard written language of China from around the seventh century BCE through the early twentieth century CE. The majority of this module will be based on reading, translating, and discussing philosophical, political, literary, and historical anecdotes from the Spring and Autumn (770-481 BCE) through the Han (206 BCE-220 CE) periods, as they served as the foundation for the language.

The module is designed to offer a critical overview of East Asian cinema, and its interregional flows from the beginning to the present day. It will be looking at how actors and directors travel across the region.

The module will give an overview of pre-modern Japanese grammar and expressions as well as providing an overview of its relevance in the context of contemporary Japan. 

An ISP is an essay (in English) of 10,000 words on an approved topic in East Asian Studies of the student’s choice. This module is the culmination of the research and writing training provided throughout their programme of study.

Focusing primarily on the Asia-Pacific War, this module critically explores the multiple ways in which memories have been created, circulated, and consumed in Japan, the Koreas, and the Sinophone area.

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. It 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 is intended to complement modules such as ‘History and Culture of Korea to the Late 19th Century’ and ‘Culture and Society in 20th Century Korea’ (which focuses on South Korea) to provide BA Korean students with a more comprehensive overview and understanding of the Korean peninsula and how it has developed, especially since the Pacific War.

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.

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 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.

This module critically examines the evolution of Chinese cinema from its inception to the present, exploring mainstream and arthouse films within socio-political and cultural contexts. It addresses themes including tradition and modernity, representation and identity, as well as the connection between aesthetics and politics, while equipping students with essential film analysis skills.

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

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.