Students have several opportunities to practice their Japanese and expand their knowledge of the culture beyond the classroom. You can get involved in one of the student clubs at the Alma Mater Society or participate in a Japanese New Year鈥檚 party. Students in the JAPN 200 class use LinguaeLive to talk to peers in Japan, and practice the language and meet a new friend. Attending events or volunteering at the Queen鈥檚 International Centre will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in other cultures and get to know exchange students from Japan!
Queen's International Centre
(QUIC) is an international education support service for students, faculty and staff at Queen鈥檚. Through its activities the Centre promotes an internationally informed and cross culturally sensitive university community.
QUIC programs and services support
- the academic and personal development of international students, other international members of the Queen鈥檚 community, and their families;
- the academic and personal development of Queen鈥檚 students, staff and faculty interested in Education Abroad; and
- the internationalization of the campus by working with university departments, offices, groups and individuals to enhance and diversify the international learning environment at Queen鈥檚 through educational and training activities.
QUIC offers many cultural events and get-together for students, as well as the opportunity to volunteer to support international students with improving their English as they integrate into Queen鈥檚 life. It is a fruitful way to meet other students from other countries, to help and to learn from one another.
Check for the most up-to-date information.
Japanese New Year's party
New Year is the biggest annual celebration in Japan. Schools close for about two weeks of winter holiday before and after New Year's, and most companies also shut down for New Year break from around December 30 to January 3. On New Year's Day families gather and eat special meals called "osechi ryori." People visit Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples to pray for good fortune in the coming year. Children receive small gifts of money, called "otoshidama," from their relatives. Traditional games like "karuta" (played with cards usually featuring well-known poems on them) are enjoyed. People send New Year's cards called "nengajo" to their friends and acquaintances from work. (Source: Kids Web Japan. Picture source: Japan this! blog)
Every year, the class representatives in JAPN classes get together to organize a Japanese New Year鈥檚 potluck-style party. Students from all levels are invited to share a meal and participate in activities.
Student Clubs
With approximately 450 student clubs to choose from, you can easily enhance what you learn in the classroom and have the chance to embrace your passions. More than 100 cultural and ethnic student clubs and organizations foster diversity and cultural engagement on campus. Below are AMS (Alma Mater Society) clubs that may be of interests for students of Japanese:
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
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The Queen鈥檚 Anime Club's mandate is to provide and promote "anime," formally known as Japanese animation, to the Queen's community and public, as well as appreciation for Japanese art culture by various screenings and activities. They are a community that gives a place to belong for the Students of Queens and the People of Kingston who love/enjoy anime, manga and the Japanese culture. They primarily get together to watch, discuss, and share their knowledge on anime, and host events that challenge your anime knowledge and promote socializing amongst those in the group. |
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The club promotes Japanese culture to and fosters international understanding for Queen's students and the Kingston community. It also serves as a bridge between exchange students from both Queen's and Japan. |
Related links
| Learning Japanese | |
|---|---|
| NIHONGO e銇 is a site dedicated to introducing all kinds of websites and online tools useful for studying Japanese. | |
| Series of mini-dramas in a high school setting. Good for learning Japanese language as well as Japanese culture. | |
| Audio drama for Japanese learners (NHK: Japan Broadcasting Corporation) | |
| Exercises of 500 most frequently used kanji | |
| Embeds a pop-up glossary help in any Japanese text | |
| Pop-up dictionary for FireFox | |
| This system adds hiragana on the kanji | |
| General | |
|---|---|
| The club (established and located on Queen's campus) promotes Japanese culture to and fosters international understanding for Queen's students and the Kingston community. It also serves as a bridge between exchange students from both Queen's and Japan. | |
| The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) has been offered by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (formerly Association of International Education, Japan) since 1984 as a reliable means of evaluating and certifying the Japanese proficiency of non-native speakers. | |
| The JLPT was held at York University for the first time in Toronto in 1997. The test has been hosted by the Japanese Section of York University on behalf of the Japan Foundation. It is also a joint event by Japanese language professionals at several universities in Ontario. | |
| The websites of the Japanese Embassy and Consulate have information about Japanese government exchanges, scholarships and fellowships available to Canadians. | |
| Travel and Culture | |
|---|---|
| Up-to-date information on travelling and living in Japan | |
| Gateway for all Japanese information | |
| Youth's version of Web Japan | |
| In-depth guide to the regions | |
| From the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan | |
| Newspapers | |
|---|---|
| Asahi Shinbun [Japanese] | |
| Asahi Shinbun [English] | |
| Mainichi Shinbun [Japanese] | |
| Yomiuri Shinbun [Japanese] | |
| The Japan Times [English] | |
Queen's library has a collection of texts relating to . The dictionaries and encyclopedias are located in the Reference section of Stauffer Library. If you need help from a librarian, please contact .