Contact Information
(541) 346-4041
Undergraduate degrees: B.A., B.S.
Undergraduate Majors: Chinese, Japanese
Undergraduate Minors: Chinese, Japanese
Stories from the East - Japanese, Chinese Major
A rich and varied tradition of literature is rooted in the cultures of East Asia. If you are interested in studying this tradition, the University of Oregon has the perfect program for you.
The department has about sixty to seventy undergraduate majors, and these students have the option of either language-intensive or culture-intensive majors in Chinese or Japanese language. Language-intensive majors must take at least four years of modern language, literary language, and essential literature courses; culture-intensive majors must take at least three years of modern language and a wider range of literature and culture courses. This flexibility allows you to tailor the major to your specific needs and strengths.
In addition to the programs offered during the academic year, we present intensive summer language programs, and many of our students attend the state-sponsored language programs in Tokyo and Beijing.
For students and instructors of foreign languages at the UO, the Yamada Language Center provides the following programs during the school year:
Foreign Language and International Studies Day. This event brings over 2,000 Oregon high school students and their teachers to the university to participate in a series of activities celebrating languages and cultures.
Self-Study Languages. Interested in learning a language that is not taught regularly at the university? This program may be for you. Through self-study, you can choose from several East Asian languages and learn at your own pace.
International Film Series. The Yamada center shows international films weekly.
Language Exchange. The Yamada center offers a free tutoring exchange program. If you attend the university or live in the Eugene-Springfield area and want to practice your language skills with others—or just need a little bit of help—check out our language exchange database.
Yamada’s Chat Server. The center’s chat server is just the thing for students who want to practice conversing in an Asian language.
Points of Interest
- The Yamada Language Center offers audio, video, and software support for the study of many East Asian languages.
- Campuswide cable television gives students access to international satellite TV programming from thirty countries in their original languages.
- There are many opportunities to study abroad.
- You can focus on either culture or language, depending on your needs and interests.
- The UO’s Chinese Flagship Program is the only undergraduate program in the country designed specifically for advanced Mandarin Chinese language learners.
Sample Courses
- China: a cultural odyssey is an introduction to the distinctive features of China’s linguistic, literary, artistic, and religio-philosophical heritage. Includes guest lectures, films.
- Teaching East Asian languages and literatures at college level provides training in Chinese and Japanese language instruction through lectures, observations, and teaching practicums.
- Japan: a cultural odyssey is an introduction to distinctive features of Japan’s linguistic, literary, artistic, and religio-philosophical heritage. Includes guest lectures, films.
Hands On Learning
The University of Oregon has one overseas study program in China and five in Tokyo, Japan. Students in University of Oregon overseas study programs enroll in courses with subject codes that are unique to individual programs.
Student Work
Matthew Morgan, a senior in East Asian languages and literatures and a second-year Chinese language student, will spend a summer studying in China. His experiences in his major have inspired his academic career. “At the encouragement of a friend from Japan, I enrolled in a Chinese- literature class because, as she said, ‘You’ll want to stand up in class and shake the professor’s hand.’ She was right.”
Matthew describes the ways in which his major caused him to question Asian stereotypes and see China in a global context. “China exists amid an entire world. No longer does it seem isolated, stereotyped, glorified, or vilified.” Matthew is currently designing a radical chart for the Chinese- language course webpage.