FIB UNDIP – For the general public, study programs that study the language and culture from the Land of Sakura may be better known as Japanese Literature. However, there is a fundamental reason why at the Faculty of Humanities of Diponegoro University (FIB UNDIP) this study program is named Japanese Language and Culture (BKJ).
In the latest episode of Suara Budaya Podcast that aired on the YouTube channel @Fakultas Ilmu Budaya Undip, Budi Mulyadi, S.Pd., M.Hum., as the Head of the BKJ FIB UNDIP Study Program, explained in depth the uniqueness, the tradition of lectures, to the breadth of international career opportunities for its graduates.
Name Transformation and 3 Main Minds
Mr. Budi explained that this study program was established in 2010 with the name of Japanese Literature. However, in 2017, the name of this study program was adjusted to Japanese Language and Culture based on the agreement of the Indonesian Japanese Literature Study Program Consortium (KPSJI) as well as the alignment with the faculty’s scientific focus.
“Although literary studies still exist, our curriculum is designed more broadly to explore the language and dynamics of Japanese culture comprehensively,” said Pak Budi.
The BKJ FIB UNDIP study program has three main areas of concentration that can be studied by students:
- Linguistics: Focuses on structure and grammar, ranging from phonology, morphology, etymology, to pragmatics.
- Literature: Studying various works of Japanese literature, both classical and modern periods.
- Culture: Studying a wide spectrum of cultures, ranging from traditional culture to contemporary/popular phenomena such as the Otaku concept, Inemuri tradition (sleeping at work/public transportation), Irezumi (traditional tattoo), to anime and pop culture analysis.
Lecture Sensation: The Presence of Native Speakers and Japanese Discipline
The atmosphere of the lecture at BKJ FIB UNDIP presents a distinctive sensation. Students get used to greeting the lecturers as “Sensei”. In addition, the learning process is also strengthened by the presence of young native speakers from Japan through cooperation with JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) institutions, such as Abe Hikari Sensei.
Discipline and strict ethics typical of Japan are also instilled from an early age in daily activities. Students are accustomed to attend and prepare in the classroom before the lecturer enters the room, sharpening manners, and building a professional hard work ethic.
Paried Internship, Student Exchange, and MEXT Scholarship
One of the main advantages of BKJ FIB UNDIP is the open international reach for students. Through cooperation with various official institutions, this study program facilitates internship programs or direct industrial internships in Japan. Students who pass the selection not only get real work experience, but also have the opportunity to be directly recruited by Japanese companies after graduating with a promising career offer.
In addition to the internship program, the student exchange path is also wide open through the cooperation of the International Office (IO) UNDIP with several well-known universities in Japan, such as the University of the Ryukyus (Okinawa), Kagawa University, and Kagoshima University. BKJ UNDIP students also routinely pass the prestigious scholarship selection from the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT) at the national level.
Entry Path and Broad Prospects of Graduates
To join the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program FIB UNDIP, prospective students can register through the SNBP, SNBT, Independent Examination (UM), or Achievement Path (such as the winner of the speech competition or Japanese Shodo calligraphy). Student activities are also supported by various organizations and SMEs, such as the organization of the annual Orenji cultural festival to the Seiyuu (dubbing) group.
With a minimum graduation qualification target of Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) level N3, the career prospects of BKJ FIB UNDIP graduates are very broad. Graduates are assed to fill various strategic positions, such as:
- Professional oral (interpreter) or written (translator).
- Expert staff, HRD division, to secretary of the board of directors in private companies and Japanese BUMN.
- Teachers at the Job Training Institute (LPK), equipped with language teaching methodology courses.
- Diplomats, staff of government agencies/foreign ministries, to professionals in the field of export-import.
Watch more on YouTube @Fakultas Ilmu Budaya Undip: https://youtu.be/Bl-0jibiQsw