rick@cs.arizona.edu (Rick Schlichting) (03/23/91)
[The deadline for registering for the MIT summer course in technical Japanese has been extended until March 31. For those not familar with the program, I've reproduced the bulk of the course brochure below. For more information, contact Sue Sherwood MIT Japan Program E38-754 Massachusetts Institute of Techology Cambridge, MA 02139 tel: 617-253-2839 fax: 617-258-7432 -- Rick ] TJ1s Technical Japanese for Computer Scientists and Electrical Engineers Monday, June 10 through Friday, August 2 Tuition: $3,300 (Limited Financial Assistance Available) Deadline for Application is March 31, 1991 Introduction The majority of American scientists and engineers, even those who have had some training in the Japa- nese language, are at a severe disadvantage when attempting to read the large volume of published Japanese technical materials in their field or in under- taking productive long-term research visits to Japan. This is in marked contrast to their Japanese counter- parts, most of whom read technical English fluently and in depth. Thus, while the Japanese scientist may look to the United States for a wealth of valuable information, for the American scientist, Japan is largely inaccessible -- a "black box." To address this information gap between Japan and the United States, MIT is offering an intensive summer course in technical Japanese for computer scientists, electrical engineers and specialists in related fields. The principal goal of the course is to develop in the participants the ability to read technical Japanese language documents in their area of expertise. Expected Background The course is designed for individuals with specialized knowledge of computer science, electrical engineering or a related field, and a solid foundation in the Japa- nese language, who wish to gain access to the world of technical information now available only in Japa- nese. As a prerequisite, the application should have know- ledge of computers and computer science, electrical engineering or a related subject, and be experienced in reading pertinent technical materials in English (no advanced degree is required); have a command of the structure of the Japanese language equivalent to at least three years of college-level study; be able to conduct a conversation in Japanese and engage in a discussion of one's specialty at a rudimentary level; be able to read, slowly and with a dictionary, materials intended for the average adult (i.e., with a high school education), in other words, familiarity with 800-1,000 kanji in context. In order to assess Japanese language competence accurately, a proficiency test will be administered to all applicants. Arrangements will be made for this test to be given at or near the appli- cant's home institution. Outline of the Program Instruction will consist primarily of classes devoted to reading technical articles, research reports, product specifications, and other computer science and electri- cal engineering documents. Additionally, the curricu- lum will include practice in advanced-level speaking and listening skills, strategies for different types of reading including skimming and scanning, information on appropriate databases and reference works, and discussion of the social and cultural aspects of behav- ior in corporate and academic Japan. Emphasis will be on the acquisition of reading skills, with attention also paid to speaking and listening. The pace of the course will be intensive, with classes held Monday through Friday, both morning and afternoon. The focus during the first week will be on basic technical vocabulary, a review of relevant grammatical and stylistic elements, and familiarization with the important sub-fields to be covered. Weeks 2 through 7 will be used to develop reading skills and enhance kanji recognition through the use of a wide variety of technical documents. Instructional time will be devoted to reading classes, explanatory sessions, and lectures on background information related both to the world of technology in Japan, to the underlying culture, and to the development of oral skills specifically important to engineers and scientists interacting with their Japanese counterparts. There will also be guidance in the availability and usage of appropriate dictionaries and other reference tools. The final week will include explorations of specific technical areas of interest to the participants and to acquainting them with the on-line and off-line sources of information concerning technical and scientific documents, companies, academic programs, etc. Program Materials Participants will receive instructional materials com- piled for this course and information on key sources of relevant technical Japanese documents. Results to be Expected At the end of the course, a successful participant will have significantly improved Japanese reading skills and a better understanding of Japanese developments in computer science and electrical engineering. In addition, those who attend will meet Japanese engi- neers and computer scientists, and learn first hand about life in a Japanese company or laboratory. In this way, they will enhance their contributions to academic, commercial or government pursuits through increased access to information not available in English. Staff The course will be conducted by Dr. David O. Mills, Director of MIT's Technical Japanese Language Project, and Chair, Department of East Asian Lan- guages and Literatures, University of Pittsburgh, with Kiyoko Morita, Lecturer, Japanese Studies Depart- ment, Wellesley College, as Assistant Director. The instructional staff will include both professional Japa- nese language teachers and Japanese researchers in computer science and electrical engineering. Additional Information Questions about the program may be directed to Susan L. Sherwood, Technical Japanese Language Project Administrator, at (617) 253-8095. Tuition and Credit Tuition for the program is $3,300, due and payable upon notification of admission (limited financial assis- tance is available). Academic credit is not offered for this course; however, a certificate of completion will be issued to each participant. Cancellation and Refund Policy Registrants who notify the Office of the Summer Session of cancellation of their plans to attend a program less than two weeks (14 calendar days) before the start date will be charged a cancellation fee of 20% of the tuition. If the registrant does not appear for the program, full tuition will be charged. No refund of tuition will be made to those who arrive late or leave before completing a program in which they have been registered.