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This contribution is an overview written on the point of graduation from the University of Sheffield Masters in Advanced Japanese by distance learning. There has been some debate on the SWET list in the past as to whether this MA is truly a Masters 'in translation.' Having completed the course (at Distinction level - either an overall Pass or an overall 'with Distinction' result is possible), I feel it is effectively a course 'in translation.' It may have very different emphases with respect to other postgraduate qualifications available - there is no interpreting component, very little on the theory of translation per se, the course has a decidedly British academic lean with a focus on sociology and economics, electives in patent translation are just being introduced, and so on - but I read Japanese and translate at a postgraduate level now. Three years ago my understanding of Japan and my translation ability were more rudimentary despite more than two decades of contact with Japan and five years of residence prior to that point. I had passed Level 1 of the JLPT before I entered the Sheffield course - the minimum entry requirement is Level 2, but I expect the course would be difficult to undertake if one only had Level 2 prior to entry. Report writing in Japanese, transcription translation tasks, and oral presentations in Japanese are part of the assessable curriculum in addition to a number of essays, around 20 translations, final coursework exams after two years, and a thesis or annotated translation occupying the final 8 months.
Sheffield offers this and two other less onerous postgraduate courses in Japan by distance. The content of the distance course is the same as the courses taught on campus in Sheffield. Content is delivered and work submitted by the usual media - cassettes, video tapes, email, webchats, bulletin boards, residentials in Hiroshima or Sheffield, and so on. The more sophisticated weekly CD- Rom lecture delivery utilised by some upmarket postgraduate education providers is not Sheffield's style. Up to 40 students enroll each year in the course I took. They tend to be an interesting bunch of long term Japanophiles located in often remote corners of the archipelago. Each student has his or her own special interests and there is room within the Sheffield course to mold the translations and essays one must submit to one's special interest areas. There is little spoon-feeding within the course and students are expected to adapt to the British university style of essay writing, footnoting, and so on forthwith - an awkward task for some students with a US academic background. A tutor (usually with a PhD qualification) located within Japan is assigned to each student and provides phone and email study support. The administrative personnel in Hiroshima provide a solid service (although this was less than satisfactory in the early stages of my course).
One beef I had was the limited library access. Student lobbying saw this improved during 2001 but it still lags behind world-class distance education standards (seamless courier-based borrowing rights very similar to those enjoyed by students on campus cf. a very limited document supply service subject to copyright restrictions on photocopying and entailing a delay of up to several months). Just buying the book you want through Amazon or second-hand book dealers on the Internet or doing your research in advance when near a good library in your home country would be easier. Finely honed Internet search skills are a must and lecturers and tutors do point out whatever quality and relevant academic material is available via the Internet. The cost of the course is another consideration. The cost in yen has fallen somewhat since I did it, but expect to pay a small fortune (my cohort paid 1,600,000 yen in five installments and this does not include incidentals, travel, communications, accommodation, books, and so on) for the privilege of attaining an MA without leaving your cozy corner of Okayama or Hokkaido. (There are of course some postgraduate qualifications that cost a good deal more than this, thinking on a global scale). If you have a British passport, the cost is a good deal less and UK government loans are available to meet what fees do exist. Requests for information packages can be directed to Kazumi Takata at David English House in Hiroshima at 082-244-2633. There are two intakes per year in April and October.
I have found upon relocating to Australia (Adelaide) that I have more academic and freelance translation work than I can poke a stick at - both Japan-based and in connection with Adelaide University's Centre for Asian Studies. No doubt there are many factors involved in this situation - the length of my Japan-related and academic background being one of them. However, the MA is a definite asset when seeking clients and has constituted a personal journey into fields of language and learning I would not otherwise have ventured into despite being located in Sendai for the last four years. It would appear that if I want to go further in the future, this MA will form a good basis for PhD entry in Australia. Bon chance should you desire to take up the Sheffield course!
Carol Lawson began studying Japanese at age 10 in Sydney. She arrived in Japan in 1982 as a tender teenage Rotary exchange student and stayed for eight years. Among other degrees, she has a BA in Asian Studies from the Australian National University.