Far East Opens up to Trinity Students
Posted on: 21 September 2012
Trinity College Dublin has been awarded two prestigious grants for its School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences. The awards from the Korea Foundation and the Japan Foundation mean that more students than ever will have the chance to study these languages. This will involve expanding the existing Korean language programme and creating Japanese courses for undergraduates and postgraduates.
Undergraduates have had the opportunity to study Korean for the past two years since the Korea Foundation gave funding to help establish a language programme at the university in 2010. Now in its third year, there are two language courses open to all undergraduates as part of their degree course or as an optional module, along with two courses open to the public, taught by visiting academic Ms Do Eun-Jee.
Professor John Saeed, Vice Provost for Global Relations, Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, H.E. Mr. Chang Yeob Kim, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea and Ms Eun-jee Do, Korean language instructor at TCD.
The university now aims to establish TCD as a leading location for Korean Studies. So, while the Korean Studies programme will be located in the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences, it is an interdisciplinary initiative. A conference on European Perspectives on Korea will be hosted by TCD next year, organised by Dr Roberto Bertoni from the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies, and Dr Lorna Carson from the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences. The Korea Foundation supports efforts in leading universities worldwide to establish Korean Studies programmes in locations that have a potential for growth.
Dr Carson, the project director responsible for developing links with the Korea Foundation, said: “We look forward to many students discovering the beauty of the Korean language as well as the diverse opportunities for interdisciplinary scholarship in this field.”
Trinity College has offered Japanese language classes to the public for many years through the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences, and has a very active student-run Japanese society, but it has not offered the subject to its scholars. The Japanese language instructor, TCD graduate Dr Keiko Inoue, is closely involved in a variety of Japanese language projects in Ireland, including the Japanese Language Teachers of Ireland and the Japanese Speech Contest.
Professor Ohlmeyer, Professor Saeed and Ms Yumiko Kondo, official representative of the Japan Foundation in Ireland.
“The grant from the Japan Foundation will enable Trinity to offer classes to all TCD students,” explains Dr Carson. “We know that there is a strong demand for Japanese at many proficiency levels: for students who have taken it for their Leaving Certificate; for students who discover it at university; and those who return from exchange programmes who wish to maintain and improve their fluency. We are delighted to be able to offer Japanese as part of our institution-wide programme, and are confident there will be a good uptake from the student body.”
The Japan Foundation is a Japanese public organisation dedicated to implementing comprehensive international cultural exchange projects worldwide.
Professor John Saeed, Head of the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences said: “We are grateful to the the President of the Korea Foundation, Professor Kim Woosang, as well as the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Mr Kim Chang Yeob, for their support in this exciting new development in Korean studies.
We are delighted too to thank Mr Hiroyasu Ando, President of the Japan Foundation, and His Excellency Ambassador Chihiro Atsumi for helping the College to expand the provision of Japanese language learning opportunities.”