Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1992

Department Societies Thrive Twelveyears ago saw the creation of the Japanese Studies Society, a society which was set up in order to enhance communication between teachers and students. Two years later, in 1982, an alumni association was also set up. Whereas the former society aims to stimulate and motivate students who are currently studying Japanese-related subjects at the University, the alumni association serves more as a link between graduates and the University. Activities carried out by the Japanese Studies Society include promoting the use of the Japanese language in different ways, such as holding speech competitions, publishing newspapers, showing films, and holding receptions for Japanese students visiting Hong Kong. Through a variety of functions organized by the department and the two societies ， a two-way communication link has been established, allowing current students to discuss the job situation with past students, and past students to maintain close contact with their former university. It appears, however, that two societies are still not enough, and last year the major students set up their own society, to organize yet more functions to enhance communications between the students and their teachers. Plans for the Future Many new courses are being planned to strengthen the curriculum over the next few years. Pending sufficient support from other departments, the following new courses will be introduced: modem Japanese economy, history of Japanese finance, modern Japanese finance, Japanese economic geography, Japanese human geography and modem Japanese culture. It is hoped that these new courses will attract more students to apply for Japanese studies, and that by 1994 ， there will be at least 25 students majoring in Japanese Studies. The department is also hoping to extend the student exchange programme to an increased number of prestigious Japanese institutions while at the same time improving the quality of its own programmes in order to enhance its reputation in the academic world. This will in turn open up possibilities for organizing international conferences and seminars with local and overseas organizations, leading to an exchange of ideas and research materials. • Student Opinions Ma Biu (Major) 'Ma Biu was an arts graduate from Cognitio College and had never studied Japanese before entering the University. He is going to spend a year at Sophia University in Japan beginning in September. 'I chose to take Japanese studies partly because I like Japan and admire her unique national spirit and partly because I want to get a deeper understanding of the age-old relationship between Japan and China. The language course includes one year's study in Japan, and that is what I am most attracted to. I am interested in all the subjects offered in the curriculum, but in the first year, we concentrate our efforts on conversational skills. I never expected to achieve much from the first two terms, but to my surprise, after an intensive course of training — nine sessions per week—I can now converse with a native speaker in simple Japanese. I have also made quite a number of Japanese friends. Although 1 have not yet had the chance to study other subjects in the curriculum, I already feel immensely satisfied.' Department of Japanese Studies 12