Breadth or Diploma of Japanese

[melbperson]

I definitely want to do Japanese in University but could someone explain which would be better? I did the placement test and got a Japanese 5. Does this mean I do level 5 for the first year or like a semester (not sure how it works as a breadth)?

Or would it be better do do a diploma (someone explain how diploma of Japanese would work)?

[sarangiya]

If you're placed in Japanese 5 it means you complete Japanese 5 in Semester 1.
Provided you pass, you would then go on to study Japanese 6 in Semester 2 of your first year.
Second year would be Japanese 7 and 8, third year Variations in Japanese and Japanese Literature.

This sequence is the same as a major, minor, breadth or diploma.
The difference is that for major, minor and diploma you get an award (/degree) and you are required to complete more than just those language units.
As a breadth, you only need to go through the language sequence. You won't get an award though. But you do have the freedom to do Japanese, other subjects, whichever you choose really. You could do Japanese 5 and then idk a music subject for semester two if you wanted. The is generally one subject as breadth per semester.

The diploma adds one year to your degree provided you do not fail units and you meet the subject requirements. It works by taking some of your elective and breadth subjects from your bachelor and contributes them towards the unit requirements for the diploma. Then you complete extra due the diploma in your fourth year (and any failed units or whatever to achieve the bachelor).
Essentially, some of the subjects in your bachelor, which would count 1 unit or 12.5 credits towards your bachelor, also are contributing towards the credit requirements in the diploma. Two for the price of one.

If you're looking into Japanese for a reason other than idk fun or just to learn, then probably a diploma is more useful? I'd beg to differ though. If you're interested in interpreting or translation then doing a Diploma of Translation at RMIT or something after graduating is more worth your time. Even teaching, you could spend that extra year getting a dip Ed.
But if it's for a hobby I recommend it as a breadth. Or not even maybe. I find Japanese is more fun when it isn't in a classroom. But to each their own!

Good luck

[anhb]

If you're placed in Japanese 5 it means you complete Japanese 5 in Semester 1.
Provided you pass, you would then go on to study Japanese 6 in Semester 2 of your first year.
Second year would be Japanese 7 and 8, third year Variations in Japanese and Japanese Literature.

This sequence is the same as a major, minor, breadth or diploma.
The difference is that for major, minor and diploma you get an award (/degree) and you are required to complete more than just those language units.
As a breadth, you only need to go through the language sequence. You won't get an award though. But you do have the freedom to do Japanese, other subjects, whichever you choose really. You could do Japanese 5 and then idk a music subject for semester two if you wanted. The is generally one subject as breadth per semester.

The diploma adds one year to your degree provided you do not fail units and you meet the subject requirements. It works by taking some of your elective and breadth subjects from your bachelor and contributes them towards the unit requirements for the diploma. Then you complete extra due the diploma in your fourth year (and any failed units or whatever to achieve the bachelor).
Essentially, some of the subjects in your bachelor, which would count 1 unit or 12.5 credits towards your bachelor, also are contributing towards the credit requirements in the diploma. Two for the price of one.

If you're looking into Japanese for a reason other than idk fun or just to learn, then probably a diploma is more useful? I'd beg to differ though. If you're interested in interpreting or translation then doing a Diploma of Translation at RMIT or something after graduating is more worth your time. Even teaching, you could spend that extra year getting a dip Ed.
But if it's for a hobby I recommend it as a breadth. Or not even maybe. I find Japanese is more fun when it isn't in a classroom. But to each their own!

Good luck

Thank you so much! I'm now thinking of just doing Japanese as a breadth for one semester to see how it will go, I'm not really into the diploma as although I want to be able to use my Japanese in future careers, I'm thinking of just self-teaching (maybe do some outside classes) and completing the proficiency tests. Would that be fine?

[sarangiya]

Thank you so much! I'm now thinking of just doing Japanese as a breadth for one semester to see how it will go, I'm not really into the diploma as although I want to be able to use my Japanese in future careers, I'm thinking of just self-teaching (maybe do some outside classes) and completing the proficiency tests. Would that be fine?

I think that is a great idea. Subject selections are semesterly anyway; there's no reason to plan out things years ahead (people seem to make a fuss about that around enrollment period).
It depends in what capacity you want to use Japanese in your career. And what career, as well. For example, I imagine in business you can get away with communicating with prospective customers or whatever in Japanese without qualification if your level is good enough. But if you were to do idk law, then you may need to be registered with NAATI or something. I think you can get that accreditation with just proficiency without degrees. But it might be worth looking into it.
But I think those are problems you can tackle when you're going into your career. For now I think having Japanese studies at uni and your own learning will be a good foundation for future professional/personal development

[spectroscopy]

Ya do breadth for flexibility, especially if you get placed into Japanese 5. After a semester or two you will probably have the skills to self teach yourself any further going forward and now have to use up your breadth in Japanese (unless you enjoy it and still want to)