East Asian Languages and Literatures
Director of undergraduate studies: Luke Bender, Humanities Quadrangle (HQ, 320 York St.), Room 111, (203) 432-5823
The major in East Asian Languages and Literatures provides rigorous training in the study of East Asian languages, literatures, cultures, and thought from ancient times through the present, with a strong focus on the reading and analysis of texts, theater, film, and other forms of media. Students select either the Chinese or the Japanese track but are encouraged to take courses in both tracks to become familiar with East Asian literary culture more broadly. The major is excellent preparation for careers including business, law, academia, foreign service, translation, and journalism that demand advanced linguistic proficiency and analytical sophistication. East Asian Languages and Literatures graduates have gone on to careers in law, business, medicine, academia, film, translation, teaching, and diplomacy.
Courses for Nonmajors
All courses offered by the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures are open to nonmajors.
Course Numbering
Language courses use the subject codes CHNS, JAPN, or KREN. Multiple-titled courses that include CHNS and JAPN subject codes and are numbered 200–299 are taught in English with some sections taught in Chinese or Japanese. Courses with the subject code EALL are content courses whose focus is critical and humanistic; those numbered 200–299 are introductory, and those numbered 300–399 are advanced. Courses numbered EALL 001–099 are First-Year Seminars with topics on East Asian literature, film, and humanities.
Prerequisite
Candidates for the major must complete CHNS 140 or JAPN 140 or the equivalent.
Placement Procedures
Students who enroll in the department's language courses for the first time but who have studied Chinese, Japanese, or Korean elsewhere, and students who have skills in one of these languages because of family background, must take a placement examination before the beginning of the academic year. These exams can be accessed via the department website and must be completed before the end of July. Students of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean languages, returning from programs abroad, must take a placement examination, unless the coursework was completed at an institution preapproved by the Richard U. Light Fellowship program. For questions, consult with the director of undergraduate studies (DUS).
Requirements of the Major
The major consists of at least eleven term courses beyond the prerequisite. Students must take two terms of advanced modern Chinese (CHNS 150 and 151 or equivalents) or advanced Japanese (JAPN 150 and 151 or equivalents), as well as two terms of literary Chinese or Japanese (CHNS 170 and 171, or JAPN 170 and 171). Students also take a survey course in Chinese, Japanese, or East Asian history and culture, preferably early in their studies. Three courses are required in literature in translation, taught in English, selected from EALL 200–399; one must be focused primarily on premodern content. These three may include courses on theater and film. In addition, two advanced courses with readings in literary or modern Chinese and/or Japanese are required.
Credit/D/Fail A maximum of one course taken Credit/D/Fail may be counted toward the requirements of the major, with permission of the DUS.
Senior Requirement
Students prepare a one-term senior essay in EALL 491 or a yearlong senior essay in EALL 492 and 493. Those who elect a yearlong essay effectively commit to taking twelve term courses in the major, because the second term of the essay may not be substituted for any of the eleven required courses.
Study Abroad
Students are encouraged to study abroad. Interested students should consult with the DUS and with the office of the Richard U. Light Fellowship to apply for support for programs in China, Japan, and Korea.
SUMMARY OF MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Prerequisite CHNS 140 or JAPN 140 or equivalent
Number of courses 11 courses (incl one-term senior essay) or 12 courses (incl yearlong senior essay) beyond prerequisite
Specific courses required Chinese track—CHNS 150, 151 or equivalents, and 170, 171; Japanese track—JAPN 150, 151 or equivalents, and 170, 171
Distribution of courses 1 survey course in Chinese, Japanese, or East Asian hist and culture; 3 courses in lit in translation numbered EALL 200–399, one of them premodern; 2 adv courses with readings in Chinese and/or Japanese
Senior requirement One-term senior essay (EALL 491) or yearlong senior essay (EALL 492, 493)
The major in East Asian Languages and Literatures provides rigorous training in the study of East Asian languages, literatures, cultures, and thought from ancient times through the present, with a strong focus on the reading and analysis of texts, theater, film, and other forms of media. Students select either the Chinese or the Japanese track but are encouraged to take courses in both tracks to become familiar with East Asian literary culture more broadly. The major is excellent preparation for careers including business, law, academia, foreign service, journalism, and translation that demand advanced linguistic proficiency and analytical sophistication. EALL graduates have gone on to careers in law, business, medicine, academia, film, translation, teaching, and diplomacy.
The prerequisite to the major is completion of CHNS 140 or JAPN 140 or the equivalent, so students interested in the major should start the language as early as possible. Language courses are taught in a semi-intensive format, require substantial daily preparation and meet three to five times per week. Special courses are offered for students with a background in Chinese or Korean. Additionally, students are strongly encouraged to take content courses in Chinese or Japanese literature, history, religion, or film.
Prospective majors should consult the director of undergraduate studies (DUS) by the beginning of the sophomore year. Students who do not complete the language prerequisite (intermediate Chinese or Japanese or the equivalent) by the end of the sophomore year will have difficulty completing the requirements of the major unless they study abroad.
The department strongly encourages students to study abroad for at least one term. Majors sometimes apply credits from approved summer or term abroad programs in China and Japan. Students from any major who are interested in studying an East Asian language abroad may qualify for financial support through the Richard U. Light Fellowship program. For eligibility requirements and further information, prospective applicants should visit the Light Fellowship website.
Placement
First-year students who come to Yale with some knowledge of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean should take a placement test. The date of the test will be announced on the department website. Before the day of the examination, students taking the placement test must also complete an online component through the department website.
Certificate of Advanced Language Study
The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures offers a Certificate of Advanced Language Study in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. A certificate adviser, typically the director of undergraduate studies (DUS), advises students on the certification process and certifies to the University Registrar's Office that students have completed the stated requirements before the end of eight terms of study. The Certificate of Advanced Language Study, once certified, is listed on the student's transcript.
Requirements
Students seeking to earn the certificate are required to take four courses beyond the L4 level in their chosen language, at least two of which must be Yale courses designated as L5. (Courses conducted in English, such as CHNS 170 and 171 and JAPN 170 and 171, do not count.) All courses must be taken for a letter grade, and students must achieve a grade of B or above. With the approval of the certificate adviser, one advanced non-L5 course, conducted in the target language, such as an independent study course, a graduate seminar, or an advanced seminar may count toward certification requirements.
The certificate adviser may allow one “language across the curriculum” (LxC) course taught in English to count toward the certification requirements provided the course includes at minimum a weekly discussion section conducted entirely in the target language. The discussion section must enroll a minimum of three students and the course must be designated as LxC in the course description.
The certificate adviser may also approve the substitution of up to two credits earned during study abroad and taught in the target language to count toward the certificate requirements. If the adviser approves courses taken outside of Yale for inclusion in the certificate requirements, students must take the necessary steps to ensure those courses appear on their transcript.
Credit/D/Fail No courses taken Credit/D/Fail may be counted toward the requirements of the certificate.
Students are encouraged to complete and submit the Declaration of Candidacy for a Certificate Form found on the University Registrar's website. Once completed, the form sends notification emails to the certificate adviser(s) and to the Yale University Registrar’s Office so that the student's Degree Audit can be updated to include the Certificate of Advanced Language Study.
FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EAST ASIAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES
Professors Aaron Gerow (Chair), Tina Lu, Jing Tsu
Associate Professor Michael Hunter
Assistant Professors Lucas Bender, Rosa van Hensbergen
Senior Lecturer Pauline Lin
Senior Lectors II Seungja Choi, Angela Lee-Smith, Ninghui Liang, Peisong Xu
Senior Lectors Hsiu-hsien Chan, Min Chen, Rongzhen Li, Fan Liu, Kumiko Nakamura, Hiroyo Nishimura, Jianhua Shen, Wei Su, Chuanmei Sun, Haiwen Wang, Yu-lin Wang Saussy, Mika Yamaguchi, Yongtao Zhang, William Zhou
Lector Hyun Sung Lim