Asian Studies

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31380, 27 May 1967, Page 12

Asian Studies

A course in the study of the Japanese language is now available to sixth form pupils in Christchurch. With about 20 enrolments, it has made an encouraging start One of the most difficult languages for English-speaking people to learn, Japanese Is also one of the most valuable languages for New Zealanders to acquire. It is not to be expected that learners should speak Japanese fluently after a few terms’ study of one hour a week, let alone become proficient in the Japanese pictograph script Those pupils whose interest in the language is stimulated by the Christchurch course will need to venture beyond Christchurch—a university course in the subject is now available at Massey University—to further their studies.

The Christchurch course is a modest addition to the growing range of Asian languages and other Asian studies in New Zealand. The four larger universities all offer courses in the Russian language, Auckland University has a course in the Chinese language, and the University of Victoria has a School of Asian Studies. Yet these courses are meagre by comparison with what is available to the student of European languages, history, and culture. Tuition in European languages, ancient and modern, starts at primary school or, more usually, at secondary school, and each university provides courses In several of these languages. European history, art, and culture form the basis of our educational curriculum, reflecting the European origin of the great majority of the New Zealand population. Commendably, such studies still excite the curiosity of many of the livelier youngsters in New Zealand. But European studies are not enough. A trading nation in the antipodes whose political and trade ties with Europe become more tenuous every year cannot continue to neglect the countries of the Pacific. The Cultures of Indonesia, China, Japan, and Russia deserve much more study in this country than they have so far been given.