Introduction
WELCOME TO PROFESSIONAL TRAINING COLLEGE in JAPAN
Having been formally established in 2003, the Department of Japanese at the Royal University of Phnom Penh is the first institution in Cambodia to provide a four-year bachelor course specializing in the Japanese Language. The department offers students a choice of two degree courses through which to gain advanced knowledge in Japanese. The Bachelor of Education program trains students to become professional teachers of Japanese, and prepares them for research studies in universities abroad, whereas a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese for Business degree equips students with a sufficient knowledge of Japanese for employment in business and other organizations.
Like all students at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, those studying in the Department of Japanese spend their first year taking a number of General Education subjects towards a Certificate of Foundation Year. In the next two academic years, units of study focus on Japanese language and culture, in order to prepare students for majors, which are undertaken during the final year of the degree. Students choose one major, and also study electives to build their knowledge in areas of particular interest.
The Continuing Education Center (CEC) at the Royal University of Phnom Penh has been a cornerstone of professional development since 2004. Established with support from Simon Fraser University and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), we bridge academic excellence with real-world skills.
Background
Example
Japanese-language education was first introduced to the Royal University of Phnom Penh by a group of voluntary teachers from the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV). Initially, a non-degree course was offered to any students of the university who wished to learn Japanese. In April 1994, the inaugural class of 44 students began studies, growing to over 100 by 1998. In accordance, the Royal University of Phnom Penh formally established a Department of Japanese, which was officially recognised by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports on May 8, 2003. This new department prepared two complete 4-year degree courses, the Bachelor of Education (Japanese Language) and Bachelor of Arts in Japanese, which commenced in 2005. In addition, the university’s commitment to foreign language learning has allowed the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Centre (CJCC) to continue providing non-degree Japanese language courses for students from other departments
Admission
where the curriculums are based on what is available in the competitions. The courses provided to Cambodian gifted students to prepare for the competitions include Physics, Mathematics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Research Methodology, and so on. Since its establishment in 2004, CEC has developed and offered (on campus/outside campus) a number of courses such as
All applicants wishing to study in the Department of Japanese are required to take Department-administered entrance examination. Recent high school graduates applying for a scholarship must do so through the Higher Education applications process before their final year 12 examinations. Particular attention is paid to applicants’ results in the High School Certificate subject of Moral and Civic Education. Successful applicants are then required to a paper-based exam testing students’ general knowledge about Japan and Japanese Beginner level. Those students applying for a fee-paying place within the Department of Japanese, while not necessarily recent high school graduates, are required to take the same Department-administered entrance examination
Details of each course are available at the website of the university (CEC’s URL).
Assessment
RUPP-HR4Asia
During the four years of their degree, students in the Department of Japanese are constantly assessed on the basis of class participation, homework and assignments, as well as in-class revision tests. Students also sit a formal examination at the end of each semester. The percentages of all the assessment criteria vary among subjects and lectures. However basically, for each subject, class participation and homework account for 5%, assignments 15%, quizzes 30%, and mid-term and final examinations 50%. All fourth-year students have to do a research and write a thesis. At the end of the first semester of their fourth year, students are required to submit a thesis proposal. If accepted, they will continue to research and write the paper
Scholarship
RUPP’s CEC is dedicated to promoting individual and community economic status and providing Cambodian of all ages, professions, ethnicities, and background with a wide variety of lifelong learning opportunities.
Goal
There are two types of scholarship for students who are studying at Japanese Department. The first one is a scholarship that provides money to support students with financial problem, outstanding students and students who are monk. This scholarship is provided by Japanese company, enterprise or charity from The People of Japan.
The second one is a scholarship to study in Japan for one year as for exchange program or 1 week to 6 weeks as for short term. The universities that have MoU with Royal University of Phnom Penh are Showa’s Woman University, Saga University, Soka University, Musashino University ,Tokyo University of foreign Studies, Waseda University, Nanzan University, etc. Only sophomore and junior are allowed to apply for Japanese Studies Students (JSS) program, Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship. MEXT provides one-year exchange program annually, and the test is held at Embassy of Japanese in Cambodia.
Course Description
Foundation’s subjects
This foundation year subjects are designated to transfer knowledge to students for their basic usage. In terms of university’s disciplines, students are fulfilled to study Khmer language-based subjects with many lecturers from other departments of the Royal University of Phnom Penh in order that students have general knowledge and broad ideas to having the power of thinking and resolving some problems that they may face in the academic of second year. Subsequently, from the second year, students will be generally involved with Japanese language-based various subjects.
Introduction to Japanese I, II
Years I, Semester I & II
Aiming to study the general feature of Japanese language such as Japanese pronunciation, Japanese alphabets including Hiragana, Katakana and Chinese Character-Kanji and Japanese grammatical basis.
Fundamental Japanese I, II
Years I, Semester I & II
Aiming to practice conversation, listening, speaking, composition and reading by utilizing many words and sentence structures from a subject of “Introduction to Japanese”.
Computor and Japanese I, II
Years I, Semester I & II
This specialised subject introduces students to the vocabulary necessary for computer skills and computer usage in Japan. In addition, students are taught basic Japanese computer usage skill by becoming acquainted with and using Japanese Windows, typing documents in Japanese, communicating in Japanese via e-mail, and surfing Japanese websites.
Japanese Grammar I, II, III, IV
Years II-III, Semester I & II
In this course, students focus their studies on basic and intermediate-advanced Japanese grammar and improve their knowledge and facility with the Japanese language by completing a variety of practice exercises.
Conversation I, II, III, IV
Year II-III, Semesters I & II
During the course of this subject, students build on the knowledge acquired in the ‘Japanese Grammar’ and ‘Analysing Japanese Grammar and Practice’ course to improve their ability to communicate smoothly in Japanese. They practice conversation in Japanese. Moreover, students learn about Japanese society and the behavioural and cultural patterns of Japanese people, as well as acquiring some general information about Japan, which is necessary for successful communication with native Japanese speakers.
Listening I, II, III, IV
Year II-III, Semesters I & II
During the course of this subject, students build on the knowledge acquired in the ‘Japanese Grammar’ and ‘Analysing Japanese Grammar and Practice’ course to improve their ability to communicate smoothly in Japanese. They practice listening in Japanese. Moreover, students learn about Japanese society and the behavioural and cultural patterns of Japanese people, as well as acquiring some general information about Japan, which is necessary for successful communication with native Japanese speakers.
Reading I,II,III,IV, V, VI
Year II-IV, Semester I & II
This course aims to build and develop students’ understanding of Japanese texts, and particularly Japanese ways of solving problems. Various kinds of authentic reading materials, ranging from beginner to advanced levels of difficulty, are used in this subject, including advertisements, newspapers and magazine articles, diaries, folk tales, novels, theses, and so forth. In addition to building their reading and comprehension skills, students enlarge their general knowledge about the world, and Japan in particular, through participation in this course.
Kanji I,II,III,IV
Year II-III, Semesters I & II
In this subject students learn about the origins, usage and combinations of Kanji characters. Basic to Japanese communication, a thorough knowledge of all essential Kanji characters, from beginners to intermediate-Advanced levels, is essential to successful usage of the Japanese language.
Composition I, II, III, IV
Year II-III, Semesters I & II
These subjects complement the knowledge students build in the ‘Reading’ courses by building upon students’ active Japanese communication skills. Students are taught to write compositions. In doing so, students learn to express the knowledge and opinions they have acquired about matters in Cambodia, Japan and the world.
Presentation and Discussion I, II
Year III, Semester I & II
This course has been developed to build students’ skills and confidence in presenting and discussing topics in Japanese. During each lesson, a student will address the class with a prepared presentation on a particular topic. The class then divides into small groups to discuss the topic and presentation, thus learning to participate in discussion, make use of the various specialised expressions needed for discussion and to give effective speeches in public.
Japanese Circumstances I, II
Year III, Semester I & II
To complement their intensive language studies, students are introduced to a wide range of information about the culture, traditions, ways of life, education, religion, history, and geographical conditions of Japan, thus building a broader knowledge of the nation and its people.
Research on Japan (Thesis) I, II
Year IV, Semester I & II
In Research on Japanese Language I, students are divided into groups to do research on an aspect of Japanese Language, under a supervisor from the Department of Japanese. They then write a trial thesis, which prepares them for the final thesis which they complete during the second semester of this course.
Japanese for current topics I, II
Year IV, Semester I & II
Learners broaden their knowledge of Japanese by exposing themselves to spoken Japanese as used on television and radio, and written Japanese as used in newspapers and magazines, media which language use differs from that used in everyday communication.
Teaching Methodology I
Year IV, Semester I
Students learn about the various ways that foreign languages have been taught throughout history, as well as the most up-to-date methods for learning and teaching foreign languages.
Japanese for Communication
Year IV, Semester I
This subject introduces students to various Japanese traditions in doing communication. In addition, classes focus on Japanese language for communication, allowing students to with Japanese- speaking partners and colleagues.
Studies of Japanese Society I, II
Year IV, Semester I & II
Students learn about Japanese society, with a special focus on present conditions. Particular aspects of Japanese society are also raised for small group and class discussion, leading to a broader understanding of Japan and its people.
Practicum I, II
Year IV, Semester I & II
For this subject, the Department of Japanese organises a several-week course allowing students to apply what they have learned by teaching in real classroom settings. As part of this practicum, students gain practical skills in teaching preparation, including how to plan lessons and write lesson plans.
Translation
Year IV, Semester I
Students learn how to translate business documents from Khmer to Japanese, and vice versa, and learn Japanese expressions and forms of writing used in advertisements, announcements, product pamphlets, product catalogues, and various other administrational documents used in business. Students also critically compare what they learn against Cambodian ways, building their understanding of how both societies function.
Interpretation
Year IV, Semester II
Students learn and practice interpreting between Khmer and Japanese, including interpreting spontaneous conversation.
Japanese Literature
Year IV, Semester II
Various topics about Japanese culture are assigned to students, who learn to compare aspects of culture of Cambodia with those of Japan.
Japanese for Business I, II
Year IV, Semester I & II
This subject introduces students to various Japanese traditions in doing business. In addition, classes focus on Japanese language for business, allowing students to with Japanese- speaking business partners and colleagues. In this unit, students learn those aspects of Japanese language particularly necessary for the tourism sector. This subject trains students to sufficient proficiency in Japanese to work as tourist guides, staff in airports, staff in hotels, and travel agencies. During the Department of Japanese Internship Program, students experience working in the offices of Japanese-owned companies or other companies which have connections with Japan. During this time, they gain practical experience at a recognised company, and are encouraged to think about the conditions or significance of working in companies with international connections.
Staff
Activities
Date: September 4, 2025
Type: Training
Uploaded By: Staff
