Japanese Guide

• Visit the World Languages and Cultures page to find information on language departments, language learning support, and related courses taught in English. See the following boxes for more information on these programs.
• Global Competence Award: The Global Competence Award is given to seniors with demonstrated achievement in language learning, cultural immersion, global perspective-taking, and cross-cultural learning. Check out the website to learn more about the Global Competence Award and its requirements.

  ---

  Japanese Specific On-campus Connections

• Japanese Language Program

 Find information on classes, professors, department events, internships, and more.

• Nippon Film Society 

A community of students who want to learn more about Japanese media and culture via our monthly screenings of Japanese films.

• Japanese Teahouse and Meditation Garden 

Wa-shin-an, a traditional Japanese meditation garden and teahouse provides a respite from the many distractions that often afflict modern life, as well as a place to cultivate the kind of concentration that exposes life's worth.

• ODotteMita(ODM) Dance Group

ODM is a Japanese pop dance group based in the 5 College Consortium. The team's purpose is to use dancing to promote Japanese culture.

Language tables are informal weekly meetings over lunch or dinner where students can practice speaking in the target language in a casual context with their language assistant(s) and faculty members. They normally take place in the Dining Commons or via Zoom. To check language table timings, you can contact your Language Department or the Language Assistant program website.

Most languages taught at MHC have mentors who offer weekly Language Q&A sessions in the LCC or via Zoom. During Q&A sessions students can drop by to ask questions or review aspects of the target language, such as grammatical concepts, pronunciation, or sentence structure. Faculty also encourage students to attend Q&A sessions to practice presentations, prepare for oral exams, or just practice casually conversing in the language.

To learn more about your Language Q&A mentor and times, you can contact your Language Department or check with the Language & Culture Commons. 

The Language Living-Learning Community is a residential option designed to foster community among students who seek to improve their language skills and explore culture through events and activities. There are several options and in particular, the following are geared towards language and culture learners.

• Language Communities: is a community of students that promotes a supportive and congenial environment of language immersion for its residents by providing access to language assistants, faculty, and staff who facilitate programs and activities that enhance students’ linguistic and cultural competence in their target language in order for them to thrive in a global society.
  • Languages currently offered are Chinese (Mandarin), Italian, German and French.
• Mi Gente:  is a community that is designed to support students who are of Latina/x descent, identify within the Latin American Diaspora, and/or wish to foster connections between different cultures within the diaspora. Mi Gente community residents are committed to developing a safe, supportive and celebratory environment with particular regard to those complexities of being a student of Latina/x descent at a predominantly white institution.
• Mosaic: is a community that is designed to support students who self-identify as people of color and express a commitment to creating an inclusive and socially just community that allows residents to learn, listen and share the many identities they embody. Mosaic community residents engage in cross-cultural dialogue, providing students with opportunities to explore and cultivate their academic, intellectual and cultural interests.
• Shirley Chisholm: is a community that is designed to support students who are of African descent, identify within the African diaspora and/or wish to foster connections between different cultures within the diaspora. Shirley Chisholm community residents are committed to developing a safe, supportive and celebratory environment that’s sensitive to the complexities of being a student of African descent at a predominantly white institution.

Cultural Centers at Mount Holyoke operate with the purposes of support, education, networking and sanctuary. They host programming and provide resources to increase cultural awareness and inter-connectedness. There are currently 6 cultural centers on campus which work with affiliated student organizations to offer support a diverse set of identities.

To check out the resources and support these centers may be able to provide you with, consider attending one of their open houses or events.

In addition to academic offerings and support, there are various student organizations on campus that strive to promote language acquisition and expose students to a variety of cultures.

Directory of Student Organizations: This is a complete list of all Recognized Student Organizations for the academic year. Individual organization websites may not be up to date as they are linked as available and up to the student organization to update.

Cultural & ethnic groups provide a way for students to connect with those of similar backgrounds while also sharing their cultural heritage with the larger Mount Holyoke community through numerous events held on campus each semester.

If you are having trouble finding information on a specific organization, you may also wish to contact the Office of Student Involvement.