Studying a joint honours course over 4 years at Manchester gives you a thorough grounding in the language, culture and society of both of your chosen subjects. You study core language courses in each language, and have the opportunity to choose from a very wide range of more specialised optional courses; this enables you to build up a distinctive academic profile. The degree is awarded as a single class, based on the marks achieved in both languages. **Italian** - Students develop detailed knowledge of both the language and culture of Italy from the medieval period to the present day.- The range of culture units offered across all years of the programme combine the study of the history, politics, literary, linguistic and visual culture of the peninsula and are taught by a range of specialists within these fields. - We also offer a linguistics pathway through the degree programme for those interested in the history of the Italian language and its dialects. - Assessment comprises a variety of methods including coursework essays, commentaries, presentations and exams. Language courses, taught by native speakers, involve comprehension, translation, grammar, and oral work.- The third year of the programme is spent abroad in Italy. Our students can choose to complete work placements, teach English in schools as part of the British Council assistantship scheme, or take advantage of our wide variety of popular Erasmus exchanges, which include: Bergamo, Bologna, Cagliari, Ferrara, Macerata, Naples, Palermo, Perugia and Siena.**Japanese** - Students will be studying Japanese throughout the course. The core language teaching enables students to develop various linguistic skills: speaking and writing accurately; understanding and analysing audio, video and written materials; using different registers; speaking to a group with confidence; and translating with appropriate sensitivity. - Students follow a Japanese Studies curriculum through which they will learn about Japan-related topics in historical, linguistic, cultural, religious and other contexts, drawing on the wide range of research carried out by staff in Japanese Studies. - The course centres around a core framework in year 1 but some choice of modules from year 2 onwards will enable students to focus on particular areas of interest in the study of Japan and East Asia. Applicants should be aware that learning Japanese is very intensive and that a great deal of time is required for this throughout the course (extending through the summer period between years one and two, particularly for beginners). The first few weeks may be particularly intensive for those who have not encountered Japanese script and we strongly advise all applicants to ensure that they have learned at least the hiragana script prior to Week One of teaching; guidance on materials to help with this can be obtained from the language tutors.