Kaitlin Gallup ’09
Japanese Language major/Spanish Literature minor
F08-S09 D-plan: R-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: My favorite and least favorite things are, ironically, the same thing. I love the small size of the department. This means that I know all of the professors in it. My least favorite thing is that the small size of the department limits the class offerings. As a major, I have to take whatever class is offered in order to graduate. I love the profs though. The Japanese department definitely has some of the most interesting, fun profs at Dartmouth. If you want to find out why, take some courses.

Important info for potential majors: The Japanese department is a difficult department to navigate. It may be small, so small that you know all the professors, but this small size also causes the class schedule to change very easily. Nothing is set in stone. Plus the language itself is difficult and anyone could benefit from a mentor. Definitely go on the LSA your freshman summer, whether you're going to be a major or not.

Talk to me if: If you are taking Japanese due to an interest in anime, manga, movies or video games, talk to me. My thesis is on the manga industry.

Most valuable academic information learned: The most valuable information, in general, that I have learned would be to explore your freshman year and then decide on a major. More importantly, by your fifth term, you should be deciding on your major, finding an advisor and planning your classes. It isn’t wise to wait and the sooner you declare, the more chance you may have into going on a particular LSA or FSP.

Favorite class and professor: My favorite class was Film 1 which I took my freshman fall, for my art distrib. Though I loved it, I didn’t want to continue on in the subject. I just enjoyed watching movies and calling it schoolwork. Plus the prof, Joanna Rapf is great. The class has also helped me with other courses as whenever I have to watch movies in other classes, I take great notes!

Major classes taken: JAPN 1, 2, 3, 10, 22, 23, 29, 32, 33, 41, 61, 62; LING 1; CHIN 62

Major journey: I came into Dartmouth wanting to major in Japanese. I had always loved the language but had never known how to speak it. It is a difficult language, but I love the Japanese culture and the difficulty of the language just makes me want to pursue it more.

Thesis status: My thesis is currently planned. My advisor is James Dorsey and my topic is the globalization of the manga industry.

Other activities: Alpha Phi- corresponding secretary; Dartmouth Japan Society- VP & media chair; Relay for Life- codirector of entertainment & codirector of fundraising; Roots of Rhythm; Film Society

Off-campus program: Japanese LSA in Tokyo, 06X and Spanish LSA in Barcelona, 07S

Internship Experience Tokyopop Manga, Translation and Layout, Los Angeles CA, 08X

Benjamin Jones ’10
Japanese, Linguistics
F08-S09 D-plan: R-R-L

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: The thing I like most about the Japanese department is that it’s very small and all the professors are wonderful. I’ve had amazing experiences and personal interaction with all of them, and I really value that. The only bothersome thing is that, because of the limits of the department, you need to stay on a rigid track to get all the requirements done.

Important info for potential majors: If you’re interested in Japanese, make sure you start early and do the LSA+ first-year or sophomore summer, or else you’ll really stress trying to fit it all in.

Talk to me if: Talk to me if you’re interested in sociolinguistics, dialectology, or the Japanese language.

Most valuable academic information learned: The most important thing I have learned since being at Dartmouth is that following your passion and exploiting the school’s resources to create opportunities is much more important than getting a grade in a class. The classes exist to give you the tools to make those opportunities successful, but they are not what college is for.

Favorite class and professor: Trick one. Anything taught by Ishida Mayumi sensei, particularly the independent study she did with me reading Murakami Haruki's "Noruwei no Mori"

Major classes taken: ANTH 9; JAPN 1, JAPN 2, JAPN 3, JAPN 10, JAPN 11, JAPN 22, JAPN 23, JAPN 31, JAPN 32, JAPN 33, JAPN 59, JAPN 61; LING 1, LING 17, LING 20, LING 26

Major journey: Well, I pretty much always knew I was going to be a Japanese major, but I assumed at first the second major would be a math. At some point in my first year I decided math wasn’t for me, and I was much more interested in language. For me then the natural thing was learning more about language, and then I feel in love with linguistics.

Major-specific activities I’ve done research with Professor Ericson, but really not much else

Thesis status: Professor Ball (in the anthropology department) is advising me on my thesis, which will be focusing on dialects and the interplay between Japanese, Korean, and other native language in Shimabara, outside of Nagasaki.

Other activities: Cycling Team; Dartmouth Vegan Society - President

Off-campus program: Japanese LSA+

Adrian Wood-Smith ’10
Arabic Languages & Literatures; Linguistics minor
F08-S09 D-plan: O-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: The small number of students who maintain an interest in Asian and Middle Eastern studies means that there are great opportunities for individual faculty interaction within the department. However, the relatively low demand means a smaller faculty, and working your D-plan around the terms in which interesting classes are offered can limit other opportunities.

Important info for potential majors: Though some of the required classes for the major are offered only once every year or every two years, you can get credit for most of them through study-abroad opportunities.

Talk to me if: you want to study abroad anywhere in the Middle East.

Most valuable academic information learned: Developing individual relationships with professors helps them to understand you better and increases your chances of receiving extensions and outside help from them.

Favorite class and professor: Arabic 61: Modern Arabic Fiction with Professor Jonathan Smolin gave me an excellent introduction to contemporary issues and writings from the Middle East, and was one of the most engaging discussion-based classes I have taken at Dartmouth.

Major classes taken: ARAB 1-3, 10, 31-33, 61, 62; JAPN 62; LING 1; AMES 17/LING 50; HEBREW 10.

Major journey: I have known my major since my Junior year of high school. I started studying the Arabic alphabet at that time and the more I learned about the language, the more I fell in love with it. Any disappointments or frustrations I have had with the Arabic department at Dartmouth have been quite minor.

Major specific activities: Arabic drill instructor.

Thesis status: Intended, with Professor Hussein Kadhim, though I am not sure exactly what area yet.

Off-campus program: Intensive Arabic program in Jordan (through UVA), 07X; intensive Arabic program in Alexandria, Egypt (through Middlebury), 08F.

Other activities: Al-Nur Muslim Student Association—President; upperclass & freshman UGA; Chamber Singers; individual piano lessons.

Internship experience: Marhaba Volunteers in the Middle East: volunteer children’s teacher, Cairo, 08X.