Languages Open Doors
Learning Chinese, Japanese, or Korean opens doors to new cultures, career opportunities, and personal growth. At the Department of East Asian Studies, language is more than words: it is a gateway to understanding the world.
Our department offers Chinese, Japanese, and Korean language programs from introductory study through advanced 400-level coursework, with opportunities to earn a Earn a Language Certificate and connect language learning to real-world experience.
Explore our Languages Getting Started Earn a Language Certificate Career Pathways
Languages Open Doors
Learning Chinese, Japanese, or Korean opens doors to new cultures, career opportunities, and personal growth. At the Department of East Asian Studies, language is more than words: it is a gateway to understanding the world.
Our department offers Chinese, Japanese, and Korean language programs from introductory study through advanced 400-level coursework, with opportunities to earn a Earn a Language Certificate and connect language learning to real-world experience.
Explore Our Languages
Start with Chinese, Japanese, or Korean and discover courses, placement guidance, certificates, student work, and opportunities beyond the classroom.
Chinese
From beginner to advanced study, Chinese courses help students build communication skills and cultural understanding.
- EAS100Y Modern Standard Chinese I
- EAS101Y Modern Standard Chinese I for Students with Prior Background
- EAS200Y Modern Standard Chinese II
- EAS201H Modern Standard Chinese II for Students with Prior Background
- EAS300Y Modern Standard Chinese III
- EAS301H Modern Standard Chinese III for Students with Prior Background
- EAS401H Modern Standard Chinese IVa
- EAS402H Modern Standard Chinese IVb
- EAS403H Chinese Language in Media
- EAS404H Business Chinese
Japanese
Japanese courses support language development through communication, culture, media, literature, and society.
- EAS151H1F Modern Standard Japanese I-a
- EAS152H1S Modern Standard Japanese I-b
- EAS252H1F Modern Standard Japanese II-a
- EAS253H1S Modern Standard Japanese II-b
- EAS350Y1Y Modern Standard Japanese III
- EAS451H1F Modern Standard Japanese IV-a
- EAS453H1S Modern Standard Japanese IV-b
Korean
Korean courses connect language learning with culture, community engagement, language exchange, and workplace-focused learning.
- EAS110Y1 Modern Standard Korean I
- EAS210Y1 Modern Standard Korean II
- EAS211Y1 Accelerated Modern Standard Korean I & II
- EAS212H1 Accelerated Modern Standard Korean II
- EAS214H1 Reading in Korean across Genres New Course
- EAS310Y1 Modern Standard Korean III
- EAS316H1 Korean Language in Media
- EAS410Y1 Modern Standard Korean IV
- EAS415H1 Korean Language in the Workplace New Course
- EAS416Y1 Academic & Professional Korean
Chinese
From beginner to advanced study, Chinese courses help students build communication skills and cultural understanding.
- EAS100Y Modern Standard Chinese I
- EAS101Y Modern Standard Chinese I for Students with Prior Background
- EAS200Y Modern Standard Chinese II
- EAS201H Modern Standard Chinese II for Students with Prior Background
- EAS300Y Modern Standard Chinese III
- EAS301H Modern Standard Chinese III for Students with Prior Background
- EAS401H Modern Standard Chinese IVa
- EAS402H Modern Standard Chinese IVb
- EAS403H Chinese Language in Media
- EAS404H Business Chinese
Japanese
Japanese courses support language development through communication, culture, media, literature, and society.
- EAS151H1F Modern Standard Japanese I-a
- EAS152H1S Modern Standard Japanese I-b
- EAS252H1F Modern Standard Japanese II-a
- EAS253H1S Modern Standard Japanese II-b
- EAS350Y1Y Modern Standard Japanese III
- EAS451H1F Modern Standard Japanese IV-a
- EAS453H1S Modern Standard Japanese IV-b
Korean
Korean courses connect language learning with culture, community engagement, language exchange, and workplace-focused learning.
- EAS110Y1 Modern Standard Korean I
- EAS210Y1 Modern Standard Korean II
- EAS211Y1 Accelerated Modern Standard Korean I & II
- EAS212H1 Accelerated Modern Standard Korean II
- EAS214H1 Reading in Korean across Genres New Course
- EAS310Y1 Modern Standard Korean III
- EAS316H1 Korean Language in Media
- EAS410Y1 Modern Standard Korean IV
- EAS415H1 Korean Language in the Workplace New Course
- EAS416Y1 Academic & Professional Korean
Getting Started
Where Should I Start?
Choose your language, then open the statement that best describes your background.
Chinese
You are an absolute beginner in Chinese if all of the following apply:
Mandarin or any Chinese dialect is not spoken in your household.
You have not stayed in a Mandarin- or Chinese dialect-speaking region for more than one month cumulatively.
You have not studied Mandarin or any Chinese dialect before, including learning from a family member or friend, using learning apps or tutoring services, or attending Saturday schools, summer camps, evening classes, or similar programs.
Fill out the screening form.
Request EAS100Y Modern Standard Chinese I in ACORN.
Your request will be processed by the office and cross-checked with your screening form.
Selected applicants may be invited to an online interview for quality control. If invited, attend the interview and request the course recommended by your interviewer in ACORN.
You have some Chinese language background if one of the following applies:
Mandarin or a Chinese dialect is regularly spoken in your household.
You have stayed in a Mandarin- or Chinese dialect-speaking region for more than one month cumulatively.
You have studied Mandarin or a Chinese dialect before, including learning from a family member or friend, using learning apps or tutoring services, or attending Saturday schools, summer camps, evening classes, or similar programs.
Fill out the screening form.
Book an interview. You will not be admitted to the interview if you do not complete the screening form.
After your interview, request the course recommended by your interviewer in ACORN. Your request will be processed by the office and cross-checked with your interview result.
I want to further improve my Chinese language skills.
Check EAS403H Chinese Language in Media, EAS404H Business Chinese, or other future language-for-specific-purposes courses.
OR
I want to take the Chinese language waiver tests for EAS majors or specialists.
Follow the waiver test instructions to register. Waiver tests are scheduled in early September and April annually.
Japanese
Complete Level Check A.
Score 10 or below
Request EAS151H1 on ACORN.
Submit the Screening Form.
Score 11 or above
Continue to Level Check B.
Complete Level Check C if instructed.
Register for the Placement Interview/Test.
Request course on ACORN and submit the Screening Form.
Check course and grade requirements.
Requirements met
Request the course on ACORN.
Submit the Screening Form.
Requirements not met
Complete Level Check B/C if instructed.
Register for and take the Placement Interview/Test.
Request the recommended course on ACORN.
Korean
You are new to Korean if you have no prior knowledge of the language.
📝 Enrol or add yourself to the waitlist for EAS110Y1 or EAS211Y1 via ACORN.
📅 Refer to the Arts & Science Timetable for the date the course becomes available for enrolment on ACORN.
📚 Choose the tutorial section associated with your lecture section.
EAS110Y1 Lecture–Tutorial Association
Students must register in a tutorial section that matches their lecture section.
Lecture Choose one of these tutorials
LEC0101 TUT0101 or TUT0201
LEC0201 TUT0301 or TUT0401
LEC0301 TUT0402 or TUT5101
LEC0401 TUT0501 or TUT0601
LEC0501 TUT0701 or TUT5201
📄 Submit the required EAS110Y1 Screening Form or EAS211Y1 Screening Form within 48 hours after enrolling on ACORN.
💻 Attend the mandatory Zoom interview on the first day of classes.
🏫 Attend the first lecture and all tutorials in the first week.
✅ Department review: students who do not submit the screening form, miss the interview, or have Korean language background may be removed from the course.
Important: Repeating Korean language courses is not allowed if students have completed more than one-third of the total class hours in a previous year. If this applies, students must take the Korean Placement Test to attempt to proceed to the next level.
📝 Register for the Korean Placement Interview/Test.
💻 Attend the Placement Interview/Test.
📄 Receive your placement result.
✅ Request the recommended course on ACORN.
Placement Interview / Test Schedule
Students with previous experience in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean should complete a placement interview or test before enrolling. The summary below highlights the key dates for each language.
Registration
On or after your program's enrolment date
Placement Interviews
July 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 & 29
August 4, 5, 11 & 12
Results
By the end of each interview
Course Enrolment
Request on ACORN by July 24
Enrolled by July 31
Registration
July 6 – July 14
Placement Interviews
July 15 & 16
July 27 – 29
August 5
Results / Enrolment
August 10
Registration
August (TBA)
Placement Interview
August (TBA)
Course Enrolment
Request by August 14
Enrolled by August 21
Placement Interview / Test Schedule
Students with previous experience in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean should complete a placement interview or test before enrolling. The summary below highlights the key dates for each language.
|
中文 Chinese |
日本語 Japanese |
한국어 Korean |
|
Registration Placement Interviews Results Course Enrolment |
Registration Placement Interviews Results / Enrolment |
Registration Placement Interview Course Enrolment |
Earn a Language Certificate
Official Recognition of Language Study
The Earn a Language Certificate gives students a clear way to demonstrate language learning on their academic record. It recognizes meaningful progress in language study and helps students document communication skills and intercultural competence.
- Transcript recognition
- Language proficiency
- Intercultural competence
Why Complete a Certificate?
A Earn a Language Certificate can strengthen applications for graduate school, study abroad, internships, scholarships, community engagement, and careers that value global and cross-cultural communication.
From Language Citation to Earn a Language Certificate
The Earn a Language Certificate can replace the older Language Citation model by offering a more visible and structured pathway for students who want formal recognition of their language learning.
Careers with Languages
Language study builds communication skills, cultural knowledge, and global awareness that can support many academic and professional paths.
Where can language learning take you?
Use this section to foreground alumni stories, career outcomes, and videos from graduates who use Chinese, Japanese, or Korean in their work, research, or community life.
Global Business
International business, consulting, marketing, trade, and entrepreneurship.
Education & Research
Teaching, graduate study, curriculum development, and academic research.
Technology & Media
AI, localization, gaming, digital content, translation, and communications.
Public Service & Community
Government, diplomacy, healthcare, NGOs, and community organizations.
Student Project Showcase
Explore selected student work from Chinese, Japanese, and Korean language courses. Projects should be shared with student permission and departmental approval.
Chinese Student Work
Digital storytelling, cultural research presentations, creative assignments, and study abroad reflections.
Japanese Student Work
Conversation videos, media and culture projects, translation/adaptation projects, and presentations.
Korean Student Work
Speech Contest highlights, Film Festival projects, language exchange reflections, and EAS 415 workplace projects.
Language Learning Across U of T
The Global Languages Initiative can help students discover language-learning opportunities, events, workshops, and resources across programs and departments.
Global Languages Initiative
Learn about language courses, multilingual opportunities, and initiatives across the University of Toronto.
Collaborative Events and Resources
Link to GLI events such as Language and Culture Day, teaching workshops, student-facing activities, and cross-program resources that promote multilingual learning.