Faculty of
Humanities

Department of 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 Language and Culture

Department OverviewDevelop Fundamental 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 Skills in a Small-Class Setting

In the Department of 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 Language and Culture, many of the department's foundational 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 language-learning courses offered in the first and second years are taught by faculty who are native speakers of 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网. Learning in a small-class size environment allows students to better develop fundamental skills in the four areas of 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Moreover, to further develop 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 skills, the department offers courses that focus on "practical 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 competencies," such as presentations, discussions, interpretation, and translation.

The department is divided into two specialized fields: "Literature and Culture" and "Language and Communication." While taking a diverse range of courses, students pursue in-depth study in their areas of interest. In their fourth year, as a “capstone” or culmination of their studies, students write a graduation thesis in 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 on a topic of their choice.

Specialization

Literature and Culture Specialization
Literature is the most vivid reflection of a region’s linguistic and cultural identity. In this program, students will explore literature rooted in 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网-speaking regions—not limited to Europe and the United States—while gaining broad knowledge in various fields, such as culture, society, history, and philosophy.
Students will examine, for instance, how race influences the roles, perspectives, and actions of characters in novels, as well as the social backgrounds reflected in their behaviors. The program encourages deep exploration of themes such as feminism, gender, race, immigration, class, and environmental issues that underpin literary narratives .In addition to uncovering the author's intentions and underlying messages, students will also analyze the social issues and discriminatory attitudes depicted in literary works, drawing comparisons with relevant issues in Japan.
Language and Communication Specialization
Beyond just learning a single language, this program delves deeper into the study of languages spoken worldwide. In this track we focus mainly on 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网, but also on other languages, including Japanese. Students will explore the mechanisms of communication, examining how both verbal and nonverbal information is conveyed and understood. By exploring various aspects of language—such as its history, phonetic phenomena, word and sentence structures, and the dynamics of conversation—students gain a deeper understanding of language at multiple levels. Furthermore, by examining the social and cultural environments in which languages are situated, students investigate the very essence of linguistic communication. Topics covered include differences in communication between men and women, metaphorical expressions in 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网, comparisons of world languages, and translation between Japanese and 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 in films, TV dramas, and novels.

Goals of the Department

英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 is not only a global language that connects the world but also a language deeply rooted in the history of local communities. While exploring the diversity and potential of 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 language and culture, students also reflect on their relationship with their own native language and culture. Students actively and thoroughly acquire various practical 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 skills while developing an interest in different cultures, including those of 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网-speaking regions, to enhance international awareness, perspectives, and outlook. Students are encouraged to maintain a sense of curiosity and critical thinking, striving to solve problems and analyze issues autonomously while confidently expressing their own ideas. Over the four years of study in the Department of 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 Literature and Culture, each student will pursue both "learning 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网" and "learning through 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网" in tandem.

Strengths and features of the department

Acquire real 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 skills
By taking a variety of 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 courses, including foundational language-learning subjects taught in small-class settings, students develop genuine 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 proficiency that enables clear and accurate communication—an essential skill even in the AI era. The 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 skills acquired also prove beneficial for studying abroad. Average TOEIC score improvement over one year: Approximately +120 Points [2023 Enrollment Data]
“Fundamental Skills for Working Professionals”: Developing Specialized Expertise
Through interaction with highly specialized faculty both inside and outside of class, students will study issues related to gender, race, environment, and class, as well as language and communication. By systematically progressing through the process of writing their graduation thesis, students cultivate the "fundamental skills for working professionals" that are necessary after graduation.
A Wealth of Learning Opportunities to Support Your Career
In addition to foreign language courses, such as TOEIC classes, the department offers a variety of specialized subjects that support future careers, including "Translation/Interpretation Workshop," "英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 for Young Learners” and "英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 Discussion & Presentation." The "Women and Careers" course also provides opportunities for students to hear firsthand experiences from alumni about job hunting and career paths after graduation.

Learning Points

Small-Class Sizes for a Supportive and Engaging Experience

Professors specializing in various fields, such as communication, 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 literature, and linguistics, provide close guidance in small-class settings, thereby ensuring individual attention for each student. For example, first-year courses like "Oral 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网" and the "Basic Seminar" (an introductory seminar course) have around 10 students per class. This provides an environment where students can actively participate and easily build connections with their classmates. Through close interactions with faculty, students can also develop new academic interests and shape their future goals. The Department of 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 Language and Culture offers two specialized tracks: "Literature and Culture" and "Language and Communication." In their fourth year, students apply what they have learned by writing a graduation thesis in 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 as a culmination of their studies. Under faculty supervision, they develop their own research topics, construct evidence-based arguments, and reach conclusions through a rigorously structured process.

Enhance Your 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 Skills and Explore Your Interests

A Learning Environment Similar to Studying Abroad

The university offers a wide range of all-英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 classes taught by native 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网-speaking instructors. In particular, first-year "Oral 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网" classes are held four times a week with about 10 students per class, providing an intensive 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 learning environment. Other foundational 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 language-learning courses for first- and second-year students include “Writing”, “Listening”, and “Vocabulary Building,” the latter of which aims to help students acquire 1,600 essential 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 words and 1,000 idioms over the course of a year.
In addition to language acquisition, students can also learn academic content in 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网. For example, in the "International Liberal Arts Lectures," faculty members from other countries give specialized lectures entirely in 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网, allowing students to experience classes similar to those offered at overseas’ universities—while still in Japan. Not only are classes conducted in 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网, but everyday conversations with instructors are also in 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网, creating an environment comparable to studying abroad right here at home.

Deepening Learning Through Active Engagement

Many students also choose to study abroad during their time at university. As part of its support for study abroad, the Department of 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 Language and Culture requires first-year students to take the TOEIC? test three times and second-year students to take it twice during the academic year. This test serves as a way to assess improvement in students’ 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 proficiency, and it also helps many students stay highly motivated in order to achieve their target scores. Of course, beyond studying abroad, students can actively deepen their learning through a wide variety of courses offered at the university.

Building Careers for Women, Shaping the Future

Thriving in a Wide Range of Fields

The Department of 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 Language and Culture provides education that equips women with 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 proficiency and specialized knowledge, which empowers them to build careers that suit their individual aspirations. The curriculum includes courses that develop fundamental skills essential for interpretation and translation, as well as specialized classes on teaching 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 to children. Additionally, university-wide courses are available to help students improve their TOEIC, TOEFL, and IELTS scores.
Through the process of mastering 英皇娱乐_英皇娱乐平台¥国际官网 and their specialized subjects, students develop other essential skills as well, such as taking initiative, communication abilities, logical thinking, and information-gathering skills. These competencies will be valuable regardless of students’ career path after graduation.

First-Year Education & Support

Creating an Environment Where Students Feel Comfortable Seeking Advice

To ensure a smooth transition from high school learning to university-level specialized study, full-time faculty members are assigned as academic advisors for first-year students. Students meet their assigned advisor in April, helping to establish an environment where they feel comfortable reaching out whenever they have questions or face challenges.
In the second semester of the first year, students take a required course called “Women and Careers I,” which includes a one-on-one meeting with their academic advisor. In this class, students also have opportunities to hear directly from senior students about their university experiences, graduation theses, and job-hunting efforts. The experience and advice given by upper-level students help younger students gain valuable insight into their own academic journey and career preparation.
Additionally, guest lectures are given by alumni who are actively contributing to society using the knowledge and skills gained during their university years. These talks provide students with a chance to learn about various career paths, professional experiences, and required qualifications–all of which help them to better envision their future after graduation.