Philosophy and Goals

Philosophy/purpose

• Thinking about humanity through multiple languages and cultures.
• Become someone who connects people.

Educational goals

• Consider the fundamentals of language and culture.
• Learn about other cultures and become aware of your own.
• Improve your proficiency in foreign and native languages.
• Acquire expressive skills using a variety of media.
• Acquire the ability to thrive in an international setting.

About our philosophy and objectives

We aim to cultivate individuals who can contribute to society by connecting people, with opportunities to work both domestically and internationally, by fostering appropriate intercultural understanding and the ability to communicate freely across cultures.

"I" was born in Country C, raised in Country D, and speaks Language E, to a father who speaks Language A and a mother who speaks Language B. Without even needing to mention the examples of young athletes, such "I"s are no longer uncommon. While economic globalization is common knowledge, so-called "internal internationalization"—that is, active and diverse engagement with and empathy for different cultures on a psychological and mental level—is becoming increasingly important.

With many staff members who have studied and lived in cultural spheres such as Japan, the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, China, Taiwan, and South Korea, this department is dedicated to helping students become proficient in Japanese and English, as well as one of the following languages: German, French, Chinese, or Korean. We also strive to cultivate the wisdom and heart to interpret various aspects of culture from diverse theories and embrace the diversity of the world.

Regarding educational goals

Consider the fundamentals of language and culture.

Why can we communicate through language? What does it mean to be unable to understand each other? If we define culture as the collective life and society of humans who can only live in groups, then daily culture can be described as a bundle of diverse forms of communication. In order to build new forms of communication, we aim to acquire the wisdom and skills to carefully unravel this bundle.

Learn about other cultures and become aware of your own.

Just as catching a cold makes us realize the importance of our health, many people who learn English become more conscious of Japanese for the first time. While different cultures are easily recognizable, often resulting in culture shock, our own culture is so commonplace that we tend to neglect it. As an essential step in learning about multiculturalism and intercultural understanding, we aim to develop the ability to view ourselves objectively.

Improve your proficiency in foreign and native languages.

In this age of globalization, let's be a little ambitious and learn another language besides English. Our department's native speakers will dedicate themselves to improving your practical communication skills. Of course, we will also diligently work on refining your Japanese, which forms the basis of foreign language proficiency, through small-group seminars and other means.

Acquire expressive skills using a variety of media.

Communication isn't limited to just exchanging voices or face-to-face conversations. Obtaining and transmitting information through video and devices is also an important means of communication. This department offers courses on effective communication using media such as computers and AV equipment.

Acquire the ability to thrive in an international setting.

While proficiency in a foreign language is certainly important, broad general knowledge and flexible communication skills are essential for success in the international arena. These skills cannot be acquired overnight, so we dedicate four years to thorough learning. We also encourage overseas study to help students envision their future careers and boost their motivation, in addition to improving their language skills.

The ideal student for this department

• They possess a solid foundation in academics, particularly in English.
• In addition to Japanese and English, I have a strong desire to learn one of the following languages: German, French, Chinese, or Korean.
• They can explain their thoughts, interests, and concerns in a clear and logical manner.
• They possess a keen understanding of and interest in phenomena surrounding language and society, particularly in everyday culture (clothing, food, shelter, communication, family, gender, ethnicity, religion, etc.) and expressive culture (literature, philosophy, film, theater, art, music, etc.).