English

At the Faculty of Letters, academic fields related to human culture and society are explored in various ways. These include many unfamiliar fields that you may not have encountered in high school. Furthermore, some of you may be wondering not only what to learn but also how to conduct research, or what skills will be required after the period of studying for entrance exams is over. The English courses at Keio's Faculty of Letters are designed to bridge the gap between high school-level learning and the research conducted in specialized university programs.

Students select two class periods per week according to their individual interests. Reflecting the diversity of the 17 majors offered at the Faculty of Letters, a wide variety of English courses are available, covering a broad range of fields including culture, society, and nature. While the themes of each class vary, they all share the common principle of mastering reading skills. In the specialized programs at the Mita campus, many majors require students to interpret and discuss classical texts or to survey and scrutinize previous research. By taking these English courses, students will develop the language proficiency and textual comprehension skills necessary for this kind of academic reading.  

The practice of academic reading involves not only understanding the content of a text but also the process of forming one's own opinions and perspectives through reading and then discussing and sharing them. Therefore, the English education at the Faculty of Letters, which uses reading as a starting point, also focuses on developing students' communication and presentation skills. Advanced and Advanced High classes are conducted entirely in English, and opportunities to learn in an all-English environment are also provided for students at the Intermediate and Intermediate High levels.

Upon enrollment, students take a multiple-choice English test to assess their proficiency in foreign language use and reading comprehension. Based on these results, first-year students are placed into one of four levels—basic, intermediate, intermediate high, or advanced—and take two English class periods. Among students placed in the advanced level, those with native-level English proficiency may be permitted to enroll in the advanced high class after an interview.

Within their assigned level, each student selects and submits their preferences for which classes to take, ranking them from their first to eighth choice. Based on these preferences, student numbers are adjusted and allocated, and the final English class assignments are determined. For the basic level, classes are assigned automatically, as all sections are standardized and use the same textbook.

In addition to the two required class periods, "Intensive English" courses are offered for students who wish to further their English studies. These are small-group classes conducted entirely in an "all-in-English" format.

To determine levels for second-year courses, the results of the placement test taken at the time of admission are used, and students are assigned to one of four levels: Basic, Intermediate, Intermediate High, or Advanced. In some cases, a student's level may change from their first year. Students who wish to move to a level higher than their first-year level will take a placement test scheduled for mid-March. If they meet the required score, they can move to a higher-level class. Among students who are placed in the Advanced level as a result of any of these level assessments, those who wish to and are approved in an interview will be permitted to take the Advanced High class. Students who took the Advanced High class in their first year can take it again in their second year without an interview, regardless of their level assessment results. However, they are still required to apply to take the Advanced High class.  

The process is the same as in the first year. English classes are assigned based on each student's preferences, regardless of their major.

As in the first year, students can take small-group, all-in-English classes in Mita Campus.

Students explore their field of study using English through activities such as literature searches, discussions of literature, research presentations, and paper writing.

Required courses. Students are divided into levels based on a placement test.

・ Basic

・ Intermediate

・ Intermediate High

・ Advanced

・ Advanced High (Selected from Advanced-level applicants via interview)  

Elective courses (General Education Courses) for interested students.

Required courses. Students are divided into levels.

・ Basic High

・ Intermediate

・ Intermediate High

・ Advanced

・ Advanced High (Selected from Advanced-level applicants via interview)  

Elective Courses (General Education)

The "Staff Introduction" section of this site features examples of classes taught by our faculty. If you find a theme or an instructor that interests you, be sure to look at the syllabi for the English courses. You will surely find a class that grabs you, one that makes you think, "This is the one." Discovering an interesting class and exploring its syllabus is the first step in your English studies at the university. In the spring, take your English dictionary (electronic dictionaries are also welcome) and head to the classroom.

Each year, a guidance session on English course registration is held for first-year students. Along with this session, a dedicated guidance website for English course registration is also launched. This website includes an FAQ section concerning registration, so please consult it as needed. The URL for the guidance website, titled "English Course Registration Guide," will be provided through the Office of Student Services.