Major in Japanese Literature — Japanese Language Education
This field explores language acquisition and teaching methods for learners of Japanese from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Taking into account perspectives from linguistics, Japanese linguistics, and pedagogy, it addresses a wide variety of issues in Japanese language education.
Overview
Japanese language education at Keio University began in 1958. In 1972, the “Japanese Teaching Methods Course” was established at the International Center for the purpose of training students and graduates of master’s programs to become teachers of the Japanese language. This course was reorganized in 2003 to become the “Japanese Language Education Course” under the Center for Japanese Studies, and over the past 30 years has produced numerous instructors and researchers in Japanese language education. Based on these achievements, the field of Japanese Language Education was established as part of the Graduate School of Letters’ Major in Japanese Literature in 2007. The purpose of this field is to train experts in the Japanese language and Japanese language education who, as highly skilled professionals, possess specialized and systematic knowledge as well as excellent teaching skills.
This field of study was established to meet the needs of Japanese and foreign students who wish to become Japanese language teachers. As such, it is open to those who wish to study Japanese language education from graduate school, those who have experience in Japanese language education in the field and wish to pursue research on the Japanese language, and those who wish to obtain a master’s degree in Japanese language education in addition to a master’s degree obtained in another field.
Research activities in this field focus on linking theory and practice, such as how to apply various theories to educational settings and how to systematize educational practice. Because the field’s principal faculty members are engaged in Japanese language education at the Center for Japanese Studies, the main site for international student education at the university, education and instruction in lectures and seminars are conducted from the perspective of actual educational settings, with no bias toward theory.
With the cooperation of the Center for Japanese Studies, students are provided with opportunities for various experiences related to education and research, such as visits to Japanese language education facilities and cross-cultural exchanges, allowing for fine-tuned instruction.
We are eagerly awaiting highly motivated and enthusiastic individuals who aspire to become highly skilled professionals in Japanese language education and research.