Educational/Research Objectives and Policies - Faculty of Foreign Studies

Department of English, Department of European Languages, Department of Asian Languages

Educational and Research Objectives

The Faculty of Foreign Studies aims to nurture individuals with excellent foreign language skills and rich education, who are well versed not only in the languages of various countries and regions but also in the culture, society, and history, deepening their understanding of the international community so they can play an active role in the future in various fields with a global perspective.

Department of English

Students acquire a high level of English proficiency that can be used globally, as well as a basic command of a second foreign language. In addition, we aim to nurture true international individuals with a rich education and flexible judgment, through in-depth research in the field of English education and literature and culture of the English-speaking world.

Department of European Languages

Students acquire advanced proficiency of the language that they are majoring in , as well as a solid command of English. In addition, we aim to nurture true international individuals with a rich education and flexible judgment, through in-depth research on the culture, society, history, and media of countries speaking the language and Europe.

Department of Asian Languages

Students acquire advanced proficiency of the language that they are majoring in, as well as solid command of English. In addition, we aim to nurture true international individuals with a rich education and flexible judgment, through in-depth research on the culture, society, and history of countries speaking the language and Asia.

Policies

Diploma Policy

To ensure that students acquire the following qualities, the Faculty of Foreign Studies confers a “bachelor’s degree (in foreign studies)” on students who have completed the curriculum and fulfilled the graduation requirements established by the Faculty of Foreign Studies:

(A) Knowledge and Understanding of a Specialized Field

a. Linguistic knowledge necessary for using language effectively
b. Understanding of different cultures, and at the same time, of one’s own culture relatively
c. Systematic understanding of the structures and rules of the target language
d. Systematic understanding of international relations and the culture and society of the linguistic area of the target language.

(B) Skills

a. Specialized Skills

Language skills that provide a foundation for the use of language required by the international community
Skills needed to continue learning a foreign language voluntarily and effectively after graduation
Ability to gather and appropriately evaluate various information using the target language

b. General Skills

Ability to independently identify challenges from complicated situations and events
Proficiency in basic methods for analyzing issues logically and presenting solutions
Proficiency in methods of gathering and effectively presenting information using information technology

(C) Attitude and Orientation

a. Enthusiasm to flexibly understand different cultures and diverse values
b. Willingness to play an active role in and contribute to the international community using the knowledge and skills acquired

Curriculum Policy

To achieve the goals set out in the Diploma Policy (for approving graduation and conferring degrees), the Faculty of Foreign Studies has systematically organized courses such as general education courses and specialized education courses, and offer courses with an appropriate combination of lectures, seminars, experiments, practical learning, and practical skills training, which are designed to foster a wide-ranging education and basic expertise.

The system and structure of the curriculum is laid out explicitly using a numbering system and curriculum map. Moreover, the curriculum is inspected based on students’ perceptions of their own development and their opinions on individual classes and the curriculum as a whole, captured through the “Survey on Feelings about Learning Outcomes” conducted by all faculties at the end of each semester. The curriculum provided by the faculty is optimized through self-inspection and evaluation of the educational outcomes.

Details of the educational content, educational methods, and evaluation of learning outcomes are outlined below:

1. Educational Content

(1) General Education Courses

We offer general education courses, which are divided into “human science education courses,” “language education courses,” “physical education courses,” and “career development support education courses” in which students receive instructions aimed at developing the wide-ranging education needed to move toward the qualities set out in the Diploma Policy.

(2) Specialized Education Courses

In the Department of English, Department of European Languages, and Department of Asian Languages, students are required to earn at least 80 credits from specialized education courses in order to graduate. The specialized courses offered in the Department of English consist of two types: major courses and related courses; the specialized courses in the Department of European Languages and the Department of Asian Languages consist of three types: major courses, English courses, and related courses.

Department of English

(A) Major Courses
In the first and second years, students take “Intensive English” classes to gradually improve their proficiency in specialized English, and then in the third and fourth years, students take “English Specialized Seminars,” which are designed to foster advanced conversation skills in English related to specialized themes anticipating students’ career options after graduation. In addition, “Introduction to English Studies,” “Information English,” “Basic Seminar,” “Basic English Seminar,” and “International Relations Theory” are offered as introductory major courses in the first year; “Core English” lecture courses are offered from years two to four to allow students to study their respective subject areas in detail; and “English Research Seminars” are offered in the third and fourth years to allow students to explore their own specialized interests in greater depth. We also provide the opportunity for students to apply their English skills while studying abroad, through the required elective course “Overseas Studies in English Speaking Countries.”

(B) Related Courses
To acquire extensive specialized education that also extends beyond the major field of study, students can take specialized education courses offered by other departments and majors as related courses. These related courses also include teacher training courses that cover areas such as subject teaching methods.

Department of European Languages and Department of Asian Languages

(A) Major Courses
In the first and second years, students take courses in their “XX Language Major” to acquire the basics of that language and gradually develop their overall communication ability, in the third and fourth years, students take “Special Studies in XX Language Seminars” a comprehensive contents-based language course anticipating their future career options after graduation (in both the Media Communication and Japanese Communication majors, lecture and seminar classes are conducted based on individual themes related to each specialized area). In addition, “Introduction to XX Studies” and “Basic Seminars” are offered as introductory major courses in the first year, and “XX Language Information” is offered in the second year (and for the Media Communication major, “Information Literacy” is offered in the first year); “Core European Language Courses” and “Core Asian Language Courses” are offered from years one to four to allow students to acquire basic expertise in the focus areas of each department; the “Core Major” lecture courses are offered from years two to four to allow students to study their respective specialized areas in detail; and “European Languages Research Seminars” and “Asian Language Research Seminars” are offered in years three and four to allow students to explore their own specialized interests in greater depth. We also provide the opportunity for students to apply their major language skills while studying abroad through the required elective course “Overseas Studies in XX Speaking Countries.” However, for the Media Communication and Japanese Communication majors, we have adopted a system in which students study a foreign language of their own choice in “XX Language Major” courses that are offered in the department to which they belong, while studying specialized courses in their respective major fields of study.

(B) English Courses
We also invest effort in improving the English proficiency of all of our students. Specifically, English is taken as a minor subject, and the “Special English” courses are offered as required electives from which students must earn at least 10 credits.

(C) Related Courses
To acquire extensive specialized education that also extends beyond the major field of study, students can take specialized education courses offered by other departments and majors as related courses. These related courses also include teacher training courses that cover aspects such as subject teaching methods.

2. Educational Methods

Department of English, Department of European Languages, and Department of Asian Languages

For our language courses, we focus on developing proficiency in foreign languages as methods of communication that can be used in the real world, without overemphasis on grammar and reading comprehension. To this end, we have established a system of education in which Japanese faculty members work closely with faculty members who are native speakers to deliver classes and academic guidance. Moreover, to nurture global individuals with communication skills in foreign languages, rich education, problem-solving skills, and willingness to take on new challenges, we have introduced interactive classes in many courses, such as discussions, debates, and presentations.
To nurture global individuals with communication skills and problem-solving capability in a foreign language, we have introduced interactive classes in many courses, such as discussions, debates, and presentations. To manage these classes effectively, we have established a maximum limit of 30 students for foreign language course classes and a maximum limit of 20 students for seminar course classes.
To encourage students to acquire an optimal balance of advanced language proficiency and a broad specialized education, we provide multilayered specialized education at three levels through “major courses,” “common department courses,” and “common faculty courses.” In the Department of European Languages and the Department of Asian Languages in particular, we help students acquire knowledge of the language, literature, culture, history, society, politics, and economy of the areas where that European or Asian language is spoken, by providing “Core European Language Courses” and “Core Asian Language Courses” in addition to the “major courses” in which students learn about their major field of study. In addition to improving English ability within the faculty as a whole through “Special English,” which is provided as a minor course in all departments, students can acquire wide-ranging specialized knowledge and skills by taking specialized education courses from other departments or majors as “related courses.”

In addition, we have established initiatives for encouraging communication between students and teachers during or outside each class as well as encouraging communication among teachers and faculty members, and we conduct class management that reflects students’ opinions and situations.

3. Evaluation of Learning Outcomes

Department of English, Department of European Languages, and Department of Asian Languages

The learning outcomes of each course are evaluated according to the academic assessment methods stipulated in the syllabus of each course.

Admission Policy

The Department of English, Department of European Languages, and Department of Asian Languages aim to nurture individuals who match up to the school philosophy of Kyoto Sangyo University by providing education in various languages and their related subjects. Specifically, we endeavor to cultivate individuals who can be trusted and be able to play an active role in the international community and in Japan, having acquired practical language proficiency based on a systematic understanding of language and having deepened their cross-cultural understanding and comprehension of the challenges facing the international community today. To ensure that all students in the Department of English, Department of European Languages, and Department of Asian Languages grow into the kind of individuals described above through the four-year educational program, the Faculty of Foreign Studies seeks students with the following qualities:

Interest in the language, culture, and society of the countries and regions where their language major is spoken
Willingness to attain proficiency in the target language and engage in cross-cultural communication
Wide interest in world affairs and willingness to be active in and contribute to the international community
Continuous study habit and basic academic ability necessary for studying a foreign language

Students are selected using a variety of methods, as stipulated in the Admission Policy of Kyoto Sangyo University.