Educational/Research Objectives and Policies - Division of Foreign Languages

Linguistics Major

Educational and Research Objectives

In the Linguistics Major, students examine a specific language in depth based on their knowledge of linguistics and use it to further advance their understanding and use of linguistics. Moreover, the course nurtures individuals with a strong sense of ethics and conviction, who can continue contributing to the development of better societies and systems through the application of issue analysis and problem-solving skills supported by specialized knowledge and excellent communication skills in their major language.

Policies

Diploma Policy

Based on the educational and research objectives of the Linguistics course, the Division of Foreign Languages confers a “Master’s degree (in linguistics)” on students who have completed the curriculum and fulfilled the completion requirements established by the Division of Foreign Languages, and acquired the following qualities:

1. Systematic knowledge of the major language and linguistics
2. Ability to accurately understand the content of specialized books and academic papers written in their language major or English
3. Ability to appropriately select a research topic, appropriately collect, organize, and analyze the necessary materials and data, and logically reach a conclusion
4. Ability to understand the cultures and societies related to a particular language through examination of that language
5. Capacity to play a leading role in the world of domestic and foreign practice using knowledge of the target language and linguistics

Curriculum Policy

To achieve the goals set out in the Diploma Policy (for approving program completion and conferring degrees), we offer courses in the following six areas:

1. Descriptive linguistics
2. Historical linguistics
3. Contrastive linguistics
4. Applied linguistics
5. Pragmatics
6. Research Guidance

In the area of theory, we provide courses in areas 1 to 5 above, each of which is arranged into “research,” “seminars,” “advanced seminars,” and “special lectures” stages to enable systematic progression from basic to applied learning. In addition, we offer 6 research guidance courses, in which students prepare a master’s thesis as the culmination of their research, which can be done in more than ten languages, including Japanese, Indonesian, and Arabic.

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

1. Educational Content

(1) Descriptive linguistics, (2) historical linguistics, (3) contrastive linguistics, (4) applied linguistics, and (5) pragmatics
We provide instruction that progresses in stages, from basic subjects to applied content, with the aim of fostering systematic and applicable knowledge on methodologies of “descriptive linguistics,” “historical linguistics,” “contrastive linguistics,” “applied linguistics,” and “pragmatics.” We also aim to train students in ways of collecting , organizing, and analyzing materials and data that provide the basis for constructing hypotheses, and basic research achievements. (Diploma Policy 1. 2. 3. 4.)

(6) Research guidance
To help students complete a master’s thesis that is original and meaningful as a culmination of their learning, the “research guidance” courses provide interdisciplinary guidance during every stage of thesis writing, not only through the research supervisor but also, where required, through faculty members specializing in each language.
(Diploma Policy 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.)

2. Educational Methods

All courses feature interactive classes that require students to engage in independent learning. Students are required to read publications in their language major including specialized books and academic papers, in advance, and then introduce this content in class, or collect, organize, and analyze materials and data in the instructed way, explain the results in an easy-to-understand manner, and actively participate in discussions on their theoretical implications. Through these activities, we foster the “analytical skills” and “discussion skills” necessary for conducting research. (Diploma Policy 1. to 5.)

We have taken steps to optimize the “educational content provided to each student” by having class teachers continuously monitor each student’s learning status while maintaining contact with the student, and by coordinating students’ research themes and topics as much as possible.

We have also taken steps to improve the relevance of our educational content and methods: in the fall semester of the first year, students are paired with a “research supervisor” based on the field of research that they wish to pursue who work together to prepare a “research advising plan,” the content of which is discussed in the “Division of Foreign Languages Council.”

In the fall semester of the second year, we hold a “Master’s Thesis Interim Presentation Meeting,” where students have the opportunity to receive advice from research supervisors and the faculty members specializing in each language.

3. Evaluation of Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes of each course are evaluated according to the methods and standards for assessing grades stipulated in the syllabus of each course.

The master’s thesis is comprehensively evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

1. Academic significance of the research theme
2. Originality of the research content and results
3. Ethics
4. Investigation of previous research and accuracy of understanding
5. Suitability of the research method selected
6. Quality and quantity of data and materials presented and suitability of the data analysis and interpretation
7. Logicality and validity of the arguments leading up to the conclusion
8. Suitability of the form, structure, and presentation of the thesis

The final examination takes the form of an oral examination of the master’s thesis, which is comprehensively evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

1. Systematic knowledge of theory in the major field of study
2. Broad knowledge of related fields
3. Ability to select a topic, empirically and theoretically analyze data and materials, and present solutions
4. High-level comprehensive English proficiency
5. Willingness to continue contributing to the development of better societies and systems

Admission Policy

To ensure that all students can reach the level specified in the Diploma Policy through the two-year educational program, the Division of Foreign Languages seeks students with the following qualities:

1. Strong spirit of inquiry to conduct an in-depth study of the theory of linguistics and its underlying academic disciplines, and subjectively analyze human language
2. Fundamental knowledge of the theory of linguistics and its underlying academic disciplines
3. Basic ability to appropriately organize and analyze data and synthesize the analysis results to logically reach a conclusion
4. Reading comprehension ability for reading specialized literature written in Japanese and English and correctly understanding the content
5. Ability to multilaterally understand the linguistic cultures behind a language through study of that language

Students are selected using a variety of methods that can evaluate the above requirements.