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 objectives detailed in the Diploma Policy (Graduation Certification and Degree Awarding Policy), the curriculum is systematically organized into general and specialized education sources. These courses are a combination of lectures, seminars, experiments, practical training, and practical skills that will provide students with extensive education and specialized knowledge. The curriculum uses numbering and a curriculum map to convey its systematic structure. Furthermore, we aim to optimize the curriculum by verifying the educational outcomes of our curriculum based on an assessment plan and self-inspection and evaluation.
The educational content, teaching methods, and assessment of learning outcomes are defined as follows:

1. Educational Content

(1) General Education Courses

General education courses are categorized into “Human science courses,” “Language courses,” “Physical education courses,” and “Career development support courses.” Instruction is aimed at equipping students with a broad-based education to help them grow into the kind of individuals the university aims to cultivate.

(2) Specialized Education Courses

In the Department of English, Department of European Languages, and Department of Asian Languages, students must complete at least 80 credits in specialized education courses to graduate. The Department of English offers specialized education courses in three categories: undergraduate core courses, major courses, and related courses. The Department of European Languages and the Department of Asian Languages offer specialized education courses in four categories: undergraduate core courses, major courses, English language courses, and related courses.

Department of English

(A) Undergraduate Core Courses
By learning the fundamentals of linguistic and cultural diversity and how language works, courses designed to build the foundation for intercultural communication skills and attitudes, as well as courses designed to equip students in the School of Foreign Studies with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary for surviving the Society 5.0 era, are offered in the first through fourth years.

(B) Major Courses
“Intensive English” classes are offered in the first and second years to gradually improve students’ English proficiency, while “Specialized English Seminars” are offered in the third and fourth years to develop advanced English communication skills on specialized topics with a view to post-graduation career paths. First-year introductory courses include “Introduction to English Studies,” “English Information Literacy,” and “Basic Seminars.” “Core English courses” offered in the second through fourth years allow students to learn more about each specialized field, while the “English Research Seminar” offered in the third and fourth years allows students to delve deeper into their specialized interests. Additionally, “English Overseas Practical Training” offered in first years also provides an opportunity for students to study abroad and practice English.

(C) Related Courses
Students can take related courses from other departments and majors to broaden their professional knowledge beyond their specialized field. Related courses also include teacher training courses such as methods of instruction.

Department of European Languages and Department of Asian Languages

(A) Undergraduate Core Courses
By learning the fundamentals of linguistic and cultural diversity and how language works, students in the School of Foreign Studies take courses from the first through fourth years that build a foundation for intercultural communication skills and attitudes, while also equipping them with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the Society 5.0 era.

(B) Major Courses
“Major OO Language” courses are offered in the first and second years to teach the basics of each language and gradually develop comprehensive communication skills. However, “OO Specialized Seminars” are offered in the third and fourth years as comprehensive language subjects that focus on post-graduation career paths. (In the Media & Communications and Japanese Language & Communications majors, each major offers a “Specialized Seminar” in the form of lectures and seminars based on specific themes in each specialized field. Additionally, the “Media & Communications Internship” and “Japanese Language Teaching Practice” are offered in the third and fourth years.) Other introductory courses offered to students in their major include “Introduction to OO Studies” and “Basic Seminar” in their first year and “Information Literacy in OO Language” in their second year (“Information Literacy” is offered in the first year for the Media and Communication major). Students are taught basic specialized knowledge in their department’s area through the “Core European Languages” or “Core Asian Languages” lecture courses offered in their first through fourth years. They delve deeper into specialized fields through the “Core Major” lecture courses offered in their second through fourth years. Finally, students are encouraged to delve deeper into their specialized interests through the “European Language Studies Seminar” or “Asian Language Studies Seminar” offered in their third and fourth years. The elective “OO Language Overseas Study” provides students with the opportunity to practice their major language through study abroad, and “Examination OO Language” provides preparation for proficiency tests from beginner to advanced levels. Nevertheless, in the Media & Communications and Japanese Language & Communications majors, students study a foreign language of their choice through a “major language” course offered within their department while studying specialized education courses in their respective fields.

(C) English Courses
We are also committed to improving the English language proficiency of all undergraduate students. In particular, a minor in English and a required elective course called “Special English” were established, requiring students to take at least four credits. Furthermore, “Studying OO’s Society in English” and “Studying OO’s Culture in English” are mandatory second-year courses to develop intercultural communication skills and attitudes by integrating the major language, English, and Japanese. (The Media and Communications major offers the courses “Information Society in English” and “Media Culture in English.”)

(D) Related Courses
Students can take related courses from other departments and majors to broaden their professional knowledge beyond their specialized field. Related courses also include teacher training courses such as methods of instruction.

2. Educational Methods

Departments of English, European Languages, and Asian Languages

Language courses do not focus solely on grammar and reading comprehension. Rather, these courses place importance on developing foreign language proficiency as a means of communication applicable in real-life situations. Therefore, these courses have adopted an administrative structure in which Japanese and native-speaking faculty work closely together to provide instruction and course guidance. Furthermore, aiming to cultivate global talents with foreign language communication skills, a well-rounded education, problem-solving skills, and highly motivated spirit, many courses incorporate interactive lessons such as discussions, debates, and presentations. To ensure effective implementation, classes are limited to 30 students or less for foreign language courses and 20 students or less for seminar courses. To secure the balance between advanced language proficiency and broad, specialized knowledge, a three-tiered specialized education is provided, comprising “major-specific courses,” “department-wide courses,” and “faculty-wide courses.” By offering “major-specific courses” that cover the specialized fields of each major and “core European and Asian languages,” the Department of European Languages and the Department of Asian Languages can provide students with a wide range of knowledge in the languages, literature, culture, history, society, politics, and economics of the European and Asian language-speaking worlds, respectively. The Departments of European Languages and Asian Languages position “English” as a minor to improve the English proficiency of the entire faculty. Additionally, students can select specialized education subjects from other departments and majors as “related subjects,” allowing them to acquire a wide range of specialized knowledge and skills.
Furthermore, we strive to foster dialogue between students and faculty, as well as among faculty and staff, both during and outside of class time, and conduct classes that reflect students’ opinions and circumstances.

3. Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Departments of English, European Languages, and Asian Languages

Learning outcomes for each subject will be assessed based on a grading system detailed in the syllabus.

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.