We all have experience of learning and/or teaching languages, and we may have fixed ideas of how it should be done. Perhaps some of us also have fixed beliefs, for example that “I am bad at languages.” The starting point for the English Education field is to question these beliefs and to investigate how people can learn English or other foreign languages effectively. That involves looking not only at our own experiences, but also at those of experienced teachers. We also look at the research that has already been done in linguistics, applied linguistics, second language acquisition, e-learning, and related fields. Students learn how to read research, and how to do their own. That may mean doing a survey, observations, experiments, or creating and testing materials.
English Education is naturally of interest to those wishing to become teachers, but also suitable for those simply wishing to improve their own learning of English and other languages.

The English Education curriculum begins with Lectures in English Education in the 2nd semester of the 2nd year. This survey course features lectures by two of the faculty members (Professors Yoshii and Lavin) in the English Education section*, covering a wide range of topics. In the 3rd year, students interested in further study in English Education can choose to join one of the three seminars offered, which cover various aspects of the wide English Education field. These seminars lead to the corresponding courses in the fourth year in which students write their graduation theses.

Many graduating students have gone on to careers teaching English in elementary, junior high, and high schools, while others work in a wide range of companies such as airlines, banks, and so on. Many also go on to do further study in our own or other universities’ graduate schools.

English Education Seminars

In these third-year courses, students read a variety of literature on second language acquisition and English education methods in order to examine the theories and techniques involved in teaching English and reflect from an informed perspective on their own learning experiences. In addition to students planning on becoming junior high school and high school English teachers, this course is for those interested in learning effective methods for learning English or other languages, whether they wish to teach English to children in the future, or want to be involved in language education at a conversation school, cram school, company, etc., or just learn effectively themselves.

These third-year seminars lead on to fourth-year seminars for those who wish to write their graduation theses in the language education field.

Graduate School programs

Professors Yoshii and Lavin also are happy to supervise students in our Masters and doctoral programs. Students interested in these options should contact the professors directly to discuss their needs and interests.

*Our other professor, a specialist in secondary education, focuses mainly on teacher training courses for students aiming to become qualified junior high or senior high school teachers.