Hiroyuki Imai
"Becoming a Foreign Language Professional"
The Faculty of Foreign Language Studies was established in 2009 to help realize Kansai University's motto "Harmony between Academia and Society," which emphasizes the importance of fostering an international mindset and learning foreign languages. Ever since its establishment, "foreign language professionals" have been graduating from Kansai University and contributing to society by working to bridge cultures in a range of fields such as international cooperation, business, administration, education, and interpreting/translation. Our present students, too, lead fulfilling lives as they pursue their dreams to become highly skilled multilingual professionals in a variety of fields.
Curriculum: What you Study
In the Faculty of Foreign Language Studies, students choose either English or Chinese (or Japanese in the case of international students) as their major language, as well as one other 'plus one foreign language' from among German, French, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Korean or English that they study intensively to reach a high level of proficiency. During their second year, students then study abroad for one year at one of our partner universities in Europe, North America, Asia or Oceania. Through this program, students further improve their foreign language and intercultural communication skills, while also taking regular undergraduate courses to strengthen the foundation of their expertise. In the third and fourth years, students take courses within our 'Five Specialty Programs.' They also complete a graduate research project in their area of specialization. In addition, students can obtain a foreign language teaching certificate for junior and senior high school. They can also study Japanese language teacher training and other social science courses such as international relations, politics, and economics, drawing on the merits of the university's 13 faculties.
Interactive learning to develop multiple perspectives: How you study
To become a foreign language professional, it is crucial to acquire not only the ability to use a foreign language, but also the ability to think from multiple perspectives. For this reason, most of our classes are interactive, which requires active participation by the students. The ability to think from multiple perspectives, cultivated through intensive communication, enables students to understand differences between themselves and others. This is an important ability to have when living proactively in a multicultural society. I am certain your four years of study at the Faculty of Foreign Language Studies will prove to be an invaluable asset in your future life.