As globalization is becoming increasingly prominent, there is an urgent need to develop human resources that play an active role in communities both in Japan and overseas by demonstrating leadership with high levels of language and communication skills. The department provides a teacher training course to contribute to the development of new language education required in a global society. The course aims to develop not only English teachers with advanced expertise and practical skills but also leaders who can reconsider diverse values from a global perspective, comprehensively and broadly analyze the increasingly interrelated international affairs from multifaceted perspectives, and proactively act with a high level of English proficiency and dialogue to solve problems.
In the first year, basic subjects on qualitative and quantitative methodologies related to second language acquisition are offered as compulsory subjects, helping students acquire the basics of research methods.
Priority subjects in the three areas of interpretation/translation, English pedagogy, and applied linguistics are systematically offered to cultivate a theoretical and practical foundation for research in language education.
Students will take seminars from the first year as compulsory subjects and, with the advice and guidance of their principal and deputy supervisors, acquire the expertise and methods for conducting research, develop their ability to analyze and examine their own research theme, and prepare a master's thesis in English.
Students are taught by full-time faculty members who conduct research and activities on the international stage. Eighty-five percent of the faculty members of this department have a graduate (master's or doctoral) degree earned overseas, and most of the faculty members have published their research results in English on the international stage.
The department offers a course for students to obtain an advanced class certificate for teaching English at junior high and high schools. It can be obtained by completing the designated subjects in the department. (* Applicable to those who have Type Ⅰ certificate)
<Remarks (taken from the website of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Glossary: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (mext.go.jp))>
What is an advanced class certificate?
It is a type of regular teacher’s certificate stipulated in Article 4 of the Education Personnel Certification Act (Act No. 147 of 1949).
There are three types of regular teacher’s certificates: Type Ⅱ certificate for junior college graduates, Type Ⅰ certificate for university undergraduates, and an advanced class certificate for graduate students (master’s degree program).
The following are the ways to obtain an advanced class certificate.
For a person with a Type Ⅰ certificate (including those who meet equivalent requirements) to obtain a master's degree or other basic qualification and earn 24 or more credits in a graduate school or a four-year university’s advanced course accredited by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
For a person with Type Ⅰ certificate or a special certificate to work for a minimum of three years with good work performance and earn the prescribed credits, and then take an educational personnel examination. The required number of credits is 15 for Type Ⅰ certificate holder, and 25 for a special certificate holder (41 for a holder of a special certificate for elementary schools).
To take an educational personnel examination after completing the same requirements as above at a graduate school in a foreign country or after completing a course at a graduate school in a foreign country, or after receiving a certificate for educational personnel in a foreign country.
The method shown in red applies to the course in the Master’s Degree Program, Department of Language and Communication in the Ryukoku University Graduate School of International Studies.
SEE MORE
Master’s Degree Program (Department of Language and Communication) Curriculum