Graduate School of Languages and Cultures

(Kokusai Gengo Bunka Kenkyuka)

| Prospectus | Admissions |

The Graduate School of Languages and Cultures (GSLC) offers opportunities for graduate study in a wide variety of languages and cultures, with emphasis on critical and theoretical as well as practical approaches to the diverse issues of modern international society. The aim is to contribute to the exploration of knowledge and the development of human resources through a good command of foreign languages and an international point of view. Our main objectives are to:

1) Undertake interdisciplinary education and research, and develop the knowledge and human resources essential for international understanding and corporation.
2) Actively undertake the training of international students and foreign-educated Japanese students; promote deeper understanding of Japan throughout international society; introduce Japanese language and culture to the world.
3) Develop night courses to provide graduate level education for students who work daytime at government offices, private enterprises, and educational institutions.

For further information about the Graduate School of Languages and Cultures, please contact the Information Branch:

The Information Branch
Graduate School of Languages and Cultures
(Kokusai Gengo Bunka Kenkyuka)
Nagoya University
Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601, JAPAN
Tel: 81-52-789-4881, 81-52-789-4882

Department of Japanese Language and Culture

• Japanese Language and Cultural Studies
  The aims of this program are to analyze, both from the diachronic and the synchronic perspective, issues pertaining to Japanese language and culture in terms of their relationship to intercultural relations; to develop a methodology for the treatment of these issues as they manifest themselves both as particulars and as universals; and to view, from both an academic and a pragmatic perspective, the development of Japanese language and culture.
• Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language
  From the perspective of the basic theory of Japanese language education, this program aims to investigate both the structures and functions of Japanese language; to develop theories of Japanese language pedagogy while examining their validity in terms of practical application; and to work toward the refinement of both Japanese language education pedagogy and Japanese language education programs.
• Applied Linguistics
  This program aims to build a scientifically-grounded, basic theory of language education and investigate practical theories on the acquisition and use of language from the perspectives of psycholinguistics, language education technology and theories of informatics.
• Comparative Culture
  From the vantage point of Japanese culture as part of world culture, this program aims to carry out comparative studies of Japanese and non-Japanese cultures from the perspective of theories of comparative culture and of semiotics; to work toward a general theory of cultural phenomena; and to develop a cultural basis for teaching Japanese as a foreign language.
• Japanese Linguistics
  Through lectures and seminars, this program aims to carry out a systematic study of the main fields of Japanese linguistic research including Japanese phonetics, grammar, semantics, and pragmatics and to develop students’ understanding of the criteria for undertaking advanced, independent research in the field of Japanese linguistics.
• Japanese Language Teaching Methodology
  Based on the three tenets of Japanese language education - grammar, discourse, and acquisition - this course focuses on the needs of Japaneselearners. In so doing it will concentrate on issues such as: the development of educational objectives, the design of appropriate contents and classroom activities and methods of evaluation. We also investigate the effects of utilizing computer technology as a teaching method and consider whether such technology heralds new possibilities for Japanese language education.

Department of Multicultural Studies

• Multicultural Studies
  This program looks at the multicultural societies of the various regions of the world with a special emphasis on the problems of class, ethnicity, race, sexuality and prejudice; it aims to equip students with a theoretical basis for an understanding of the challenges of coexistence among cultures and, based on this understanding, to work towards finding practical solutions to these problems.
• Contemporary Arts and Cultural Studies
  This program aims to provide students with an up-to-date understanding of the world situation in light of the various contemporary arts and cultures emerging throughout the world and to develop a cutting-edge theoretical understanding of the relationship between historical eras, geographical regions and cultural developments.
• Studies of the Americas
  From the vantage point of the modern languages and cultures of North and South America, this program aims to give students a practical means for grasping the ethnic, racial, religious and environmental problems faced by the various regions and, based on this understanding, to work towards developing practical solutions to these problems.
• East Asian Studies
  Focusing on the modern languages and cultures of East Asia, this program offers instruction in the structures of Chinese, Korean and Russian cultures as well as the issue of ethnic consciousness and helps students develop a practical grasp of the problems pertaining to these issues; based on this understanding, it works toward finding practical solutions for these problems.
• European Studies
  From the perspective of the modern languages and cultures of Europe, this program is designed to help students gain an understanding of the cultural issues concerning the dissolution and reunification of European states and develop a grasp of the problems pertaining to these issues; based on this understanding, it seeks to work towards the development of practical solutions to these problems.
• Gender Studies
  The Gender Studies at Nagoya University (GENA) program conducts teaching and research into a wide range of issues relating to women, men, gender and sexuality. Along with exploring questions of gender difference and sexual identity in literature, philosophy, psychoanalysis, and economics, GENA seeks to establish an interdisciplinary conceptual framework that involves feminist, gay and lesbian, and queer studies.
• Media Professional Studies
  Through its distinctive combination of academic education and practical training (including internships and many courses taught by practicing media professionals), this course aims to develop students’ potential to become highly-skilled and reflective media practitioners, scholars and teachers: professionals who can not only contribute effectively to the cutting-edge of today’s media industries, scholarship and education but also lead the way towards the information society of tomorrow. A unique aspect of the Masters program offered by this course is that students may choose to graduate either by writing an MA thesis or by producing a piece of media work, such as a documentary film, radio program or series of newspaper feature articles.
• Professional Training Course
  The program offered by this course aims to help students develop the knowledge and skills that they need for success in their careers as highlyspecialized professionals. It is designed to help students achieve a sound knowledge of foreign languages and cultures so that they can contribute to regional development from an international point of view. In particular, the program places great emphasis on helping students to develop their ability to use English as a tool for international communication.