神戸夙川学院大学

Special features of KSGU (2) Cosmopolitanism

Meeting the world

Education is a service industry.
The most important thing is the satisfaction of our students.

Michio Matsui, Professor

Michio Matsui is the former chief of the English Department at Kawaijuku, one of the top private tutoring schools in Japan. During his time there, Michio Matsui was active in the development of preparatory tests and textbooks for college entrance examinations while also publishing many English workbooks for college entrance examinations. He works on developing innovative English textbooks for unified junior and senior high schools as well as designing oral English materials and creating English curriculums for preschool children. He is also a world-class journalist.

"Students' aim is to acquire the well-honed English speaking and listening skills that are necessary to survive and compete in the international world of the future. For students who are interested in studying abroad, our university has English language programs at well-known universities all over America. Second and third year students are free to participate in these programs. Classes at KSGU emphasize acquiring English proficiency, which makes the learning experience in these study abroad programs even more fruitful."

"The aim is for students to acquire a level of English proficiency that can be used in modern contexts, so they first work on thoroughly mastering grammar and idioms. They then practice how to properly read and pronounce English with the guidance of native English speaking teachers and a computer software called "Speak."

"The next level of the curriculum begins after students become competent enough to be able to read with proper pronunciation and listen to the natural flow and pace of the language. The next level focuses on English skill expansion. Students are taught how to properly read information on the internet and how to write emails for business correspondence. Because interacting with people of different backgrounds is an important part of the tourism industry, students learn how to communicate with local people and tourists. Discussion classes taught by native English speaking teachers are a key part of this hands-on curriculum."

"The students have five English classes a week. All of these classes are intertwined to make it possible for students to effectively improve their overall English proficiency, which includes reading, writing, listening, and speaking. We also have e-learning classes like TOEIC and TOEFL as well as computer-based examinations. In addition to the rich curriculum available at the university, students have the option of going abroad and studying at our partner universities in America where their English skills can naturally be improved."

"I believe that education is a part of the service industry. In other words, the satisfaction of the students is the most important thing in education. The student's feeling of satisfaction in acquiring English is how I determine our success."

Cultivating a love of China

Chika Tai, Lecturer

After graduating from Shanghai International Studies University in Japanese Studies, Lecturer Tai graduated from the graduate school of the University of Tokyo in Socio-Information Studies. He has lived in Japan for 11 years. Lecturer Tai works for NHK WORLD as a broadcaster and an interpreter as well as working as an anchorperson for other broadcast stations. He also writes Japanese-Chinese and Chinese-Japanese dictionaries.

"A certain level of language proficiency is necessary to join the Study Abroad Program. However, language is simply a learning tool. Acquisition of language is not only learning words but also learning the culture and ethnicity behind the language."

"I teach Mandarin, which is the standard language in China. The greatest challenge of learning Chinese is pronunciation. The second greatest challenge of learning Chinese is writing. Japanese and Chinese characters have many similarities, which often cause misinterpretation. Acquiring any language is always challenging but it is important to have a strong motivation to overcome these difficulties and to really learn the language. Motivation comes from an interest in and a love towards the country in which the language is spoken. Therefore, please start with cultivating a love for China. Having a love for China is the strongest motivation for learning and improving Chinese."

"I make an effort to teach the customs of China in my classes. I try to convey a sense of what Chinese people think, so that a sense of community can develop in the classroom. This sense of community is necessary in any language class."

"To learn a new language is to start new relationships. It is the beginning of heart-to-heart relationships. I hope that as students learn Chinese, a spark of interest towards cross-cultural understanding will ignite and students will be exposed firsthand to China."