Aiming to Raise "Glocal" Experts - University's Unique New Division

School of Global Studies, Tama University

It is safe to say that globalization is now spreading rapidly and that the earth is becoming more like one community. Under such circumstances, how should an individual live? Young people will need to study with this trend in mind. Over the next ten years or so, we are likely to see more people working abroad and, on the other hand, thousands of non-Japanese working in Japan.

When the time comes for Japanese to communicate with foreigners in ordinary daily situations, will you be able to deal with it? To meet this challenge, Tama University (NAKATANI Iwao president) will open a Global Studies Division at Shonan in April 2007. Their curriculum differs totally from that of ordinary universities in Japan, in fact, Tama University's course has something in common with the concept behind Hiragana Times.

A special characteristic of the course is that they will raise students to become experts with a well-rounded understanding of the peculiarities of Japanese culture that makes up their identity - and who can express their thoughts and ideas to people from other nations - in English. For that purpose, a thorough curriculum focused on teaching about Japan that includes Japanese history, culture, religion and other subjects has been prepared and will be taught entirely in English. In order to do this, 60% of the teachers are non-Japanese who have been selected considering world standards of teaching.

President Nakatani headhunted professor MIYANAGA Kuniko for the responsible position of Chair of the Planning Committee for the School of Global Studies. Professor MIYANAGA has been charged with pursuing this bold plan at the university. She was a former professor at International Christian University Postgraduate School, author of the book "Globalization and Identity," among other books, and a cultural clarification anthropologist. She is considered to be the most suitable person to enable the university to raise experts who can connect local people to global society.

"Building up individuals' personalities is definitely the most important aspect," says Professor Miyanaga, who places importance on personality building prior to the teaching of English skills. This is because in the age of globalization, students are asked not only to study, but also to have self learning capabilities. The discussion of personality building is often apt to be nothing more than lofty statements, but the department considers this basic element to be most important.

"English learning is systemized and can be mastered as long as you accomplish all that should be done," explains Professor Miyanaga confidently. In the first year, 150 students will be classified according to their English ability and take intensive English lessons with the help of eight native teachers. They will be repeatedly trained in the English skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing.

In classes in which students' English ability is low, simpler English texts will be used, but the content of these texts will be is the same as that used in the high-level classes. This is because when the students in the lower classes catch up to those in the higher levels, they will be able to make the transition smoothly. For students who are unable to catch up to the higher levels, supplementary one-on-one lessons will be given by the seven Japanese teachers, placing special emphasis on English listening skills that is often a weak point.

The knowledge students learn through their English studies will be reused as the content of later lessons since their English study is linked to their English lessons. Furthermore, it will be used again in the listening study lessons. In this way the teaching program will work systematically. In addition though, there is a tendency that the more the system is standardized, the more individuality is lost. To avoid this, the university will provide private lessons.

Feeling the passion for education
"To be able to speak English doesn't mean that you can communicate with people in English," says Professor Miyanaga, who advocates the necessity of education acknowledging different cultures. "The English term 'interactive' doesn't have the same meaning as the Japanese term 'Taiwa' (dialogue). The Japanese can understand each other tacitly as they have the same cultural background, but in English speaking countries you are not often understood by others unless you speak out yourself.”

This new division is indeed unique in a country where learning English is often considered as a hobby, or used merely for commercial purposes. Tama University's idea is different from that which can often be seen in other educational institutions and which is often ideological and unrealistic. You can feel Tama University's passion for raising experts who are capable of meeting the challenges of the future.

Professor Miyanaga pointed out that the university wants to accept students with three kinds of traits into their school. One is a student who has a strong will to complete their studies, the second is a student who has their own goals and career direction, and the third is a student who is strong in their mother tongue, which means the student has a comprehensive ability to think and express themselves freely in Japanese. "It is difficult for a student who does not have a clear cultural identity, even if he or she can speak the language fluently."

Globalization will continue to spread further and English will continue be used as the common global language. Under such circumstances, English ability is essential, but while acknowledging the awareness that English is only a skill, it is meaningless if you are unable to talk about yourself and Japan. The Global Studies Division will be a product that is a sign of the times.

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