WASEDA University School of International Liberal Studies

» Japanese

Professor Paul Snowden

I have often been asked about my motivation to learn Japanese, and my answer is ‘because I came to Japan’. At Cambridge University, I had studied German and Russian, without any special interest in Japanese. I had planned to become a high school teacher after graduation, but before that, I wanted to live for once in a far away country, and so I chose Japan. Despite my original intention to return to my home country, I have stayed on until today.

I mastered Japanese mostly independently. When I was learning the language, I made it a point to use a word I wanted to remember three times in a day. When I was trying to remember the phrase ‘daikon-ashi’ (fat legs), I commented to three women - ‘you don’t have fat legs’. I believe that the secret to learning a foreign language is to use it in your daily life. Merely studying at your desk will not allow you to master a language.

At present, while being involved in foreign language education, I am also researching on the state of English education during the Edo period. Many people think that Japan’s English education began after the Meiji Revolution; however, even from the Edo period, English had already begun to be taught in Dejima, Nagasaki. This was due to the declining influence of the Dutch in the world. However, the Dutch were the ones who were in charge of this education. The simplified dictionaries compiled at that time revealed an interestingly strong Dutch influence.

Display your personality
Most lectures at SILS are conducted in English. For those who wish to enter the faculty, it is important to study English hard. However, English is only a step to becoming an international person. Individuals should not be satisfied just being good in English. There may be some students that are not proficient in English at the time of entrance, but SILS has a curriculum that will ensure they become proficient before leaving for their studies abroad. Of course, this will require hard work from each individual.

The type of individual SILS seeks to nurture is a new leader that can connect Japan and the world. SILS seeks individuals who can succeed globally without losing their own cultural identity, individuals who are able to introduce Japanese culture to people from other countries and finally, individuals who are able to respect and accept other cultures, practices and customs. In this respect, SILS offers students the chance to acquire knowledge in various disciplines in English, while giving them opportunities to discuss issues in small classes and develop their communication skills. In addition, it requires students to study abroad for one year, which creates a suitable environment under which students can grow to become internationally able people. However, small class sizes do not mean one-on-one lessons where teacher can pay attention to every student’s needs. It is therefore important for students to actively approach the teacher and other students actively and positively.

Students today need more aggressiveness and curiosity. Without curiosity, nothing can begin. Students should learn to discover things they are interested in and think about them. From there, you will develop your very own personality. If you have something to say, share it actively with others and expand the scope of your interaction with others. Finally, always remember to ‘have curiosity’, ‘display your personality' and ‘treasure communication with others’.