- Program：Doctoral Program
- Enrollment in：April 2016
- Directed Research：Language Studies
Message
After graduating from SILS in 2014, I entered GSICCS, where I obtained my master’s degree in 2016 and my PhD degree in 2020. I have been a member of this Faculty for about 10 years now, but my research theme has remained the same: native Japanese speakers’ acquisition of English sounds. The reason why I have been able to continue my research so consistently is partly because I have always been interested in the linguistic environment of this Faculty, where English is the de facto lingua franca, but also because I was able to acquire the necessary expertise to conduct research at the graduate school. Also, during my PhD, I visited the MARCS Institute at Western Sydney University in Australia as part of the Overseas Challenge Program of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and I am still collaborating with a Korean-American researcher I met there. In this way, I could have a truly international and fulfilling research experience at GSICCS.
I believe that my experience at GSICCS will contribute greatly to my future career. My research so far has focused on theoretical modeling of why native Japanese speakers have difficulty with English pronunciation and listening comprehension. However, now that I am in a position to teach students, I have begun to think more deeply about how theoretical research can be applied to actual English learning and, consequently, have come to realize the connection between research and education. From 2021, I will take a new step forward as a tenure-track assistant professor at the University of Tsukuba, and I will make the most of my experience at GSICCS to further my research and education there. I am also proud to be able to continue my education as a part-time lecturer at Waseda, my alma mater that has nurtured me into an independent researcher.
