Graduate School of Japanese Applied LinguisticsWaseda University

Dean of Waseda Graduate School of Applied Japanese Linguistics
MIYAZAKI, Satoshi

Waseda University’s Graduate School of Japanese Applied Linguistics (GSJAL), known as Nikken, celebrated the 20th anniversary of its establishment in 2021. As an independent graduate school specializing in Japanese language education, it has continued to excel in a variety of interdisciplinary fields. Nikken has produced 932 master’s degree and 87 doctoral degree holders (all in Japanese language education) as of September 21, 2022, and its graduates are active in a wide range of educational institutions and private companies in Japan and abroad.

Today, those involved in Japanese language education are facing unforeseen social challenges, most notably, efforts to expand opportunities for Japanese language education in order to overcome the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to Japanese language education for not only foreign students, but also for infants, children, and students with foreign roots, foreign students, nursing and care worker candidates under Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), technical interns and workers with specific skills, and refugees and displaced persons, Japanese language education in local communities and promotion of understanding and interest not only among overseas learners of Japanese but also among native speakers of Japanese are also urgent issues.

Amid this trend, in addition to the qualification requirements to become a Japanese-language teacher as stipulated in the Ministry of Justice’s “Notification Standards for Japanese-Language Institutions,” the Agency for Cultural Affairs is considering the establishment of a national “Certified Japanese-Language Teacher (tentative name)” system to be implemented after 2024, which would confirm that teachers have expertise upon completion of training to ensure high-quality and diverse Japanese-language teachers. However, the establishment of a national teaching qualification is only an administrative measure, and will not immediately lead to an increase in social recognition of Japanese-language teachers, improvements in their working environment and other conditions, or an end to the labor shortage. This is an important task for those of you who wish to contribute to society by acquiring knowledge and practical skills in Japanese language teaching at Nikken. To this end, Nikken offers a diverse curriculum based on the three pillars of “Japanese language,” “learning and education,” and “society,” a curriculum that is both theoretical and practical. In operating such a diverse curriculum, while universities are returning to face-to-face classes, we are experimenting with active learning, utilizing the online knowledge we have cultivated to acquire 21st century skills. The faculty and staff who welcome you will continue to consider how autonomy and sustainable learning are possible in this age of living with the coronavirus.

In addition to the nationalities and ages of the students, another characteristic that distinguishes Nikken is the social and professional careers of its students, as well as their perspectives on Japanese language education. The Institute has an active global network that connects alumni working in various parts of the world, and has established a sustainable support system for Nikken, along with a substantial scholarship program.

When considering transmission points for Japanese language education around the world, East Asia continues to play a major role, but other regions, including Southeast Asia, are also developing in their own unique ways, and the ability to read and understand such dynamically changing processes at the global level is required. In addition to focusing on the statistical characteristics of Japanese language education, such as the number of institutions, teachers, and students, other important issues include high-quality teacher training, the development of discipline-specific Japanese language education research, the development of teaching materials, curriculum design including online courses, and the establishment of Japanese language education policy.

Nikken will continue to play a role as a Center of Excellence (CoE), a research and educational center that forms the core of Japanese language education, and will continue to communicate this to everyone who is interested in enrolling in the program.

September 2022