Waseda WeeklyWaseda Weekly

On the stairs of Building 11 on Waseda Campus. From left: Assoc. Prof. Suzuki,  Nakasuji

Waseda University has 13 faculties and educates students in a wide range of academic fields. In "Interesting Lectures and Seminars", students who have taken such classes will introduce what classes and seminars are available and what you can learn from them.

Applied Linguistics (English) [Course offered in the School of International Liberal Studies]

Arisa Nakasuji, 2nd year student, School of International Liberal Studies

I imagine many of you have studied English, but perhaps you’ve found it difficult to use in practical situations, or you’ve had reservations about English education in Japan? So, what learning and teaching methods are most effective for acquiring English as a second language? In Associate Professor Yuichi Suzuki's (Faculty of International Research and Education Associate Professor) Applied Linguistics (English) class, we are learning in English about “SLA (Second Language Acquisition),” which involves the scientific study of these questions.

This course primarily focuses on three themes: SLA research, the influence of learners' backgrounds, and instruction for second language acquisition.

First, we acquire foundational knowledge, including the history and theories of SLA research to date. Next, we move on to content that focuses on learners, such as the impact of studying abroad or the age at which one begins learning a foreign language. Finally, we will learn about ISLA (Instructed SLA), a foreign language teaching method used in classrooms and other settings.

Left: A scene from the class. The author is in the middle.
Right: "Instructed SLA A New Approach" by Assoc. Prof. Yuichi Suzuki, published by Kenkyusha, which was designated as the textbook for the required teacher training course "English Language Teaching Methods."

As I am currently enrolled in a teacher training program for English, I am interested in the first topic, SLA research, which deals with the influence of one's native language on second language acquisition, and the third topic, foreign language instruction. I believe this will be very interesting for anyone interested in education or education-related topics, as it explores what methods are most effective or efficient for teaching a second language, not just English, and how to ensure that students acquire "usable" English in Japanese school education.

In class, there are many opportunities to exchange ideas about your own experiences with students from diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, there are sessions with guest speakers such as researchers, making this introductory course incredibly enriching.

The class always has an atmosphere that makes it easy to speak up. Professor Suzuki, is friendly and easy to talk to, and he walks around the classroom during discussions, giving advice and helping us to deepen our discussions.

Professor Suzuki walking around the classroom during lessons.

This course offers a unique opportunity to learn about second language acquisition (SLA) in a way only possible at SILS (School of International Liberal Studies), which has a diverse student body. Since you can also learn about the cutting edge of SLA research, it's a valuable course for those who want to work in a global environment after graduation or who want to learn other languages.

Professor Suzuki, standing at the podium, received the 2025 Waseda University Research Award (International Research Dissemination).