Academics

Language Education

To cultivate the language skills necessary for interacting with global society and deepening an understanding of different cultures and values, Sophia University offers a variety of language courses and is highly supportive of students simultaneously acquiring multiple languages.

English Courses

This program aims to help students acquire English language skills like learning and thinking and collaborating with others in English.

Academic Communication (AC) 1 & 2 are required during the first year and incorporate the Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) method. In AC1, a spring semester course, students improve their English for Academic Purposes (EAP) skills. In AC2, a fall semester course, students learn academic content in English based on the skills acquired in AC1, thereby developing their critical thinking and collaboration skills.

Students are then free to take elective courses according to their own specialization, needs, and interests to acquire functional English skills.

Placement Tests

New students in departments where English is required must undergo an English placement test administered by the Sophia University Center for Language Education and Research immediately after enrollment to be appropriately assigned to one of seven class levels.

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)

CLIL is being practiced and researched in many European countries as a new educational method to simultaneously improve knowledge in academic fields and develop language skills. Sophia University is home to the largest CLIL research center in Japan and was one of the first to introduce it into its curriculum. While learning about a variety of topics in English, students develop critical thinking skills, acquire cooperative learning skills, and broaden their international perspectives.

A Wide Variety of Language Courses

Sophia University offers language courses in 22 languages, a truly unique offering. Most students study English and one other language, but many students study three or more languages. The opportunity to study a wide range of languages from a variety of regions is a highly unique feature of Sophia University’s wide range of educational fields and its tradition of global education.

Sophia University’s Language Offerings:

English / Japanese / German / French / Ispania / Italian / Chinese / Korean / Russian / Portuguese / Latin / Indonesian / Filipino / Arabic / Thai / Persian / Cambodian / Burmese / Turkish / Vietnamese / Hindi / Swahili

LLC（Language Learning Commons）

Located on the first floor of Building 6, the LLC supports language learning for undergraduate, graduate, and international students with initiatives to motivate students to learn languages and give back to their classes and fellow students. Books and DVDs can be borrowed to support students who wish to pursue language studies in a variety of ways.

What You Can Do at LLC

Foreign Language Communication: Small, practical conversational group lessons in a variety of languages to work on speaking and listening skills with a student instructor.

English Learning Advisor System: Advising students on efficient study methods. For students who wish to study abroad in an English-speaking country or who want to improve their English language skills for their studies and career.

Beginning Language Learning Advisor: Faculty members in charge of each language provide advice on how to learn a foreign language in general, including preparation for certification exams.

ALC NetAcademy NEXT: In addition to the four skills of Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking, we offer e-learning materials for comprehensive language learning with the addition of vocabulary and grammar skills. Students can use their smartphones or computers to continuously learn English at their own pace.

Writing Tutor System: A tutoring program to improve English and Japanese writing skills with senior-level, experienced tutors (Available only for languages in which the student is not native)

Language Exchange: Lunchtime events where international students learning Japanese and students learning foreign languages can introduce themselves and play games, providing a great opportunity to get to know students from other countries while practicing a foreign language.

John Nissel Cup

The John Nissel Cup, Sophia University’s national English speech contest for high school students, has been held annually since 2011, aiming to help high school students improve their English skills by giving them an opportunity to present their thoughts in English in a public forum.

If the winners of this competition are admitted to Sophia University in the future, they will receive various benefits and support.

John Nissel Cup Scholarship

A scholarship (for all four years) is awarded to the top finishers of the John Nissel Cup

Benefits Eligibility: Those who place within the first 6 top places for the John Nissel Cup

Benefits Period

Course period (four years)

※ with continued examination

Benefits Amount: 1st place: full tuition fee amount, 2nd – 3rd place: half tuition fee amount, 4th – 6th place: one-third tuition amount

About the Center for Language Education and Research

The Center for Language Education and Research conducts educational and research activities with the goal of further enriching and developing foreign language education, enabling students to acquire skills in a variety of foreign languages necessary to a globalized world and cultural diversification.

For more information on language education at Sophia University and the latest news on the John Nissel Cup, please visit the Center for Language Education and Research (CLER) website at Sophia University.

CLER

Faculty Members

Center for Language Education and Research

Director

Tamotsu FUJITA Professor

Research Areas	Second Language Acquisition，Bilingualism，TESOL
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Research Areas	Spanish Language Education，Linguistics
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Research Areas	German Phonetics，Phonetic Education
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Research Areas	Pedagogical Japanese Grammar & Vocabulary，History of the Japanese Language，Japanese Language Pedagogy
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Research Areas	Second Language Acquisition，Interlanguage Pragmatics，Japanese Language Pedagogy
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Research Areas	English Literature
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Research Areas	Second Language Education，Emotion and Learning，Individual Psychology (Adlerian Psychology)
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Research Areas	Japanese-Korean Contrastive Linguistics
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Research Areas	Applied Linguistics，Language Testing，English as a Lingua Franca
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Research Areas	Applied Linguistics，TESOL
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Language Education

English Courses

Placement Tests

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)

A Wide Variety of Language Courses

Sophia University’s Language Offerings:

LLC（Language Learning Commons）

What You Can Do at LLC

John Nissel Cup

John Nissel Cup Scholarship

About the Center for Language Education and Research

Faculty Members

Director Tamotsu FUJITA Professor

Deputy Director Yoshimi HIROYASU Professor

Wanting HUANG Professor

Ayako KITAMURA Special Contract Professor

Kaoru KOYANAGI Special Contract Professor

Akiko MASAKI Professor

Fuyuki MINE Professor

Itsuki NAGASAWA Professor

Takafumi SHIMIZU Professor

Yoshiaki SUGIKI Professor

Yasushi FURUTA Associate Professor

Yasuhiro IMAI Associate Professor

Ahran KIM Associate Professor

Takanori SATO Associate Professor

Katsuya YOKOMOTO Associate Professor

Matthew SCHAEFER Associate Professor by Special Appointment

Elisa Ramona ACOSTA Lecturer

Alexander BABULALL Lecturer

Garcia CHAMBERS Lecturer

Emi FUKASAWA Lecturer

Brendan GARLAND Lecturer

Reginald GENTRY Lecturer

Sumire HAYASHI Lecturer

Mayumi KAWASHIMA Lecturer

Koji KOBAYASHI Lecturer

Angelina KOVALYOVA Lecturer

Coline MAILLEUX Lecturer

Aiko MINEMATSU Lecturer

Jason McEVOY Lecturer

Mika NAGASU Lecturer

Jennifer MORGAN Lecturer

Kiyoshi NOGUCHI Lecturer

Masayuki OKADO Lecturer

Shigenori OYAIZU Lecturer

Philip PATRICK Lecturer

Ignacio QUIROS Lecturer

Tokiko SERA Lecturer

Asami SUZUKI Lecturer

Michael WALKER Lecturer

Zhang Tong Lecturer

Director

Tamotsu FUJITA Professor

Deputy Director

Yoshimi HIROYASU Professor