Department Features

Curriculum

Educational Objectives and Policies

Education and Research Objectives

To cultivate advanced proficiency in Hispanic languages and impart a broad base of knowledge (of humanities, social sciences, and the basic features of the Hispanic world) that will provide the foundations for specialized research in fields such as area studies and linguistics.

Human Resource Development Objectives

To produce individuals capable of contributing to increasingly globalized societies through advanced proficiency in Hispanic languages, and experts in research related to area studies and linguistics.

Diploma Policy

The Department of Hispanic Studies sets standards for the skills and knowledge students should acquire before graduations as described below. Those who fulfill the graduation requirements shall be deemed to have acquired these qualities and will be awarded a diploma.

The Department aims to have all students reach a level of proficiency equivalent to “B2” (level sufficient to study at an overseas university) under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) at the timing of graduation and furthermore to have as many students as possible reach a level equivalent to “C1” (level sufficient to study at an overseas university)

1. Abilities related to receptive activities, including “listening” and “reading” Spanish.
2. Abilities related to productive activities, including “speaking” and “writing” in Spanish.
3. Abilities related to interactive activities, including communicating and negotiating in Spanish.
4. Activities related to mediating activities, including interpreting and translating Spanish.
5. The ability to understand the history, politics, economy, society and culture of Spanish-speaking areas in the context of their global status and comparisons with Japan.

Curriculum Policy

In accordance with the Diploma Policy, the Department of Hispanic Studies constructs its curriculum with courses aligned with the following purposes:

1. 【Major Language – Compulsory Courses (Basic Spanish I, II)】Students learn the four basic Spanish skills of “listening, speaking, reading and writing” in their freshman and sophomore years. Through lectures and seminars on grammar, reading and creative writing focused on “reading” and “writing” skills, and classes centered on oral practice, students will build a foundation for Spanish
   proficiency. Collaboration among Japanese and native speaker faculty members enable students to efficiently learn a new language. Students are expected to participate in class with a positive attitude and to engage in proactive learning in and outside class.
2. 【Major Language – Compulsory Courses (Integrated Spanish)】Juniors and seniors will build on
   their Spanish proficiency by selecting the field that they wish to particularly enhance: “speaking and listening,” “reading,” “reading and speaking,” “writing” and “reading and writing.” Students will use the fundamental academic skills acquired in their freshmen and sophomore years to acquire more practical and applicable proficiency. Classes will take various forms, such as lecture based reading comprehension using practical teaching material, dictation aimed at higher listening comprehension skills using audiovisual rooms, group communication and presentations, and debates. Native speaker faculty use mainly Spanish in class and thus students learn academic contents in Spanish. Japanese faculty members are more focused on approaching advanced grammar and enhancing vocabulary by reading more sophisticated literature.
3. 【Major Language – Basic Area Studies Courses】These courses aim to have freshmen and sophomores acquire fundamental knowledge of the history, politics, economics, society, culture and language of Spanish-speaking countries and regions (Spanish-speaking world). Classes are mainly lecture-based but also engage students in group work and presentations. Spanish-speaking Area Studies, offered under this course group, will enable students to acquire fundamental literacy, such as literature search and report compilation skills.

Admissions Policy

1. Seeks students interested in various issues associated with the language, history, politics, economy, society and culture of Spanish-speaking countries and regions, and motivated to acquire a high level of Spanish proficiency;
2. Generally seeks students who wish to study Spanish for the first time at the Department of Hispanic Studies, but also welcomes students with some experience in learning Spanish who are prepared to be committed to enhancing their Spanish proficiency through renewed systematic learning; and
3. Expects students to pursue specialized studies in the discipline or geographical area chosen from the nine Concentrations offered at the Faculty of Foreign Studies, supported by their practical proficiency in Spanish or other foreign languages.

Faculty Members

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