Department Features

Curriculum

Educational Objectives and Policies

Educational and Research Purposes

To cultivate advanced proficiency in the Portuguese language and acquire a broad range of knowledge (basic knowledge of the humanities, social sciences, and the Portuguese-speaking world) as a basis for specialized studies such as area studies and linguistic studies

Purpose of Human Resource Development

To train individuals who can contribute to a globalized society and specialists in area studies, language studies, etc., with a high level of proficiency in Portuguese.

Diploma Policy

The Department has established the following competencies and knowledge that students should have upon graduation. Upon completion of graduation requirements, students are recognized as having mastered these requirements and are awarded a degree.

The goal is for all students to achieve the equivalent of B2 in the European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) (a level at which students can study at universities overseas) upon graduation, and for as many as possible to achieve the equivalent of C1 in the CEFR (a level at which students can study at graduate schools overseas).

 

1. Competence in receptive activities such as listening and reading in Portuguese
2. Competence in productive activities such as speaking and writing in Portuguese
3. Ability in interactive activities such as conversation and negotiation in Portuguese.
4. Competence in mediating activities, such as interpreting and translating in Portuguese
5. Ability to understand the history, culture, politics, and society of Portuguese-speaking countries based on their position and characteristics in the world and their relationship and comparison with Japan

Curriculum Policy

In line with the Diploma Policy, the Department organizes its curriculum with courses that incorporate the following objectives

 

1. [First Major, Required Courses (Basic Portuguese I, II)] Students will learn the basics of Portuguese throughout their first and second years of study. Through conversation, composition, grammar, and reading comprehension (reading at lectures and speed), the program aims to improve students’ ability to use the four Portuguese language skills: listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Classes are conducted in a variety of ways to meet the objectives of each class, including lectures, oral repetitions, group work, and presentations, but in all classes, independent study by the students is important.
2. [First Major, Compulsory Subjects (Comprehensive Portuguese)] Using the basic academic skills of Portuguese acquired in the first and second years, students will further acquire practical and applied Portuguese language skills. Classes will be conducted primarily in the form of communication, presentations, and debates. Many of the teachers in charge are native speakers, and therefore the language used is mainly Portuguese. On the other hand, classes taught by Japanese instructors include more advanced literature reading and lectures on advanced grammar.
3. [The first major, basic courses in the language area] Basic knowledge of the history, politics, economy, society, culture, and language of the Portuguese-speaking countries will be focused on the first and second year of study. The class format is mainly a lecture styled course, supported by a number of group work and presentations activities. In “Introduction to Portuguese Studies”, one of the subjects in this course group, students will learn how to write reports and academic papers, which are essential for university study, by writing a report of approximately 6,000 words using regional research methods.

Admissions Policy

1. The program seeks students who are interested in the language, history, politics, economy, society, and culture of Portuguese-speaking countries, and who wish to acquire advanced operational skills in Portuguese.
2. We are looking for students who want to start learning Portuguese in the Portuguese Department. We also accept students who have already studied Portuguese in some form and are sincere about improving their language proficiency through a renewed systematic study of the language.
3. Based on practical operational skills in Portuguese and English, students are expected to delve professionally into an area or theme of their choice in one of the nine “courses of study” offered by the Faculty of Foreign Languages.

Faculty Members

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