Educating strong and focused trilingual professionals for success
in a Chinese-language milieu　　　　　　　　

Chinese in the Spotlight

Japan and China have a history of interaction going back 2000 years, and maintaining this amicable relationship is essential to both countries. Kyorin University’s program develops the competencies needed for effective professional interaction in a world of ever-stronger bilateral ties, particularly in business and economic affairs.

Step 1： Language Proficiency
The first component of this global initiative involves building our capacity to nurture trilingual fluency in Japanese, Chinese, and English. To this end, we have made Chinese language study a requirement not only for those majoring in Chinese Communication but for all students enrolled in the Faculty of Foreign Studies.

Step 2： Higher Skills
To build a multifaceted understanding of Asia-Japan included-students learn about its history, culture, economics, and industry, through courses offered in conjunction with the university’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies. They also participate in active learning, including case-study seminars, so as to build the skills and confidence needed to negotiate on an equal footing and arrive at creative solutions (see page 6).

Step 3： Study Abroad
By living and studying abroad, students acquire advanced language and communication competencies (including strong and focused negotiation skills). The goal is for all students in the Department of Chinese Communication, and at least half of all students in the Department of English, to have studied abroad by the time they graduate.

Targets: HSK level 5,score of 800+
Language proficiency goals under the new program are HSK level 5* for Chinese and a score of 800 or higher in English.

* Learners at HSK level 5 are able to understand Chineselanguage newscasts, use Chinese fluently in a business setting, and study at a top Chinese university.

●Foreign Language Instruction Using Original Teaching Materials
Chinese for International Communication
In Japan, people who can communicate effectively in Chinese are still few and far between. The Chinese for International Communication (CIC) is a practical Chinese-language program designed to build skills step by step-beginning with basic Chinese, then mastering everyday conversation and ultimately acquiring the proficiency to study overseas or do business in Chinese. Students in the CIC program will be able to use Chinese in the real world after just two years of study.

Practical English Program

The Practical English Program (PEP) is a program that trains students not just to use English like a native speaker but to actually think in English. Using original textbooks, this course of study is built on a routine of imitating, practicing, and finally internalizing the language as it is actually used today. Students in this two-year course program master English by speaking, listening, and “feeling” it on a daily basis.

●Chinese Salon and English Salon

The Chinese and English salons are dedicated exclusively to conversation in Chinese and English. Students gather here to chat or to exchange ideas on specific subjects with native speakers, including international students and instructors. The English Salon has been open since 2010, while the Chinese Salon was launched in October 2012.
Chinese and English communication spaces are springing up all over campus. Through daily interaction with native speakers, students acquire international communication skills naturally.

●e-Learning
Kyorin University students are able to take advantage of language instruction not just in the classroom but anywhere with Internet access, whether on campus, at home, or overseas. Our e-Learning system allows students to track their own progress and performance and get faculty advice just when they need it.

●Live Foreign-Language TV Broadcasts
Students can watch live foreign-language news broadcasts from networks like the BBC, CNN, and China’s CCTV in the Chinese and English salons, as well as in the cafeterias, Student Hall, and other common areas.
The campus offers a wealth of opportunities for contact with foreign languages and culture.

Beyond Language Learning: Mastering the Art of Global Communication
People who want to make the world their professional arena need to cultivate a genuine understanding of other cultures-not to mention their own. Students in our program deepen their knowledge of Asia and other regions in classes offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences, while developing truly global communication skills in casestudy simulation seminars.

●Classes in the Faculty of Social Sciences

●Case-Study Seminars
For anyone seeking to acquire real-world negotiation skills, problem-based learning is a must. In our interdisciplinary case-study seminars, offered jointly by the Faculty of Foreign Studies and the Faculty of Social Sciences, students are presented with a real-life conflict in the diplomatic or business arena and must hammer out a resolution together. Through these simulation exercises, students experience first-hand the challenge and excitement of crafting solutions through discussion and debate and take the first steps to becoming skilled negotiators.

●Debate Simulation through Active Learning
For students in the upper levels, case‐study seminars become training grounds in which to learn the persuasive tactics and debate techniques so important to international business affairs.
Doing business with people of different nationalities requires smart negotiation grounded in understanding and respect for different cultures. At the same time, it demands expressive communication skills to effectively convey one’s own point of view to others. In our active learning method, students learn the importance and techniques of two‐way communication.
In debate simulation classes taught by native English speakers, students come to understand the challenges of cross-cultural communication and learn how to express themselves effectively on a variety of topics.

●The Active Learning Studio
For a more active style of teaching and learning

In the 2012 academic year, the Faculty of Foreign Studies held its first classes in the new Active Learning Classroom, an innovative space specially designed and equipped to facilitate a more active style of teaching and learning.
In the Active Learning Classroom, tables and chairs are easily rearranged to tailor the space for groups ranging from a handful of students to several dozen. The room is equipped with computers that allow quick access to documents and information and electronic blackboards that facilitate instruction in report writing and presentation preparation. These and other design features encourage lively classroom interaction for active learning.

●International Programs
Kyorin University offers opportunities for study abroad under a reciprocal exchange program, a one-way exchange program, and a semester abroad program. Students can choose the destination and the duration-from three months up to a year-best suited to their needs and abilities. Since study abroad under these programs counts as university enrollment, students can often graduate in four years even after spending time overseas. The university also offers short-term overseas courses and learning experiences during the school’s summer and spring breaks. In many cases credits earned abroad are transferable. Each year roughly 100 of our students take advantage of these programs to study in countries and regions around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and Taiwan. (See page 9 for a summary of major international programs and host schools.)

●Comprehensive Support to Promote Study Abroad

The Kyorin University Center for International Communications provides a wide range of services to support and encourage study abroad. We also assist students returning to campus from overseas to ensure a smooth academic transition. Our Career Support Center provides individual counseling and information on job openings primarily in companies where graduating students can put their international experience to use. In addition, members of our faculty periodically visit the overseas universities hosting a significant number of Kyorin exchange students.

●Major International Programs

●Financial Assistance for Study Abroad

Students who study abroad under our Reciprocal Exchange Program are exempt from tuition at the host institution. Other programs offer participants an 80% reduction in their Kyorin University tuition during their period of study overseas. In addition, many students take advantage of Kyorin University scholarships to support their overseas studies. Students may also be eligible for scholarships from the Japan Student Services Organization.

●Japan Culture Project
Communicating actively with our overseas partner schools

With this project we aim to take the initiative in communicating information to our overseas partner schools. Subjects include Japanese culture and industry, as well as Kyorin University’s traditional strong suits of healthcare and foreign-language education.

●Trilingual University Website
Communicating actively to Japanese, Chinese, and English speakers

Work is under way to provide Chinese and English versions of the Global Education Initiative pages of the Kyorin University website to make university information more accessible to our overseas partner institutions and others.

●Presentations and Competition Sessions
At each major juncture in every program, students are required to give presentations or reports so that their academic progress can be evaluated. Students also receive feedback and advice from evaluators at this time so that they can take stock of their own progress.
Study-Abroad Completion Presentation： Each student participating in one of our overseas programs, regardless of duration, will deliver a presentation in Chinese or English at its conclusion on some topic of interest relating to his or her experience.
Graduate Thesis Competition Session： Graduating seniors will present and defend their graduation theses in English or Chinese at a competitive session.
（Objective Outside Evaluations）
Evaluators include Kyorin University faculty members, international students studying at the university, and also outside evaluators, such as faculty members at overseas partner institutions and experts from the private sector. The evaluations provide students with a comprehensive assessment of their global communication skills.

●Language Proficiency Standards for Graduating Students
◆ Chinese Language
Department of Chinese Communication: Proficiency consistent with HSK level 5 or higher
・Students understand presentations and news broadcasts delivered in Chinese by native speakers and can communicate
their own ideas to others in Chinese.
・ Students can interact effectively with native Chinese speakers in a business or international-cooperation setting via
spoken conversation and email.

Departments of English and Hospitality & Tourism : Ability consistent with HSK level 2 or higher
・Students grasp basic idea when listening to everyday spoken Chinese.
・ Students can introduce themselves and discuss everyday matters in Chinese.

◆ English Language
Department of Chinese Communication:Ability consistent with score of 500 or higher
・ Students grasp basic idea when listening to everyday spoken English.
・ Students can introduce themselves and discuss everyday matters in English.
Departments of English and Hospitality & Tourism:Ability consistent with score of 800 or higher
・ Students understand presentations and news broadcasts delivered in English by native speakers and can communicate
their own ideas to others in English.
・ Students can sight-read English newspaper and magazine articles and can communicate their own ideas to others in
English.

As a grant recipient, Kyorin University is committed to providing a variety of learning opportunities for high school and university students who show promise in achieving global competency and leadership.

●Global Businesses Today
Symposiums and presentations
The university holds symposiums and other events for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, as well as corporate employees. Speakers include outside experts involved in global business and human resource development.

●What Kind of Leadership Is Business Looking For?
Interaction between global business people and Kyorin students
The university expands opportunities for students at Kyorin University to interact with Japanese and non- Japanese employees of global businesses and learn what sort of global competencies are in demand in the world of work.

●Launch of New Certificate Programs
With the selection of Kyorin University as a grant recipient, the Faculty of Foreign Studies will institute three new certificate programs aimed at nurturing trilingual (Japanese-Chinese-English) competency.
◆ Global Human Resource Development for a Chinese-Language Milieu
◆ Global Human Resource Development for an English-Language Milieu
◆ Japanese-Language Teacher Training
Students fulfilling the academic requirements of these programs will receive certificates of completion.

●Toward University-wide Globalization
In the 2013 academic year, Kyorin University will begin expanding its initiatives for global human resource development from the Faculty of Foreign Studies to other faculties so as to advance globalization at the university level. As a center for global education initiatives, Kyorin University will work actively to develop and deploy programs that can serve as a model for other universities and the entire region.

Kyorin University　Center for International Communications　
476 Miyashita-machi, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192-8508 Japan　Phone +81-42-691-0011