Faculty of Foreign Studies Department of Foreign Studies
German Language and European Culture
* German and European Studies major until 2023 enrollment
Go from beginner to German expert.
Overwhelming achievement of over 90% study abroad rate
Special Features of the Department
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Over 90% of students study abroad in Germany. Since students study German intensively from their first and second years, they are able to hold discussions in German at an early stage. Students are also looking to find employment or emigrate overseas after graduation.
Three points
- Classes do not use textbooks and focus on group work, enabling even beginners to hold discussions in German
- Top class in Japan! Over 90% study abroad rate
- A fieldwork experience crossing Istanbul and Berlin by land to immerse oneself in a different culture.
Flow of the four years
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First year
Learning living German through group work
Instead of using textbooks, students will learn German primarily through group discussions and presentations. Through practical learning and collaboration with other members, communication skills will naturally develop. The "Trans-European Training Program" includes opportunities for all participants to learn about diverse European cultures and to actually visit those regions.
e.g.Kommunikation und Sprache I/II, Workshop Deutsch I/II
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Second Year
Students will be divided into courses to deepen their knowledge and then study abroad in Germany for an extended period.
In preparation for studying abroad in Germany from the second half of their second year, students are divided into the "German Communication Course" and the "German and European Cultural Studies Course" to deepen their German language skills and knowledge of European culture. For students who do not plan to study abroad, a small-group intensive course is available, providing an environment where they can improve their German language skills while remaining in Japan.
e.g.Kommunikation and Spache Workshop III/IV, German CEFR Exam Preparation
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Third Year
Leveraging long-term study abroad experiences and learning in Japan, I will further deepen my specialized knowledge.
Building upon what you learned in your first and second years, you will deepen your understanding of your specialized field while enhancing your German language skills. Furthermore, through "learning German in English" classes, you can simultaneously improve your English and German language abilities.
e.g.European art and architecture, European corporate and brand history, German in English
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Fourth Year
Practical learning and experience will give you the opportunity to work abroad
Students will compile their learning results and experiences into a graduation research project. We will of course utilize the communication skills they have acquired in the major in the real world, and we will also fully support students who wish to pursue a career abroad.
e.g.Graduation research, European career studies
Class Introduction
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Kommunikation und Sprache
Person in charge: Professor Akira Kusamoto
This course, designed for first and second-year students, allows students to acquire practical German language skills through group discussions. Within a few months, students will be able to use simple expressions and engage in question-and-answer sessions in German.
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Japanese-European Media Studies
Instructor: Senior Lecturer Hidemi Hamano
This course will compare and analyze films from Japan, Germany, and Europe. Students will take up common themes such as family, society, trials, and war, consider the historical and social background, and relive the "world experience" depicted in the film. Each student will watch a film and create an analysis sheet, which will then be used for class discussions.
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Kultur und Gesellschaft
Lecturer: Elvira Bachmaier
In this class, students learn about various aspects of German culture and society, such as food culture, German festivals and customs, socially critical music, etc. Students choose a theme in groups, conduct research on it, and present the results of their research.
Student Interview
Why did you choose this major?
I chose this major because I was drawn to the stimulating environment where almost everyone in the class has studied abroad. The teaching style, which doesn't use textbooks and allows for thorough discussions in small groups, was also a major attraction. I wanted to delve deeply into German and European society while being exposed to diverse perspectives. Furthermore, I feel that the professors' respect for student autonomy and their willingness to listen to our voices in their teaching is a wonderful characteristic unique to this major.
What are you particularly focusing on learning?
This is a course called "German History Studies (Zeitgeschichte Europas)." In this course, we learn about German history from the unique perspective of architectural history. The approach is very refreshing because it doesn't use textbooks, but instead uses group work to decipher the ideas and social conditions behind existing buildings. I find it deeply interesting to discuss with my classmates and unravel the values of the people of that time from visible forms. We are focusing on cultivating unique insights by viewing history from multiple perspectives through architecture.
Qualifications that can be acquired
Junior high school teacher's license (English)* / Senior high school teacher's license (English)* / TOEIC® / TOEFL® / Test in Practical English Proficiency (EIKEN) / Goethe-Zertifikat / ÖSD-Zertifikat / German Proficiency Test (Dokuken) / HSK (Hango Shuikyu-Kousei-Ken) / Chinese Proficiency Test (Chūken) / Test in Chinese Communication (TECC) / Test of Korean Proficiency (TOPIK) / Hangul Proficiency Test / IT Passport / Information Technology Engineer Examination / CG-ARTS Association Web Designer Certification Basic Expert / CG-ARTS Association Multimedia Certification Basic Expert / MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) / Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bookkeeping Certification Level 3
*Mainly for English and Communication Studies and English and Liberal Arts
Target career path
Global companies and foreign-affiliated companies based in Europe, logistics and international transport, travel and tourism, etc.
German and European StudiesInterview
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