In this post, I am going to explain the educational psychology major. In this major, students learn how to think about education using the  knowledge and methods of psychology. For example, we are currently leaning the way how to do data analysis using computers. We also discuss papers and books about psychology.

I would like to explain my major, science. In the science major, there are 11 seminars (a seminar is a group that meets with a professor and focuses on a single specialization): three science education seminars, two chemistry seminars, two biology seminars, two physics seminars and two geology seminars.

Unlike in some other majors at HUEA where students join their seminar in the first semester, in the science major, we rotate through all seminars, so you can choose a seminar you like. At the end of the first year, we pick a seminar. We spend a year thinking about which seminar we want to join.

There are a lot of classes. For example, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, thermodynamics. I think it is hard to earn a passing grade in many of the classes.

What we learn

・linguistics(grammar, phonetics, meaning, and history)

・literature (English literature, American literature, and literary theory)

・education(acquisition of the second language, teaching methodology, teaching materials, and evaluation)

・communication(nonverbal communication and understanding of different cultures)

Objectives

・Having high level proficiencies in four English skills (reading, listening, speaking, and writing)

・Getting balanced knowledge in each domain skills (linguistics, literature, education, and communication)

Characteristics of curriculum

In the English Education Major, you can learn about not only about English more generally but also gain specialized knowledge starting from the first year at university. Once you enter the university,  you also join a seminars that focuses on of these fields and is led by one of our tenured faculty.

Teachers

Ishizuka Hiroki – education

Kasahara Kiwamu – education

Katagiri Noriaki – communication

Kanno Satoru – linguistics

Toshinai Yasutaka – literature

We also have a specially appointed term-limited lecturer,  Boyle Jennifer Mari.

Classes

In the English education practice class, you will learn the theoretical basis of second language acquisition. It is said that in the world the number of people who speak more than two languages in their lives is higher than the number of people who speak one language. In English language education, we  thinking about how people acquire non-native languages, both as children and adults, to learn how to better improve our own language skills and to teach others.

I’m majoring in educational development and I’m in the special education seminar. (Here at HUEA, students have a major and they also have a seminar “zemi” with whom they study regularly).

I think this seminar is the best seminar in H.U.E.A, because this seminar member are very kind and humorous. So we are very close friends. I’m freshman, so the juniors and seniors take care of me in the seminar.

In our seminar, we volunteer as members of the circle “RapoRapo”. Through this, we can gain experience with handicaps and disabilities. The time we spend in seminar is very interesting and valuable for me.  We play sport, do imitation class, we think about handicap etc. These are all great lessons for us.

In Hokkaido, there are very few professors who study about developmental disability. If you are interested in learning more about teaching and developmental disability, I recommend that you join this semester.

If you want to ask more, please contact me, or please come to open campus at H.U.E.A.

I’m waiting for you!!