グローバルコミュニケーション学科コラム

1st Year Students in the Department of Global Communications Practice Speaking through Regular In-class Presentations and Interacting with English Speakers from Different Countries

One of the big challenges for Japanese students speaking English is their lack of confidence. In their high school, Japanese students often learn proper English grammar and writing skills, but often they struggle in actual communication with other English speakers.

Often these students lack the confidence to speak in front of others. At KUISs Department of Global Communications, teachers emphasize the importance of oral communication and developing the confidence to speak to English speakers in diverse contexts. Simply asking students to "be more confident" is not enough. They need to be supported and given engaging learning activities to grow their skills over time. As a result, 1st and 2nd year students are placed in small English classes where they are able to develop the skills needed to speak, listen, read and write English with confidence. Global Communications also emphasizes the need for students to have a concrete goal to motivate them to learn English. English is a language spoken by 2-3 billion people worldwide, every day. It is not an abstract academic subject.

In particular, the Department has developed several programs where students naturally meet, collaborate and make friends with students from foreign countries. One effort in this regard is the opportunity provided by the Inter-University Exchange Program, a 5-year exchange program funded by the Japanese government, with universities from Australia, UK, Canada and India. (KUISs Global Network). Through Two separate exchange programs --one in Kobe and on in Sydney, Australia--Global Communication students form teams with students from around the world to develop venture business ideas and cultivate entrepreneurial competencies. To be sure, it is not always easy. At first, many KUISs students struggle speaking English with foreign students. But more than learning English from a textbook, these students find that speaking English for the purpose of a concrete business project is very motivating. They gain confidence in a way they could never do in normal English classrooms alone.

If you are a student interested in gaining confidence in your English, you might also find such exchange programs to be both effective and personally rewarding!