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English Education

English Education as a Feature of the Faculty of Economics

The goal of English-language education at the Faculty of Economics is to help students acquire an international education, develop global communication skills, broaden their global perspectives, and enable them to be successful in international business while developing empathy for others and deepening mutual understanding. Specifically, the aim is not only to achieve a high TOEIC score but also to strengthen English language skills as a tool for real-world international education and global communication. To achieve these goals, we have set the following three objectives.

01:We aim to provide students with a broad range of international education (literature, culture, society, history, religion, politics, science, etc.) in English to develop their logical and critical thinking skills as well as the practical English skills that will empower them to understand and experience different cultures through the use of EdTech (educational support services enabled by technology).

Examples:
1. Advanced English education using virtual reality and artificial intelligence (the pilot project was launched in May 2021)
2. Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)(online discussions with U.S. universities have been ongoing since 2020)

02:We work to help students develop a well-balanced combination of the four core English skills using the latest corpus-based research findings to prepare them with the vocabulary necessary for global activities and master collocations at the level of a native speaker.

Example: Shogakukan Corpus Network, which utilizes 3.2 billion words, including approximately 600 million English words from the field of economics (introduced in October 2021)

03:We endeavor to deepen students’ cross-cultural understanding and improve their practical communication skills by providing them with opportunities to use English in real-world situations and experience different cultures abroad.
Example: The faculty’s own short-term overseas study program (currently under negotiation and preparation with renowned universities in the US, Canada, the UK, and Southeast Asia).

“Expand your perspective and worldview through English-language education” Professor Chelsea S. Schieder

Student life is an important time to expand your horizons and worldview and define your own values. My research explores how trends in international affairs manifest themselves at the local level regarding Japanese society and gender. In my course, I emphasize the interaction between the individual and society in general. As someone who received education in Japan, the U.S., and Europe, I focus on making my students feel as if they have had a short-term experience of studying abroad. In my classes, students analyze English texts from popular novels, films, and music as well as the pertinent social contexts. Moreover, they engage in lively online discussions with students in California via COIL during which they compare Japanese and American war memories and nuclear energy policies. I learn a lot from my students every day. I will continue to help them become responsible human beings, boldly and creatively tackling social issues that need to be resolved at the international, national, organizational, and community levels.

Kanazaki, Okawa
First-year student at the Department of Economics
A graduate of Kanagawa Prefectural Shinshiro High School

A course that teaches real English skills

Professor Schieder’s course was completely different from my high school English classes. We read a 370-page English-language book together, shared summaries, and had discussions. The entire class was in English. The intensive practice helped me develop my reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills and improved my ability to express myself without being overly dependent on grammar. I believe that the English communication skills that I developed in this course are firmly ingrained in my mind.

Nakahata, Kako
First-year student at the Department of Economics
A graduate of Hokkaido Wakkanai High School

Talking with American students can be fun!

The English-only environment in the class was daunting at first but as I looked up unfamiliar expressions and collaborated with fellow students, I was surprised at how well I got used to it. I have kept in touch with a student from the U.S. whom I met via COIL. We became friends as we share many of the same interests. I will never forget the expressions I struggled to paraphrase and was so happy when I could get my point across. I believe this course is helpful for studying economic literature in English.

Support for Studying Abroad

We offer long-term study abroad programs and scholarships that allow students to study at an overseas university for half a year to a year without taking a leave of absence while remaining enrolled at Aoyama Gakuin University (AGU). We also offer a full range of support services.

Aoyama Gakuin University International Center

Study Abroad at a Partner School(Student Exchange Program)

This is a student exchange program based on an agreement between AGU and an overseas university. Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements and pass an on-campus document review and interview. Since the period of study at the host university is counted as part of the student’s period of enrollment in AGU, graduation is possible in four years, depending on the year of study abroad and if the credits earned at the host university meet the graduation requirements of AGU. In addition, as a rule, tuition fees at the host university are waived if the student pays tuition fees at AGU.

Study Abroad at an Accredited School

After obtaining admission to the university that grants the degree or higher education institution where the student wishes to study, the student applies to this program. If approved, this program allows students to study abroad in the same way as studying at a partner school.

Study Abroad Support for Graduation in 4 Years

To graduate without repeating a year after studying abroad, students must apply and be selected in their first or second year, study abroad in their second or third year, and obtain the required number of credits for graduation. The following support system is provided to enable students to graduate in four years if they fulfill the requirements for the study abroad program at an accredited or partner school.

Credit Authorization System
Scholarship Programs
Various scholarships are available for studying abroad.
Credits earned at a partner school or an accredited school overseas (host institutions) are transferable and can be counted toward graduation at AGU.

AGU Industry-Academia Joint Study Abroad Encouragement Scholarship 500,000–2 million yen annually (depending on the study abroad program and faculty)
AGU International Exchange Scholarship 200,000 yen annually
JASSO Student Exchange Support Program* 60,000–100,000 yen monthly(depending on the host country)
Japanese Economic Association Study Abroad Support Scholarship* 300,000 yen annually

* The scholarship program may change depending on the year of application; therefore please contact the Office of Tuition and Scholarships at AGU after enrollment for details.

Student Stories

Fulfilling days spent truly engaging with a wide range of international social issues.

Recognizing the importance of studying economics in English, I applied for and was awarded the scholarship provided by the Japanese Economic Association to study abroad. I chose Northwestern State University in America because of the wide range of courses offered and the small number of Japanese students. I chose courses not only in economics but also in race and gender studies. The courses were stimulating and taught me to take social issues, such as discrimination and guns, seriously. I realized that I could improve my English skills not by trying to speak flawlessly but by trying to engage and speak up at every opportunity. I was able to make new friends in the university dance club in which I was the only exchange student. I will continue to expand my worldview and deepen my understanding of people, culture, and society.

Mori, Yuina
Fourth-year student at the Department of Economics, Aoyama Gakuin University
A graduate of Hokusei Gakuen Girls’ Junior & Senior High School
Host university: Northeastern State University, USA
Period of study: August 2019 to March 2020

My goal is to be involved in overseas projects using the communication skills that I developed.

I wanted to study abroad to improve my English, which I had studied diligently in high school, and to broaden my horizons while living abroad. After improving my grades and language skills during my freshman year, I applied for the student exchange program and was accepted to Ferrum College, a boarding school in Virginia, USA. I studied economics, business administration, sociology, and many other subjects in the liberal arts department. In “Ecotourism,” students presented a journey that takes the environment into consideration. “International Business,” which involved debates on issues related to international trade, also left an impression on me. Hiking with my dorm mates and walking around the city were enjoyable memories. I hope to use my experiences from my time studying abroad to be involved in overseas projects at my new job at a TV station.

Nagahara, Hinako

Graduated from the Department of Economics, Aoyama Gakuin University in 2021
A Graduate of Hokkaido Sapporo Intercultural and Technological High School
Host University: Ferrum College, USA
Period of study: August 2019 to December 2019