Department Overview (Department of French Language and Literature)
FEATURESDepartment Overview
French culture has been at the heart of European civilization since the Middle Ages, and its literature in particular, as a literature of human exploration that beautifully blends elegance and wit, sincere pursuit and generous understanding, has always led European literature and has also had a major influence on modern Japanese literature. The French language, which carries that culture and literature, is known as a beautiful, rational, and eminently human language, and for a long time was the common language of the European world.
Although it lost its position as the world's number one international language to English, it still maintains its position as the second most international language after English today.
Since its founding in 1962, Department of French Language and Literature has sought to hone students' ability to think and sensibly, with a flexible and humane outlook that is not bound by preconceptions, by providing a broad exposure to French culture in general, with a focus on literature. In today's world, where values are becoming increasingly diverse, this philosophy is becoming more and more valuable in nurturing people with balanced and accurate judgment and the ability to act.
With regard to French in particular, we place emphasis on not only the ability to read texts, but also the development of the listening, speaking, reading and writing skills necessary for actual communication. We also aim to nurture talented individuals who can fully utilize their abilities in an increasingly internationalized Japanese society, and ultimately in the international community. We are already producing many talented individuals.
Discover the profound world of French culture through all five senses.
-
The first step to mastering French is thorough language training
French culture permeates every aspect of our lives, from music and fashion to cuisine. However, surprisingly few people actually study French as a language. In fact, most students who enroll in Department of French Language and Literature are beginners in the language.
In French literature, where philosophy and thought are treated as literary works, one cannot delve into in-depth research without being able to read and write French. Therefore, the curriculum of Aoyama Gakuin University aims to thoroughly acquire the fundamentals of the language during the first and second years. Starting with grammar, and progressing to close reading, speed reading, conversation with native-speaking instructors, and Expression ?crit I, a wide range of required courses are provided, allowing students to intensively learn French using both their minds and bodies. -
Develop flexible thinking and sensitivity
In specialized fields, lectures on French culture and society are offered from the first year, and from the second year students can choose to take "Basic Seminars I and II" and "Special Lectures."
In "Basic Seminar I & II," which is divided into three areas: literature, language, and culture, students can deepen their interests through presentation-style classes while learning methods of academic analysis.
In the "Exercises I and II" courses starting from the third year, students will further improve their ability to explore fields such as literature (philosophy), language, and culture, and will develop presentation and communication skills that will be useful in the real Department of French Language and Literature aims to hone students' thinking skills and sensibilities, which are flexible and full of humanity, and are not bound by preconceptions. -
Study abroad to learn living French
Aoyama Gakuin University Department of French Language and Literature also has a distinctive study abroad program. has entered into an inter-university agreement with Marie & Louis Pasteur University (Besan?on), which has a strong reputation for language education, to operate an exchange program.Each year, approximately 10 selected students are sent to the Center for Applied Linguistics (CLA) at Marie & Louis Pasteur University to receive high-level language instruction there.In addition, the Student Aid Organization (CROUS) provides support for daily life, and a system is in place to recognize credits earned locally as graduation credits at the , allowing students to enjoy their study abroad experience with peace of mind. Furthermore, there are exchange programs in place with the University of Paris III and the Swiss University of Applied Sciences and Arts ( ). Aoyama Gakuin University Aoyama Gakuin University Universit? de Gen?ve
-
Experience French culture in your daily life
I've mainly talked about studying, but learning French isn't limited to the classroom. Enjoying French cuisine with professors and fellow students, watching French films, and directly experiencing French culture are also important parts of the learning process. In Aoyama Gakuin University, use all your senses to fully grasp French culture.
EDUCATIONSpecialized education
Educational Features
-
One of the most comprehensive full-time teaching staff in the country -
Small class size for intensive lessons
-
A tough curriculum that teaches French thoroughly in the first and second years
-
A wide variety of seminars and special lectures starting from the second year
-
A tense and lively lecture
-
Study abroad program at the Centre for Applied Linguistics at the University of Franche-Comté, which is renowned for its language education
-
Proven track record in the French Language Proficiency Test
French literature
French literature is the crystallization of French culture, and remains the spiritual pillar of French society and culture to this day. French literature has inherited the diverse heritage of the past, such as Celtic, Greek and Roman culture, and medieval Christianity, while transforming it into its own unique form as it has developed. It may be said that French literature is literature in which the past and the present come face to face, and tradition and the avant-garde compete with each other.
"French literature is a course in human science," said the great scholar Curtius, and at the root of French literature is always the spirit of human exploration. In all genres of work, including novels, poetry, and drama, the question of the human condition is consistently asked. In literature, the question of what it means to be human is also the question of what it means to speak and to write. The reason why French literature continues to fascinate us is this never-ending question.
French Language
First of all, we must be clear about the term "language." We often hear people say things like, "If I learn a foreign language, it might be useful in the future," or, "I'm good (or bad) at languages," but the "language" in these cases does not express the same thing as the "language" in French language studies.
French linguistics is a discipline that specializes in the study of the French language, and is part of linguistics (also called general linguistics), which studies language in general; to make this clear, it is sometimes called "French linguistics". The relationship between general linguistics and French linguistics is mutually complementary, with the results of each being exchanged. The results of French linguistics are incorporated into general linguistics as data, and compared with data obtained from the study of other languages, making them useful for more general language descriptions. Furthermore, the results of general linguistics are used in French linguistics.
French Culture
French culture has always placed emphasis on human freedom and its expression, and this continues to be the case today. French culture manifests itself in a variety of forms. The unique depth of French culture, from the everyday culture of food, clothing and shelter to urban development and cultural policies, makes it an extremely interesting example in today's world where globalization is progressing.
Learning about French culture and society and bringing it into "dialogue" with Japanese culture and society is an extremely effective way to think about the world of the future.
Starting from a curiosity about "differences," recognizing the diverse values of human beings, and cultivating an open mind for mutual understanding will be a great asset to the young people of the future who will inevitably have to play an active role on the international stage, no matter what field they go into.