Columbia University Japanese Language Program

Has it been your dream to teach the Japanese language to others? The Summer M.A. Program in Japanese Pedagogy at Columbia University may be perfect for you! Columbia University is a world-renowned Ivy League university in the heart of New York, New York. The Summer M.A. Program in Japanese Pedagogy is an extremely competitive program, attracting the best students and professors from around the world. In fact, the M.A. Program is limited to no more than thirty total students, and accepts only ten to twelve students each year. Over a typical three-year period, you will learn from professors from Columbia, Harvard and Princeton, as well as from other top universities in America, Japan, Europe and Australia. Live in New York and take classes each summer for three years, and you can earn your Masters degree in Japanese Pedagogy. At the same time, you will learn about the Japanese language, about teaching and acquiring foreign languages, and you will gain a highly marketable Masters degree from one of the world’s best universities. So apply today for the Summer M.A. Program in Japanese Pedagogy at Columbia University!

Please go to : Frequently Asked Questions  (UPDATED: 9/25/2008)

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures) invites applications for the summer M.A. program in Japanese Pedagogy. The 2009 program will begin on Monday, June 1st and last until Friday, July 31st, during which time the following courses will be taught:

(1) Intermediate/Advanced Japanese Pedagogy (6/1-6/19), Professor Seiichi Makino and Dr. Tomoko Shibata of Princeton University;

(2) Pragmatics (6/22-7/3), Professor Mutsuko Endo Hudson of Michigan State University;

(3) History of Japanese Language (7/6-7/17), Professor Peter Hendriks of Australian National University;

(4) Second Language Acquisition Theory (7/20-7/31), Professor Yoshiko Mori of Georgetown University.

Tuition is reviewed on a yearly basis. The tuition for 2009 will be finalized in March. Intermediate/Advanced Japanese Pedagogy can only be taken by students who have previously completed Elementary Japanese Pedagogy at Columbia University (However, those who have years of experience teaching Japanese at the college level may apply to take this course as non-degree students). In other words, new students attending the M.A. degree program for the first time must select the three other courses and are not permitted to take Intermediate/Advanced Japanese Pedagogy this summer. On-campus housing is available.

Masters Requirements

Obtaining the M.A. degree in Japanese Pedagogy requires three summers of study, which can be completed either consecutively or over a six-year period. Students must compile a total of 36 credits, consisting of eleven courses and an M.A. thesis focusing on a particular area of Japanese Pedagogy. The Japanese Pedagogy Program does not accept credits from other institutions.

Admissions Instructions for Applicants

If the Summer M.A. Program in Japanese Pedagogy appeals to you, complete an application packet, consisting of the following:

1) Graduate School of Arts and Sciences application form (except for the fellowship statement)
2) Non-refundable application fee (check or money order, payable to Columbia University)
3) Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
4) Two letters of recommendation
5) One-page handwritten statement in Japanese, outlining the applicant’s reasons for applying to the program and how the program is connected to the applicant’s career objectives.
6a) Non-native speakers of English must have a TOEFL score of 570/230 or higher. Exceptions: 1) Students applying only for the Elementary Japanese Pedagogy course do not need a TOEFL score. 2) Non-native English speakers who hold a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college in the United States do not need a TOEFL score. However, students who have only a two-year degree (such as an MA) from an American university are NOT exempt from submitting a TOEFL score.
6b) Non-native speakers of Japanese must achieve a rating of “Advanced-High” or higher in the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) by ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).

Applications must be postmarked by February 15, 2009. For further information, and for application materials, please contact Shigeru Eguchi, Administrative Director of the 2006 Summer M.A. Program in Japanese Pedagogy, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALAC), 407 Kent Hall, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027. Email: se53@columbia.edu (English or Japanese)/ Telephone: 212-854-3523 / FAX: 212-678-8629. Notification of admission will be sent by mid-March.

We look forward to your application and hope to see you in New York next summer!