Kanda Institute of Languages The Sources of Language Education
Since its opening, Kanda Institute of Languages has been a pioneer in language education institutions.
History of the University
We want to raise young people who can speak foreign languages and create a peaceful society.
At the end of the war, the founder, Kimikazu Sano (the first president) and his wife, Kikue (the second president), established Central English School, the predecessor of Kanda Institute of Foreign Languages, out of a desire to foster young people who could speak foreign languages and create a peaceful society without conflict with foreign countries. Then, in 1964, the school changed its name to the current one. From early on, the school adopted the Kanda Institute of Languages task-based teaching method and multimedia education, and has been a pioneer in the field of foreign language education. Our know-how in language education, which we have practiced as a school education, sets us apart from other educational institutions.
| 1957 | Central English School established (Kanda, Tokyo) by the first president, Koichi Sano |
|---|---|
| 1963. | Name changed to Central American English Language Institute |
| 1964 | Name changed to Kanda Institute of Foreign Languages |
| 1969 | Sano Gakuen Educational Corporation established |
| 1976 | Licensed as a professional training college for foreign languages by the enforcement of the Professional Training College Law. |
| 1987 | Major curriculum revision Sister school "Kanda University of Foreign Languages" opens |
| 1992 | Introduced a first-year special recommendation system for admission to the Department of English Language and Linguistics at Kanda University of International Studies. |
| 1994 |
KIFL* task-based learning method introduced Multimedia education begins International Training Center "British Hills" opens |
| 1995 |
The title of "Specialist" was awarded to 1994 graduates (March 1995 graduates) Curriculum major revision KIFL* task-based learning method introduced in all departments |
| 2001 | Introduced the third-year transfer system to the Department of English Language and Linguistics, Kanda University of International Studies |
| Year 2002 | New curriculum introduced for students entering in 2002 |
| 2006 | New EIC* introduced for students entering in 2006 |
| 2007 |
Kanda University of Foreign Languages Ishizue Association established Commemorative projects developed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the founder of Kanda University of Foreign Languages and the 20th anniversary of the founding of Kanda University of Foreign Languages Department of Global Communication established |
| 2008 | Introduced the second-year transfer system to Kanda University of International Studies |
| 2009 |
Completion of VISTA* learning facility Completion of The Culture & Food Kitchen, a cooking lab for learning about food culture and customs |
| 2010 | First in Japan to introduce HELP*, a demonstration-based English conversation class using a virtual world |
| 2013. |
Establishment of the Department of International Business Careers Learning facility "VISTA" evolves into "VISTA ACT" and "VISTA SILC". |
| 2014. | Establishment of Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Thai language courses in the Department of Asian/European Languages |
| 2015 | MOVE* Multilingual Center" completed. |
| 2019 | Completion of Kanda Institute of Languages Building No. 10 |
- KIFL : Kanda Institute of Foreign Languages
- EIC : English for International Communication
- VISTA : Village of Innovative Study and Training Access
- HELP : Hybrid English Learning Program
- MOVE : Multilingual Opportunities and Valuable Experiences
History of Education
~The history of Kanda Institute of Languages' language education began with a major educational reform in 1995.
In 1995, the school introduced a task-based teaching method. Since its opening, Kanda Institute of Languages has been a pioneer in language education, but from 1993 to 1995, the school underwent its first major reform of teaching methods since its opening.
The Kanda Institute of Languages' English teaching method has been developed by three professors, Christopher Kandelin and David Noonan, both leading experts in second language acquisition theory, and the late Professor Emeritus Francis Johnson of the English Language Institute (ELI) at Kanda University of International Studies. The Kanda Institute of Languages' English teaching method has been developed by three professors, including the late Professor Emeritus Francis Johnson of Kanda University of International Studies ELI (English Language Institute).
Prior to the reform, the University's English language education utilized an orthodox form of teaching method that consisted of the three pillars of (*1) Notional Functional Approach, (*2) Oral Practice, and (*3) Grammar Translation.
However, Kanda Institute of Languages, which had been conducting these educational methods for many years, was searching for a more effective and practical teaching method unlike the previous ones. The educational reform was initiated by the faculty's strong desire to "think of a way to teach English to students who are studying at the institute in a way that will help them develop their abilities more," rather than the usual method of reciting and uttering fixed phrases.
With this background, the Task-Based Teaching Method (*4) was introduced, and the foundation of Kanda Gaikakuin's English education was established. Since the introduction of the task-based teaching method, students at Kanda Institute of Languages have not only memorized English expressions, but have also developed the ability to select and use appropriate expressions according to their own situations.
Under this teaching method, there is no single fixed answer to test questions. For example, there is the English expression "How are you? but there are many similar expressions such as "How are you getting along? This has created an environment in which teachers must be able to respond to each student's answer, and both the quality of teachers and the level of students has improved.
Today, the task-based teaching method is still used at Kanda Institute of Languages, and our goal is not only to develop communicative competence, but also to foster an understanding and respect for the traditions and cultures of one's own country and those of other countries.
- Notional/functional approach: a conversation between two people in pairs, with each person assigned a role in the conversation.
- Aural Practice: Pronouncing a given phrase over and over again.
- Grammar translation: memorizing grammatical rules and word changes and translating all sentences into the native language
- Task-Based Teaching: A long-standing teaching method used in Australia to teach languages to immigrants.
successive deans
Founder, Kimikazu Sano, first dean
Born in 1905 (Meiji 38). At the end of the war, he and his wife, Kikue (the second president), established Central English School, the predecessor of Kanda Institute of Foreign Languages, in Kanda, Tokyo, in 1957, with a desire to foster young people who could speak foreign languages and realize a peaceful society free of conflict with foreign countries.
- Kimikazu Sano I (1957-1977)
- SANO Kikue II (1978-1987)
- Ryuji Sano III (1988-1993)
- 4th Goodings, An Atsushi (1994-2002)
- 5th Filson, Richard Michael (2002-2003)
- VI Goko Mizuno (2003-2011)
- Yukinori Kasuya, 7th generation (2012-2023)
- Minoru Imai, 8th generation (2023-present)