2016年卒業式が挙行されました

Blessed with blue sky that hinted of spring, AIU’s Commencement ceremony 2016 took place on March 21, 2016. The honorable guests including Mr. Hidefumi NAKASHIMA, the vice governor of Akita Prefecture attended this ceremony to celebrate the departure of the 186 AIU delegates from the undergraduate program and 5 from the graduate program for the societies across the country, and even beyond.

President’s Commencement Address
Norihiko SUZUKI, DBA

Congratulations to all of you on your graduation! 186 students have completed their study at AIU this year. Also, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all those students who are completing the graduate program in Global Communication and Language Practices. My sincere congratulations also go out to the parents, family and friends who have been eagerly waiting this happy day.

This year marks the 8th AIU commencement, and the number of AIU graduates who have entered society will now total 1,407. Compared to other universities’ graduates, this number may be considered very small. However, each of our graduates has tremendous potential for the future. It is because AIU’s international liberal arts education has cultivated each of you into ‘thoughtful individuals.’

The mission of the Graduate School of Global Communication and Language, which was established in 2008 as the nation’s first professional graduate school, is to nurture highly specialized professionals who are capable of working in multiple languages in a global society, with advanced understanding of international communication theories as well as practical knowledge and skills. Although the number is still small, AIU is proud to award a Master’s degree to 2 students from the English Language Teaching Practices and 3 from the Global Communication Practices.

Let us take this opportunity to consider just what an international liberal arts education is. The term “liberal arts” originated from the Latin word “artes liberales” which in English means “The Art of a Free Person.” This educational philosophy was developed more than two thousand years ago, in the Greek and Roman eras, during when many Greek and Roman city-states were formed. In those city-states, education was offered to the younger generation in order to nurture their ability to defend, manage and develop the city-state through responsible behavior and leadership. The focus was on developing a person’s intellect, physical strength, ethics and behavior, much like ancient Olympic athletes.

During the Middle Ages in Europe, the need for liberation from the restriction and oppression of the feudal system led to the emergence of a humanitarian approach to creating a systemized education system. In this system, students were trained in three basic subjects: grammar, rhetoric and logic. Students that trained in these subjects were known as Bachelors of Arts. Those who learned the four advanced subjects of quadrivium; which included geometry, arithmetic, music, and astronomy, were called Masters of Arts. And those who completed the study of law, medicine and theology were called Doctors of Philosophy.

Thus, the liberal arts denoted an education that provides knowledge in multiple fields of study. This is reflected in the current curriculum of humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, which develop a broad spectrum of a person’s intellectual abilities. Famous figures that trained in the liberal arts include Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and many others.

In modern times, the liberal arts style of education spread from Europe to the United States and consequently led the western world with the aim to educate the “whole person” and transform education so it would cultivate leaders who can play active roles in society, politics and industry. The liberal arts style of education was eventually brought to Japan after World War II. Through its long journey from Greece and Rome thousands of years ago to Japan today, we can say that the liberal arts style of education has had a distinguished history.

So exactly, how does AIU provide students with a liberal arts education Well, all of you started AIU’s curriculum by taking the TOEFL exam and underwent rigorous English training in EAP. You then moved through BE coursework to GB or GS, and completed your advanced education in a specific area of study. All your courses were conducted in English and revolved around dialogue between faculty and students, and among students. Besides classes being held in English, through your one-year study abroad and shared dormitory life with international students, you were also able to experience a diverse international environment, which you would not have been provided with at other universities. These international experiences have led to AIU’s education being called an “international liberal arts education.”

Based on the promise of this international liberal arts education, AIU was selected as a grant recipient of MEXT’s Top Global University Project, also known as the “Super Global University Project,” on September, 2014. The aim of this project is to turn AIU into “Japan’s World-Class Liberal Arts University” in the next decade.

Our society is globalizing at an accelerating pace, which could lead to the homogenization of life-styles or a shared way of thinking all over the world. People tend to have a strong notion that we are on the same “Earth Spaceship,” sharing a common destiny. At the same time, however, we “crew members” need to be aware how important and imperative it is for human beings to maintain their local characteristics as well as to preserve the rich life, culture and history that is a part of their national heritage. Thus, on “Earth Spaceship,” it is necessary to ensure adequate localism including diversity, identity and creativity in each area while at the same time taking advantage of the convenience, rationality and economic efficiency that are ushered in by globalization. To move forward maintaining a dynamic equilibrium between globalism and localism is your duty as pilots of this “Earth Spaceship.”

Again, my sincere congratulations on your success. Take good care of yourselves. Good luck and best wishes.

Valedictory Address
Global Studies Program
Yuki SUZUKI

First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the guests, professors, families, friends, and everyone in attendance. We graduates sincerely appreciate you holding such a memorable graduation ceremony. We are also grateful for all the notes of encouragement and congratulations, which give us the courage to enter the new world. Today we are leaving our home, Akita International University, to begin the next chapter of our lives.

The luckiest thing that has happened to me in is that AIU was established in Akita, where I was born. Who could imagine a boy who was born in a very small village surrounded by mountains could finally learn how to speak English, could experience study abroad, and could get a job, which may take him to other countries. None of these could have happened without AIU.

“Why am I studying in English?” Even though I knew that every class was in English, I couldn’t help thinking this question again and again, while taking classes at first. For the first couple of months, only a few pages of reading took a whole night to finish; writing a one page essay took another. I spent countless hours stuck in the library or the computer room with friends who were in the same situation. Those painstaking days, in the end, enabled me to read, think, and express my ideas in English. It was during this period, when I got used to exchange ideas with classmates through discussion. In fact, I was little surprised when I realized the diversity of the ideas and values among Japanese students, because I didn’t have chance to know that before entering AIU.

Those differences became more apparent when I went to study abroad. The students and people I met there lived in a culture which was completely different from mine. I noticed the way I talk, the way I dress, and the way I eat can sometimes touch someone’s nerve. Every time I faced those situations, I tried to see things from their perspective, in order to understand them better. Through the life in AIU, I learned not only the language skills but also the attitude to listen to ideas and values of other people.

All those experiences helped me obtain the freedom to learn anything I want. Now I’m able to access the knowledge accumulated in the world by reading materials or by talking with people around the world. I remember I felt like I was taking a part in the long history of academia, when I was reading old documents of great thinkers who lived in Europe centuries ago; when I was debating with my classmates, I remember I felt as if I was a Greek civilian who enjoyed the discussion ages ago. Those were the moments when I feel a little sense of accomplishment as an AIU student, because I believe this is one of the results of what we call Liberal Arts education.

Looking around the world today; however, we see there are still some people who stick to old traditions and are unwilling to understand the norms and values that other people have. Whenever I see the news of the problems that are caused by those people, I feel the world needs more people who accept others as independent individuals who have their own values and ideas, without judging others by the group to which they belong. And we, AIU graduates, have the privilege and ability to become. That is why AIU continues to attract the eyes of society.

AIU is what it is today because the former president Nakajima laid the foundations for us, and our seniors worked so hard to build AIU’s current status. As AIU graduates, we must continue to thrive and pass on our traditions to the next generation. But this doesn’t mean AIU shouldn’t change. With AIU’s 12th anniversary coming up, the roles that we are expected to play are starting to change. Fellow students, please keep making AIU new with the leadership and support of President Suzuki.

As my concluding remark, I would like to express my gratitude, on behalf of the graduates, to all of the people who supported us. Thank you to the professors for patiently listening to our immature questions, giving us precious advice, and directing the path that we should take. Thank you to the office staffs for always being around to support us and make sure we stay on the right track as a member of society. Thank you to the friends who spent priceless and countless days and nights together. Though we will be separated by physical distance, I know that when we meet up again, it will be just like old times. Thank you to the families for always worrying about us from our home far away. The delivery boxes you have sent to us were always filled with not only food and goods, but love from home. And finally, I want to say thank you to Akita and people living here for warmly embracing us. The time we spent in the good old nature of Japan is the precious treasure that we will keep in our minds forever.

Today we begin our journey to the ocean called the world in our own boats. We have desire to learn in one hand, and communication skills in the other. With these two paddles, we sail across the world. We may feel lonely in the midst of our expedition, but the fact that we are all in the same ocean will give us the courage to overcome any difficulties that come our way. Today is our sailing day, and we hope someday we will see each other again on the other side of the world.

Graduate Program
English Language Teaching Practices
Naoya NAMBA

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, faculty and staff members, and my fellow classmates. I’d like to thank all of you for coming to this commencement ceremony. Today it is a great honor for me to deliver a speech on behalf of the graduate class.

When I entered this graduate school, I had already had 10 years of teaching experience. While I taught in senior high schools in Akita, I had various kinds of workshops for English teaching skills. However, I did not have enough opportunities to have my own teaching evaluated from a critical point of view. I had been seeking such opportunities and I was certain that the English language teaching practices here at AIU was the best course for that purpose. I deeply appreciate that I was given the opportunity to study here as a full-time student.

The best thing of my studying here is that I could have plenty of time to think deeply about “why” and “how.” Why is a certain activity, a certain way of feedback, or a certain way of testing good or bad for a certain purpose How should I give students instruction to achieve a certain goal In addition, I could have a lot of demo lessons or teaching practicum, which made me carry the theories into practice in the actual teaching situations. I had been trying to find my own ways of teaching and the ELT professors gave me a lot of suggestions for improvement. The ELT professors have always been and will always be the model of the teacher and my goal.

My classmates also inspired me. Every time I saw them work hard, I recognized that I need further efforts. I thought that I must not show my laziness in front of the hard-working classmates as an in-service teacher. In addition, the peers’ presentations or demo-lessons made me aware of a lot of things that I had not focused on before. The peers’ feedback toward my presentations also updated my ideas. I was able to do my best through cooperation and competition with my enthusiastic peers and I’m grateful to each of you.

Now, people from different parts of the world have become more connected than they were before. Services and products produced in one part of the globe are becoming available in almost all parts of the globe. This is because of globalization which has become a major tidal wave that cannot be stopped. With educational institutions spread across the globe, it has become easier to move from home countries for better education opportunities. This has led to integration of cultures and people from different educational backgrounds. In such a situation, there is no doubt that English plays an important role as a communication tool. Therefore, English has been one of the most emphasized subjects in Japan in order to pursue globalization. Another factor of the emphasis of foreign language education is the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which will draw large numbers of foreign visitors to Japan. At present, English is offered to children once a week from elementary grade-five level and four times a week from junior high. However, an English-language reform committee set up by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) came up with a number of recommendations about how Japan can do better namely, by elevating the importance of English listening and speaking; starting English in grade three of elementary school and making it a formal subject by grade five by 2020; modifying English assessments on high school and university entrance exams; and improving teacher training and classroom instruction. I believe that AIU is the perfect place for the training of both in- and pre-service teachers of English because we can find what “teaching English through English” is like. I am sure what I have learned here is the fundamental of the current and future English education in Japan.

I am going back to work from this coming April and teaching at a senior high school in Akita again. I hope to make full use of my experience here and make a contribution to the development of English education in Akita. At the same time, I would like to keep studying better ways of teaching English. I believe that a great teacher has his own love of learning and inspires students with his passion for education and for the course material. He constantly renews himself as a professional on his quest to provide students with the highest quality of education possible. This teacher has no fear of learning new teaching strategies or incorporating new technologies into lessons, and always seems to be the one who is willing to share what he’s learned with colleagues. I will never forget this spirit.

Now we are away from AIU. There is a famous quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, who was an American poet, philosopher and essayist during the 19th century, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” What we have learned here is our compass and it will always point where we should go. This is one of the most important tools needed to open our path ahead. It is not the diploma itself that counts. It is about what we have learned and what we do with the education we have gotten in AIU.

Finally, I will treasure every meeting I have had here for my whole life and best of luck in all your future endeavors.

Thank you all very much for listening.

Congratulatory Address by Mr. Hidefumi NAKAJIMA, Vice governor of Akita Prefecture		Congratulatory Address by Mr. Kenichiro KONDO, Akita prefectural assembly deputy chairman
Celebratory Musical Performance by Ms. Reiko WATANABE, Select Professor of AIU		The moment of departure