Graduate School of Intercultural Studies, Kobe University

Last Updated: 2025年08月05日

The aim of the Contents in Second Language Education course is to actively contribute to innovations in language education by training researchers in the methods and directions of Applied Linguistics. In this course, we work with an academic base of linguistics (corpus linguistics, cognitive linguistics, pragmatics, conversation analysis, speech science, grammar, educational science and class theory) and emphasize research with a focus on practical use in the field of education. Through a multifaceted approach to the challenges of teaching other languages, students in this course will be sought after by education agencies all over the world. Even if you haven’t specialized in linguistics in your undergraduate studies, we welcome any student with a desire to
contribute to the globalization of society through second language education.

Students’ research themes	Master’s program: English intensifiers, English collocation, English causative verbs, English activating expressions, First and third person German verbs, Japanese katakana, shadowing, phonics rules, Focus-on-form pronunciation aids, English/Japanese code-switching Doctoral program: Identity and second language use, Developing tests for elementary school English teacher suitability, Formulation in interaction, Japanese compound verbs, Similar forms in Chinese and Japanese, Developing interactional competence
Teaching Staff	Shin’ichiro ISHIKAWA, Professor Subjects: Applied Linguistics II Research fields: My research fields cover applied linguistics, corpus linguistics, psycho-linguistics, and TESOL (especially vocabulary learning, development and analysis of teaching materials, and language teaching methodologies). I welcome any students who want to consider languages and language educations from a scientific perspective. Harumi KASHIWAGI, Professor Subjects: Second Language Learning and Technology Research fields: Recently, I have been interested in developing a learning system by using the position information of learners and objects in real space. I am also interested in developing a listening-based learning system and a system with an interactive whiteboard. I welcome any students who are interested in developing a learning system with new technology. If you have any questions, e-mail me. Emiko KIHARA, Associate Professor Subjects: Second Language Pedagogy Research fields: My research relates to Cognitive Linguistics, especially to constructions in English. I have focused on the correlation between form and meaning in English (written by the native speaker),and currently I am studying constructions written by L2 learners (Japanese college students). Tim GREER, Professor Subjects: Second Language Pragmatics Research fields: I am interested in the relation between linguistic expressions and the way they are used. I specialize in L2 pragmatics, using qualitative investigation methods and detailed, empirical analysis of conversations. I research social activities involving words that come up in ordinary and bilingual conversation, as well as conversation in oral English ability tests. Additionally, I also research conversation analysis, identity construction and interactional competence. Takeshi SATO, Professor Subjects: Applied Linguistics I Research fields: My research focuses on the cognitive processes of second and foreign language acquisition and aims to apply this perspective to pedagogical recommendations such as the development of teaching materials and instructional design. My research takes a cognitive-linguistic approach, but more recently I have also adopted a socio-cultural approach. Shunyaku SHU, Professor Subjects: Special lecture on adaptive linguistic comparisons. Research fields: My research interests are situated at the intersection between speech science and second language education. I research speech from psychological, biological and physical standpoints, and consider ways to more effectively teach second language pronunciation. I would be like to supervise students with an interest in second language pronunciation and its pedagogy. Madoka SERIZAWA, Assistant Professor Subjects: Applied Contrastive Linguistics I My main area of research is historical pragmatics, and I especially analyze colloquialism/literary style, construction and vocabulary in print media in early modern Germany. Lately I am also interested in the relationship between text and images. Xiao CHEN, Lecturer Subjects: Applied Contrastive Linguistics II My research interests lie primarily in Chinese syntaxial and phonological history, with a special focus on Beijing Dialect in Qing Dynasty. I analyze the vocabulary, grammar, phonetics, and historical changes of Beijing dialect, using materials such as Manchu-Chinese translation textbooks and Chinese textbooks of the Meiji Period.

Students’ research themes

Master’s program: English intensifiers, English collocation, English causative verbs, English activating expressions, First and third person German verbs, Japanese katakana, shadowing, phonics rules, Focus-on-form pronunciation aids, English/Japanese code-switching

Doctoral program: Identity and second language use, Developing tests for elementary school English teacher suitability, Formulation in interaction, Japanese compound verbs, Similar forms in Chinese and Japanese, Developing interactional competence

Teaching

Staff

Shin’ichiro ISHIKAWA, Professor
Subjects: Applied Linguistics II
Research fields: My research fields cover applied linguistics, corpus linguistics, psycho-linguistics, and TESOL (especially vocabulary learning, development and analysis of teaching materials, and language
teaching methodologies). I welcome any students who want to consider languages and language educations from a scientific perspective.

Harumi KASHIWAGI, Professor
Subjects: Second Language Learning and Technology
Research fields: Recently, I have been interested in developing a learning system by using the position information of learners and objects in real space. I am also interested in developing a listening-based learning system and a system with an interactive whiteboard. I welcome any students who are interested in developing a learning system with new technology. If you have any questions, e-mail me.

Emiko KIHARA, Associate Professor
Subjects: Second Language Pedagogy
Research fields: My research relates to Cognitive Linguistics, especially to constructions in English. I have focused on the correlation between form and meaning in English (written by the native speaker),and currently I am studying constructions written by L2 learners (Japanese college students).

Tim GREER, Professor
Subjects: Second Language Pragmatics
Research fields: I am interested in the relation between linguistic expressions and the way they are used. I specialize in L2 pragmatics, using qualitative investigation methods and detailed, empirical analysis of conversations. I research social activities involving words that come up in ordinary and bilingual conversation, as well as conversation in oral English ability tests. Additionally, I also research conversation analysis, identity construction and interactional competence.

Takeshi SATO, Professor
Subjects: Applied Linguistics I
Research fields: My research focuses on the cognitive processes of second and foreign language acquisition and aims to apply this perspective to pedagogical recommendations such as the development of teaching materials and instructional design. My research takes a cognitive-linguistic approach, but more recently I have also adopted a socio-cultural approach.

Shunyaku SHU, Professor
Subjects: Special lecture on adaptive linguistic comparisons.
Research fields: My research interests are situated at the intersection between speech science and second language education. I research speech from psychological, biological and physical standpoints, and consider ways to more effectively teach second language pronunciation. I would be like to supervise students with an interest in second language pronunciation and its pedagogy.

Madoka SERIZAWA, Assistant Professor
Subjects: Applied Contrastive Linguistics I
My main area of research is historical pragmatics, and I especially analyze colloquialism/literary style, construction and vocabulary in print media in early modern Germany. Lately I am also interested in the relationship between text and images.

Xiao CHEN, Lecturer
Subjects: Applied Contrastive Linguistics II
My research interests lie primarily in Chinese syntaxial and phonological history, with a special focus on Beijing Dialect in Qing Dynasty. I analyze the vocabulary, grammar, phonetics, and historical changes of Beijing dialect, using materials such as Manchu-Chinese translation textbooks and Chinese textbooks of the Meiji Period.