Messages from Alumni

Center for Fundamental Education, University of Kitakyushu NAGASUE Kosuke Year of 2004, Doctoral Program - Completed without Doctoral Degree

Many people who are considering going on to study at graduate school will be worried about their future after graduation. However, that anxiety will almost never disappear when you go on to study at graduate school, so I suggest stop thinking about it for a while.
At graduate school, it is important to seek knowledge yourself and not just expect to be taught by someone.
You will also need to understand how your acquired expertise can interact with other disciplines.
Lastly, make as many mistakes as you can. A mistake or failure is not the end of your research; it is a process of your research and the beginning of new research.
If you can enjoy this, your time at graduate school will be fruitful and you may be able to cope comfortably with the anxieties you have.

Fukuoka University General Education & Research Center LIU Sha Year of 2014, Doctoral Program - Completed without Doctoral Degree

The reason I went on to graduate school was simple: to improve my English skills. You can study a wide variety of courses at Fukuoka University's Graduate School of Humanities. I majored in phonology, but I took both linguistic and literary classes to broaden my outlook. The library at Fukuoka University is one of the largest in Japan and I think it offers a research and study-friendly environment. All the students in the Graduate School of Humanities have close relationships, and so too do professors and students. I was always helped by my fellow senior students. I am especially grateful to my teacher, Professor Yamada. Professor Yamada taught me enthusiastically from the beginning, and it is thanks to him that I obtained a PhD. Professor Jefferson M. Peters was also a huge help checking my English expressions.
When I enrolled at the Graduate School of Humanities, my desire to continue my research and be involved in English education grew stronger. This is why I chose to teach at university. I am currently teaching English at Fukuoka University's General Education Center. I intend to continue my efforts in my research and teaching.

Fukuoka University Career Center TOYOSHIMA Shiori Year of 2016, Master's Program -Completed

I decided to go on to study at graduate school because I wanted to use English to study gender. Through American literature, I studied about approaches to achieving gender equality. During my undergraduate days, I only studied linguistics, culture, and literature because I liked English. My research at graduate school made me think deeply about what gender equality is, and so I was able to find my answer to it. My study at the Graduate School was a very good experience to expand my knowledge and perspective as a human being. It was very interesting to read a lot of literature and do research while exploring the thoughts of the authors who covered gender. My way of life and way of thinking have changed greatly through these experiences. If you want to learn and study more, please consider choosing a graduate school program.

Fukuoka public junior high school teacher SHIOTA Risa Year of 2020, Doctoral Program - Completed without Doctoral Degree

At graduate school, I worked on an English class plan for junior high school students using English literature for the Active Learning of English. When I was an undergraduate student, I read works of English literature which moved and inspired me, and this experience encouraged me to work on this research topic. I wanted children to have the same kind of experience when they learn English. I believe that reading English poetry which represents the voices of those who are suffering, and comforts us when we are depressed, can lead to emotional education for children. I was able to learn various opinions and broaden my perspectives at graduate school when I wrote my MA thesis in which I explored effective ways to teach English poetry. It was an invaluable experience for me.