Ⅱ Admissions Requirements 1.Terms of Application (1) Individuals who have graduated from university (or expected to graduate in fiscal 2011). (2) Individuals who have been conferred a bachelor s degree under the terms stipulated in Article 104, Clause 4, of the School Education Act. (3) Individuals who have received and completed 16 years of school education abroad, or is expected to complete said education in fiscal 2011. (4) Credits earned in Japan through correspondence programs offered by foreign schools may be included in the 16-year school education requirement in Item #3. (5) Those who have completed, or are expected to complete by March 31, 2011, a program in an education facility in Japan designated separately by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology that provides courses from a foreign university within the school education system of a foreign country. This applies solely to those who have completed 16 years of school education in said foreign country. (6) Those who have completed, or are expected to complete the curriculum of a specialized training College in Japan designated separately by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on or after the date on which said institute received the Minister's designation. This applies only to programs for which the program duration is at least four years, and which satisfy other standards determined by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. (7) Individuals designated eligible for admissions by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (8) Individuals who have been enrolled in a university for more than three years, or have completed 15 years of school education abroad and recognized by the relevant graduate school committee credits as having earned designated credits with superior grades. (9) Individuals who have turned 22 years old by March 2012 and have been recognized by the relevant graduate school committee as having the equivalent academic qualifications of a university graduate. *Note 1: Individuals who wish to apply under Terms numbers 4-9 above. 1) Admissions eligibility will be screened at the time of application 2) You will be asked to submit Forms G and H regarding your academic qualifications *Note 2: Definition of foreign nationals who wish to apply:
1) Individuals who do not have Japanese citizenship and do not possess permanent residency status to reside in Japan 2) Individuals possessing the proper visa to study at Soka University under the terms of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act of Japan 2.Application Forms and Processing Fee (1) Application Forms Soka University Designated Forms A* (2) Test Ticket / Photo I.D. Card (3) College Transcript (4) Diploma / Proof of Graduation (5) Processing Fee Soka University Designated Forms C and D Processed by individual institutions (Soka University students can obtain their transcript through the cmpus automated vendor) Processed by individual institutions (Soka University students can obtain their transcript through the cmpus automated vendor) 33,000 Fill out attached remittance form and pay through a local Japanese bank Provide copy of remittance invoice when submitting application *Note: On Form A, the section requesting Title of Master Thesis is optional. 2a. Applicants of the TESOL Graduate Program Required Documentation Essay in English. Theme: How does this program help you achieve your overall professional goals as a language educator? Length: 1,000 words maximum. Format: Double-spaced. (See the following for more details.) Photocopy of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores achieved within the past two years. For native English speakers, documents proving enrollment at English-language medium elementary, middle and high schools, as well as university. Also submit photocopies of high school and university diplomas.
Definition of Native English Speaker 1) Those who have studied English from infancy 2) Those who employ on a daily basis English as their primary language 3) Those whose command of English is superior to any other language in which they are fluent 4) Those possessing sociolinguistic English language fluency in terms of grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation There is no Japanese language proficiency requirement for international students to enter the International Language Education: TESOL Program. However, for those international students who do not speak Japanese, those students will be expected to study Japanese concurrently with their graduate studies in order to obtain a level of basic communicative ability in Japanese.
International Language Education Program: TESOL Personal Statement Please provide a personal statement describing your educational objectives. The personal statement gives you the opportunity to explain your reasons for pursuing graduate study and to express your thoughts clearly in an organized and focused way. Please answer the following question regarding the Graduate Program in International Language Education: TESOL: How does this program help you achieve your overall professional goals as a language educator? You may wish to address: Why you are applying for the International Language Education (ILE) program; How the ILE program will relate to your long-range career objectives; What personal or non-academic qualities you will contribute to the learning environment in this program; What your research interests in language education may be; and / or, What personal experiences have influenced your intellectual development and future goals with respect to the ILE program. The personal statement should: Include your name and a title; Not exceed 1,000 words; and Be typed double spaced (Times New Roman 12). Please carefully revise and edit your statement as all qualities of good writing including organization, structure, grammar, and spelling will be considered.
On the Use of Internet Telephony Tools Under the ILE TESOL graduate program admissions policy, Japanese and non-japanese applicants living abroad will be interviewed via Skype or other modes of Internet telephony. Interview Date To take place on January 9, 2012, or Phase Two of the General Admissions Test. The time has yet to be finalized, but will take into account time zone differences. Overseas Residence Does not apply to non-japanese nationals. For Japanese nationals, please see the conditions pertaining to overseas residence. Admissions Application (1) Application must be submitted during the regular submission period. (2) When submitting an application, be sure to include the following: A) A personal statement describing why you wish to apply to the TESOL program. B) Contact information, including your email address and telephone number. C) Photocopy of VISA for Japanese nationals. Miscellaneous Soka University will notify you of the admissions testing time after your admissions application is submitted Individuals who are accepted must undergo final confirmation of personal identity a few days prior to the admissions ceremony. At that time, if any improprieties are discovered, the university reserves the right to withhold admissions of the applicant.
3.Testing Field and Timetable Graduate School of Letters / International Language Education Program Program Curricula Selection Process Testing Field Category Examination time Foreign Languages N/A Application documents screened (Essay, standardized English proficiency test documents) Interview conducted in English to assess TESOL Interview N/A comprehension and articulation levels for non-native speakers *Interview may also be conducted via 10:00~ 12:00 Skype and other modes of Internet telephony