今回のコラムでは「出会い」についてお話します。大学は社会にでるための準備期間です。したがって、様々な実務科目や資格科目が準備されています。ただ、大学は自動車学校ではありません。決められたコースを終了すれば終わりというのでは寂しい気がします。素晴らしい出会いが人を育て、一生を支えてくれる場合もあります。皆さんも、素晴らしい出会いを期待していませんか？
In this column, I would like to talk about encounters. University life is a period of preparation for entering society. For that reason, a wide range of practical courses and qualification-oriented subjects are offered. However, a university is not a driving school. It would be rather disappointing if everything ended simply by completing a predetermined course.
At times, a single meaningful encounter can shape a person and continue to support them throughout their life. Aren’t you, too, hoping for such valuable encounters during your university years?
□ 様々な出会い Many Kinds of Encounters
明治の文豪夏目漱石は、「クレイグ先生」や「ケーベル先生」という文章を残しました。どちらも素晴らしい先生です。でも、漱石が第一高等中学校（旧制高校）で出会ったマードック先生（James Murdoch）は、特別な存在だったようです。真面目な漱石は先生の自宅に伺って、どんな英語の本を読んだらよいのか尋ねました。そうすると先生は一枚の紙に10冊の本を書いたそうです。漱石は10年をかけて全ての本を手に入れ読んだようです。マードック先生は、漱石にとっては生涯忘れることができない先生でした。もう1人例をあげると、芥川龍之介は、大学時代に漱石（当時は既に作家として活躍）と出会い、彼が書いた『鼻』という作品を漱石から絶賛されました。それがきっかけで作家の道を歩むことになりました。芥川は極めて秀才でしたが、漱石と出会わなければ作家になっていなかったかもしれません。考えてみると、漱石は学校を題材にした作品を多く書きました。ただ、書かれた内容は何を学んだかということではなく、人との出会いでした。大学時代は社会に出る準備期間です。この比較的自由な時間に素晴らしい出会いを経験すると、人生の大きな支えになるのではないでしょうか。
The Meiji-period literary giant Natsume Sōseki left behind essays such as “Professor Craig” and “Professor Koeber.”Both portray outstanding teachers. However, it seems that James Murdoch, whom Sōseki met at the First Higher School (under the old education system), was a particularly special presence in his life.
Serious and earnest by nature, Sōseki once visited Murdoch at his home and asked which English books he should read. In response, Murdoch reportedly wrote down the titles of ten books on a single sheet of paper. Sōseki then spent ten years acquiring and reading all of them. For Sōseki, Murdoch was a teacher he could never forget throughout his life.
Let me give another example. Ryūnosuke Akutagawa met Sōseki during his university years, when Sōseki was already an established writer. Akutagawa’s work “The Nose” received high praise from Sōseki, and this encounter became the turning point that led him onto the path of becoming a writer. Akutagawa was an exceptionally gifted student, but without meeting Sōseki, he might never have become a novelist.
When we reflect on this, we notice that Sōseki wrote many works set in schools. Yet what he depicted was not so much what people learned, but whom they met. University life is a period of preparation for entering society. Experiencing meaningful encounters during this relatively free time may well become a powerful source of support throughout one’s life.
□ 小さな大学の大きな誇り The Great Pride of a Small University
国際英語学科は、国際キャリア学部に所属します。学部の目的は、キャリア形成です。英語力と実務能力の育成に全力を尽くしますが、それだけではありません。私達は「出会い」を大切にしています。教師との出会い、友人との出会い、また、留学中の海外での出会いなど、多くの出会いがあるでしょう。
本学は2000人規模の小さな大学です。国際英語学科（定員60名）には、6名の専任教員がいます。2名は英語母語話者（1名はイングランド出身、1名はアイルランド出身）、4名は日本人教師です。日本人教師は全員海外での長期滞在経験を持ちます。したがって、授業はもちろん、ちょっとしたメールのやりとりも英語で行います。こうした環境の中で学生達はのびのびと学び、卒業後は社会で活躍します。
これが私達の誇りです。小さな大学の大きな誇りなのです。遠方から本学に来る学生達もいます。海外の学生もいます。でも、アットホームな雰囲気があるからこそ、安心して大学生活を送ることができるのです。大学が大きな成長をもたらすのは、明治も現在も同じです。皆さんの素晴らしい成長を願っています。
The Department of English as a Global Language belongs to the Faculty of International Career Development. The mission of this faculty is to support students in building their careers. While we devote our full efforts to developing students’ English proficiency and practical skills, that is not all. We also place great value on encounters. These include encounters with teachers, with friends, and with people met overseas during study abroad experiences. Many meaningful encounters await you.
Our university is a small institution with a student body of approximately 2,000. The Department of English as a Global Language has an enrollment capacity of 60 students and is supported by six full-time faculty members. Two are native speakers of English—one from England and one from Ireland—and four are Japanese faculty members. All of the Japanese faculty have extensive experience living abroad. As a result, not only classes but also everyday communication, such as brief email exchanges, is conducted in English. In this environment, students are able to learn freely and confidently, and after graduation, they go on to play active roles in society.
This is what we are proud of—the great pride of a small university. Some students come to our university from distant regions, and others come from overseas. Yet it is precisely because of our warm, close-knit atmosphere that students can enjoy their university life with a sense of security. Universities have fostered significant personal growth since the Meiji era, and this remains true today. We sincerely hope for your continued growth and success.
