Department of Spanish Language and Literature



About the department

The Spanish language is spoken by more than 400 million people in many countries and regions of Europe and North and South America, as well as Africa. It is a major world language and is one of the official languages of the United Nations. At Seisen University, which was founded by an Argentine sister from the congregation of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Spain, the Spanish language is very important because of these founding connections. Seisen is the only women’s university in Tokyo where the Spanish language is taught comprehensively and which has a library that abounds with Spanish language-related books and reference materials.
Department of Spanish Language and Literature1
In our four-year undergraduate program, the first two years are spent on learning the Spanish language thoroughly and completely in small classes where native speakers assure personal attention so that students acquire abilities in all four basic areas, including reading, writing, speaking and listening. In the following two years, emphases are given on learning literature and culture, as well as the languages of Spain and Latin American countries. Students select a major concentration of study depending on their interest and objectives.
The culture of Spain is a blend of Christianity and Islam, and it has influenced other European cultures. The Renaissance, Mannerism, and other aspects of European culture are not fully comprehensible unless one understands Spanish culture, with its unique historical background and the influence of the Moors and Christianity.
Department of Spanish Language and Literature2
Spanish culture has also greatly influenced Latin American countries, including Mexico, Argentina, Peru and other Central and South American countries where their own civilizations have coexisted. Studies of the cultures, literatures, histories, music, arts and sports of Spain, as well as various Latin American countries, help to broaden students’ international perspectives.

Faculty

Takuya Kimura

Takuya Kimura
Title
Professor

Field of Specialization
Spanish linguistics, Phonetics

The main field of my research is Spanish Phonetics and Phonology, especially accent and intonation. My research interest is to clarify the factors that cause voice pitch movements in Spanish utterances and I aim to make links from abstract phonology to actual acoustic phonetics with one theory. I am also interested in Spanish Linguistics in general and in contrastive studies on Japanese and Spanish grammars.

Ayako Saito

SaitoAyako
Title
Professor

Field of Specialization
Spanish and Latin American Literature

I am interested in the relation between the literary works and their historical,social,and literary contexts. In particular,I am exploring Don Quixote, Examplary novels, and other Cervantes'works published in Spain at the beginning of the 17th century.

Hanako Saito

Hanako Saito
Title
Professor

Field of Specialization
Spanish language education

In order to facilitate autonomous language learning, I am developing and refining a learning method suitable for Japanese college students learning Spanish. In addition, I am conducting research on the significance of learning foreign languages among Japanese university and high school students.

Taro Nagano

Movie
Taro Nagano
Title
Professor

Field of Specialization
Latin American studies, Popular culture

I am studying popular music and dance in Latin America. I have mainly studied the historical development of folk dance practice in Argentina in relations to cultural nationalism. I am currently trying to research various aspects of popular dance practices in Latin America and the representational issues surrounding Latin America, by methods including fieldworks. I am also interested in the history of the gaze directed toward Latin America from Japan.

Trenado Deán María Paloma

Trenado Deán María Paloma
Title
Professor

Field of Specialization
Language education

My research area focuses on the theories of Acquisition of Second Languages with special attention to individual differences and their methodological application in the teaching-learning process. In particular, I study the development of learning strategies at the elementary level, with special attention to the acquisition of vocabulary.

Mutsuko Komai

Mutsuko Komai
Title
Associate Professor

Field of Specialization
Modern poetry in Spanish-speaking countries

I am studying Spanish modern poetry written in Spain and Latin American countries. In particular, I have especially taken up the works of Alfonsina Storni, a female poet representing modern Argentina. Recently I have been focusing on the literature of women in the Spanish-speaking world as a result of my research about Storni. I am trying to approach feminist literary criticism as well.

Juan Carlos MOYANO

Juan Carlos MOYANO
Title
Associate Professor

Field of Specialization
Spanish language education

I practice basic theory of applied linguistics with second language education. Currently, my research topic is the role of the indicative imperfect form in colloquial Spanish language in discourse. I am analyzing the use of the indicative imperfect in colloquial Spanish discourse using the TV series "Cuéntame" as a material.