WLC Overview
Greetings Director
Welcome to WLC. WLC was established in September 1999, at the same time as the completion of Central Tower. Its mission statement states that it aims to produce world citizens who will play an active role on the international stage of the 21st century through the promotion of foreign language and intercultural understanding skills. WLC manages the language education of Soka University, while also offering a variety of extracurricular programs. With the desire for students to become proficient in English as a communication tool during their time at university, we have opened an English conversation space, the Chit Chat Club, and the English Forum in SPACe on the second floor of Global Square.
We also have an English Writing Center, an English Speaking Center, and an English Learning Advice Room. In addition, we have a Global Village, a space for languages other than English, where friendly international student staff from all over the world will support students in their language development. WLC hopes to continue to provide better curricula and programs in order to realize our mission statement. We look forward to seeing you at WLC.
The WLC Self-Access Center (SAC) is located in the Learning Commons "SPACe" on the 2nd floor of Global Square. The location varies depending on the program, so please refer to the SPACe map.
The purpose of the World Language Center is to hone foreign language skills and intercultural coexistence skills and to cultivate global citizens, based on the ideas of founder Daisaku Ikeda and Founding Spirit of Soka University.
World Language Center: Education for Global Citizenship
The mission of the World Language Center is to promote global citizenship through the cultivation of foreign language ability and multicultural competence.
The World Language Center shall provide programs for developing foreign language skills. Moreover, because the role of global citizens extends to action that contributes to the cause of happiness and peace, the programs and environment of the Center shall be designed to foster in students a sense of social awareness and responsibility which transcends national and cultural boundaries.
Soka University's founder, Daisaku Ikeda, has associated the following attributes with global citizenship:
the wisdom to perceive the interconnectedness of all life;
the courage not to fear or deny difference, but to respect and strive to understand people of different cultures and to grow from encounters with them;
the compassion to maintain an imaginative empathy that reaches beyond one's immediate surroundings and extends to those suffering in distant places.
To nurture such attributes, the World Language Center shall be a place for connecting with the world, celebrating the richness of its diverse cultures, and transcending borders through understanding and friendship.
3 May 1999
World Citizen
Our founder, Daisaku Ikeda lists the following as the requirements for being a global citizen:
- Wisdom for all mankind to understand each other
- The courage to neither fear nor reject differences, to strive to respect and understand people of different cultures, and to use such experiences as a source of growth.
- Imaginative empathy and compassion that allows us to reach beyond our own environment and sympathize with those who are suffering in other places.
Soka University Founding Spirit
- Be the highest seat of learning for humanistic education
- Be the cradle of a new culture
- Be a fortress that protects peace for humanity.
