The Center for Foreign Language Education and Research (FLER) was founded at Rikkyo University in April 2020 as an institution to carry out advanced educational practice and to conduct cutting-edge research. We are in the midst of difficult but challenging times in which we cannot find solutions by simply following precedents. In such a period of complexity and uncertainty, we believe that a key lies in ‘three areas of interaction.’

1. Interaction between different disciplines
   Foreign language education is a transdisciplinary field where one’s foreign language learning is full of complexity and diversity; that is, various components—such as different starting ages of learning, different interests, different magnitudes of motivation and different personalities—dynamically interact and collectively contribute to one’s foreign language competence and construction of identity. Not only various language-related studies (e.g., linguistics, second language acquisition, literature) but also areas concerning human mind and behaviors (e.g., psychology, sociology, biology, brain science) help us understand the complex and dynamic nature of foreign language learning.
   
   
2. Interaction between different languages
   English is now recognized as a lingua franca, playing a key role in international communication; however, solely Anglophone-based values and ways of thinking are still limited and are insufficient to solve a number of global problems we are currently facing. FLER involves teachers of five other languages—German, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Rossian, each of which has its own thoughts, values, culture, and history. The interaction between different language professionals, or translanguaging dialogue, helps us expand our perspectives and enrich our life. The interaction with other languages would also enhance respect for other cultures and promote tolerance in the global community where diverse people are expected to work collaboratively.
   
   
3. Interaction between theory and practice
   With rapid globalization and progress of information technology, research on foreign language teaching and learning has advanced and proliferated over the last decade; however, implementation of practice in the foreign language classroom based on the findings obtained from the research side has been piecemeal and gradual, and there is still a large gap between teachers and researchers. To close this gap, foreign language professionals are required to play two roles—practitioners and researchers—and to make an effort to integrate the two sides of the same coin. Through continuous cycles of engaging in research activities and putting the findings into practice in the classroom, we could serve as a bridge between the two separate worlds. We believe our attempt to exercise researched pedagogy would contribute to creating an ideal foreign language learning environment for students.

FLER is aiming to achieve this ‘new normal’ of foreign language teaching at university through three areas of interaction among professionals with diverse expertise, languages and backgrounds. We aim to conduct a number of ambitious research projects and make a significant contribution to the lasting improvement of our foreign language teaching practice.

Bienvenidos a la página web del Center for Foreign Language Education and Research (FLER). Fundado en abril de 2020, FLER se encarga de la enseñanza de lenguas extranjeras a estudiantes de todas las facultades de la Universidad Rikkyo. Cuando pensamos en "aprender un idioma", se nos ocurre en primer lugar estudiar gramática y vocabulario, pero es mucho más que eso. Detrás de un idioma, siempre hay personas que lo hablan, una cultura que lo apoya y un mundo que respira a su alrededor. Al aprender un idioma extranjero, a veces podemos sentirnos desanimados, preguntándonos cómo pronunciar sonidos extraños, por qué existen reglas tan complicadas o por qué la gente piensa de cierta manera. Sin embargo, si superamos con esfuerzo estos obstáculos, obtendremos una nueva perspectiva. Cree en ello y lánzate a un nuevo mundo. Nuestro profesorado te apoyará en esta aventura.

Welcome to the Center for Foreign Language Education and Research (FLER) web page. Established in April 2020, FLER is responsible for foreign language education for students across all faculties at Rikkyo University. When we think of "learning a language," we might first think of learning grammar and vocabulary, but it's much more than that. Behind a language, there are always people who use it, a culture that supports it, and a world which breathes and surrounds it. When learning a foreign language, we may sometimes feel discouraged, wondering how to pronounce such strange sounds, why there are such complicated rules, or why people think this way. However, when we overcome these obstacles with effort, we will gain a new perspective. Believe in that and take the leap into a new world. Our staff will support all of you who embark on such adventures.