Teaching English and Cross-cultural Communication through Music

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When we teach English, we teach not just the English language (the grammar and vocabulary) but also the culture of the countries where English is spoken as a native language. This helps language learners to better realize the humanity they share with the people in those countries. My textbooks helped me convey the important role of melodies in terms of cross-cultural interpretation from English lyrics into their Japanese translation. Through my studies on Stephen Foster, I have contributed to US-Japan communication by introducing Foster as Americana to Japanese and as Japanese heritage to Americans. I’m currently working on Japan’s first lecture-concert & international symposium on Foster, scheduled for December 7, 2013, at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, where two Americans will be the among speakers. I see this as the biggest reward of my five years of funded research for which I am very grateful.