Masaki Minobe

Japanese - World Languages and Cultures

Assistant Professor

Masaki Minobe

Contact Information

Office Location: MHC 120
Email: masaki.minobe@usu.edu

Educational Background

Ph.D. in Languages and Cultures, Purdue University, USA 2024
M.A. in Languages and Cultures, Purdue University, USA 2021
M.A. in International Relations, Ritsumeikan University, Japan 2014
M.A. in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy, Lancaster University, UK 2013
B.A. in International Relations, Ritsumeikan University, Japan 2011

Biography

Masaki Minobe holds a Ph.D. in Languages and Cultures with a focus on Japanese Pedagogy from Purdue University. His academic pursuits revolve around Japanese pedagogy, learner autonomy, narrative inquiry, virtual exchanges, and computer-assisted systems for teaching and learning Japanese. Before joining Utah State University, Masaki taught Japanese at various institutions, including Yangtze University in China, Naragakuen University in Japan, and Purdue University in the United States. He also participated in the Japanese Language Education Assistant Program (J-LEAP), jointly sponsored by the Japan Foundation and the Laurasian Institution, teaching Japanese at Kearny High School in New Jersey. Masaki co-authored the online elementary-level Japanese language textbooks Learn Japanese Online (Book 1 and 2).

Courses

  • JAPN 1010 – Japanese First Year I
  • JAPN 1020 – Japanese First Year II
  • JAPN 2010 – Japanese Second Year I
  • JAPN 2020 – Japanese Second Year II
  • JAPN 3000 – Gateway to Upper-Division Japanese
  • JAPN 3150 – TADOKU: Extensive Reading in Japanese
  • JAPN 4200 – Introduction to Japanese Linguistics
  • JAPN 4920 – Japanese Language Tutoring

Awards

  • Faculty Service Award 2025
    Department of World Languages & Cultures, Utah State University, USA
  • Excellence in Teaching Award 2023
    School of Languages and Cultures, Purdue University, USA
  • Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Award 2022
    School of Languages and Cultures, Purdue University, USA
  • Excellence in Teaching Award 2021
    School of Languages and Cultures, Purdue University, USA
  • 学生最喜爱的老师 [Students’ Favorite Teacher Award] 2016
    Yangtze University, China