Natsuko TATSUTA　Associate Professor

Fields	English Education, Cognitive Psychology
Research Map	https://researchmap.jp/NatsukoTatsuta

I began studying English as a junior high school student, which led me to wonder why classroom instruction alone was not enough to achieve proficiency. This question inspired me to study English education at Fukushima University, and second language processing in graduate school. I then pursued further study at Middle Tennessee State University, a sister institution of Fukushima University, where I earned a Master of Arts in Psychology. My interest in the relationship between language and the mind deepened, and at Tokyo Metropolitan University I conducted EEG research on second language processing, earning a Ph.D. in Linguistics. Through this research, I demonstrated that even English learners who begin studying English in junior high school can develop brain processing patterns similar to those of native speakers. After teaching and research at Hirosaki University, I joined the Institute for Excellence in Higher Education at Tohoku University in September 2025. In my classes, I look forward to exploring with students how we can learn English more effectively and enjoyably.