Chisato Danjo

Dr Chisato Danjo is a Senior Lecturer in Japanese and Linguistics and serves as Programme Lead for Japanese at York St John University's School of Education, Language and Psychology. She holds a PhD from Northumbria University, an MA from Birmingham University, and a BEd from Osaka Kyoiku University in Japan. As a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, she demonstrates exceptional commitment to teaching excellence.

Her educational background bridges Japanese and British academic traditions, providing her with a unique perspective on language education and multilingualism. Dr Danjo's research interests span sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, and educational linguistics, with particular focus on multilingualism, family language planning and maintenance, and language issues relating to culture and identity. She is a leading voice in applying plurilithic concepts of language to Japanese language education, challenging traditional monolithic approaches.

Dr Danjo's scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with cutting-edge issues in language education, particularly the reconceptualization of language as plurilithic rather than monolithic. Her recent work (2023-2025) focuses on practical applications of plurilithic approaches in Japanese language classrooms, family language policy, and multilingual child development. Her research bridges theoretical linguistics with practical classroom applications, making significant contributions to both academic discourse and teaching practice.

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Editorial member of BATJ Journal
• Convener of 'Diversity of Japanese Language' Special Interest Group at BATJ
• Member of QAA (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education) since 2022

As Programme Lead for Japanese, Dr Danjo oversees undergraduate students on Japanese programmes while teaching Japanese language modules across multiple levels and linguistics courses including Intercultural Communication and Analysing Media Discourse. She is actively involved in research projects examining motivations and outcomes of study abroad programs for students learning Japanese and Korean. Her professional activities include membership in the Centre for Language and Social Justice Research, British Association for Applied Linguistics, and Widening Participation Languages Network, reflecting her commitment to language education equity and social justice.