Integrated English Courses
1.総合英語(PB) ／ Integrated English (Project-based English)
In this subject, students work individually or in groups on research projects focused on each of their hobbies and interests, present their findings, and discuss them with others. Teachers help students to develop their projects and publish their findings and also facilitate discussions among students. Students perform the tasks throughout all stages of their projects in English, from research theme setting and gathering, organization, and analysis of information to communication of research findings via reports, presentations, and other means, Q&A sessions, and discussions. This is expected to help them to acquire the academic skills required of university students, the ability to conduct research projects, and presentation skills (skills for giving PowerPoint presentations and poster presentations effectively), as well as integrated English proficiency.
2. 総合英語(CB) ／ Integrated English (Content-based English)
In this subject, students learn about the contents of academic fields selected by each teacher (humanities, social sciences, natural sciences) through activities whereby they share their ideas in English, such as discussions, debates, and presentations, in addition to lectures in English by the teachers. This subject is taught (almost) entirely in English, and students are required to speak English when asking questions and discussing, although teachers may occasionally provide explanations in Japanese about vocabulary and expressions unique to a chosen academic field and provide linguistic support for logical composition and so forth. Students are expected not only to broaden their knowledge of the respective subjects, but also to develop a practical command of English that will allow them to understand and discuss such knowledge in English in an academic context.
3. 総合英語(LA&S) ／ Integrated English (Liberal Arts & Sciences)
In this subject, students will learn to understand a variety of topics and discourses concerning social issues, linguistic culture, art, and science through reading and listening. They will also acquire the ability to assert their own ideas and discuss them with others. Students are expected to acquire the ability to “bridge different cultures” (adapt to foreign cultures and engage in cross-cultural communication), which will allow them to gain broad knowledge across various academic fields, including the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, and to understand others’ opinions and communicate their own—an essential skill in our rapidly globalizing world—rather than simply holding fast to the perspectives that they have become familiar with.
4. 総合英語(PW) ／ Integrated English (Performance Workshop)
This subject is aimed specifically at developing students’ competency in producing English output (speaking or writing). Classes are taught in English with a focus on development of linguistic competency. In the class on speaking, students will engage in pair or group speaking tasks, discussions, debates, and presentations until they become able to understand and speak about sophisticated and complicated topics, which range from everyday matters that they may encounter at the university or their places of employment to social issues and topics in the academic fields that they major in. In doing so, students are expected to improve their speaking ability in stages according to their respective levels. In the class on writing, students are expected to develop the ability to write logical and persuasive essays in English as they learn about the linguistic aspects of the art of writing.
5.総合的英語(AS) ／ Integrated English (Academic Skills)
In this subject, students are expected to participate in lectures and seminars to develop the fundamental academic skills necessary to use English when engaging in academic activities selected by their teachers. Students are expected to acquire skills that will serve as a foundation for their school work while learning about the contents selected for each class, including note-taking skills for lectures, skimming/scanning skills for efficient information gathering, critical reading/thinking for determining the authenticity and validity of information, logical thinking and structuring ability for composing academic essays and papers, and methods for citing sources and compiling a bibliography.