Innovation Studies [a] 2024

Contents

The course description is similar to that of the first semester of this course, but there are new materials to study. The targeted level of instruction is upper intermediate as described in level B2 of the guidelines of CEFR (Common European Framework for Languages). The course covers some of the subject areas taught in Japanese in other courses offered in the Faculty of Social Innovation (sociology, psychology, economics, finance, innovation studies etc.). This course will give students the opportunity to learn the concepts and the English terminology related to their fields of study, and to gain an international perspective on these fields of study.

Students will be introduced to articles, lectures and interviews from various fields of study, and they will learn basic concepts and English terminology related to them. The course will also naturally share many of the objectives of previous English courses that focus on the acquisition of general English language skills. Students are expected to work at a higher level than in the first semester (the [a] section of the course) in terms of their ability to analyze and discuss the materials studied, but new students are welcome to join and work at a level suited to their abilities.

Teaching Methods            　

This course is a practical. The language of instruction and communication among students will be English. In the first semester, the lessons are based on authentic materials such as magazine articles, TED talks, and interviews broadcast in various media. The second semester will follow a similar plan but with different topics and materials, and there will be an expectation that students will be more capable of using authentic materials in their studies. The materials will introduce various fields of study with texts and subtitles that support the audio-visual material. Students will be expected to comprehend the texts and learn the terminology of various fields of study. They will practice taking notes and making written and oral summaries of the materials studied. Finally, they will discuss and critically review what they have studied. For a final assignment, students will present a source of their own choosing on one of the topics studied during the semester.

Schedule and Plan - Refer to the syllabus published by the university

One or two lessons may be taught as on-demand lessons. Students will be informed of these lessons two weeks in advance.

The teacher will check all written assignments and offer suggestions for improving language use and content. The group is usually small, so there are many opportunities for the teacher to given spoken feedback during the lessons.

Independent study outside of Course Hours (Assignments, Preparation and Review etc.)   　

The study materials are more difficult than what students have encountered in first and second year courses, so they should expect to spend more time reviewing lessons and preparing for lessons. The content of the lessons may be revised if students find it to be too difficult.

Assessment Criteria and Methods     　

Review and preparation for classes: 30％, Participation: 30％, Final Presentation: 40％

Textbook     　

No textbook is required for this course.

Suggested Readings and Supplementary Materials        　

The study materials are more difficult than what students have encountered in first and second year courses, so they should expect to spend more time reviewing and preparing for lessons. The content of the lessons may be revised if students find it to be too difficult.

Study materials will be available on the Internet. For some of the materials, it will not be practical to use only a small device such as a smartphone. Students should use a computer to review the materials outside of class time.

Expectations for Enrolled Students 

Because this is an elective course, it is expected that students will be highly motivated and capable of working at a higher level than the first and second year courses. Students should be prepared to spend extra time preparing for lessons, and they should actively look for supplementary information on the topics covered in class. If the chosen materials appear to be too difficult for the students who enroll, the teacher will adjust the plan described above to suit the students' abilities. Do not hesitate to join the class just because it seems to be too challenging.

Method to Contact the Lecturer         　

riches[at]seijo.ac.jp
Room 3813
Office hours: Monday 15:00-16:00, Friday 10:40-11:40
It is preferable to send an email to the teacher before visiting during office hours.