This page is a course guide and teaching supplement for my students at Seijo University, Tokyo, Japan. It is not a part of the official website of the university, as it contains information related only to my classes.

I will communicate with students through this website, the university's WebClass system, and email. 

The important things that students need to do is make an effort to keep in contact with the teacher, stay informed about assignments, and finish the assignments quickly.

You have to check four things regularly:

1. This website

2. WebClass

3. Your university email account (studentnumber@u.seijo.ac.jp). Set up your university email account and check it every day.

It is highly recommended that you use a computer to follow this course and complete homework assignments. When you are unable to use a computer, it will be possible to follow the course by using a smartphone, but a computer and typing skills are required.

Course Description

This course is the second part of a two-semester course. The purpose of both parts is to offer students opportunities to practice presenting their ideas and interacting with English-speaking people both in oral and written forms in various academic settings. The two parts of the course ([a] and [b]) are essentially the same, differing primarily in Course Contents. In this first part of the course, students will practice listening and note-taking using short lectures on academic topics or other materials (documentaries, interviews, news reports) as source material. This activity aims to prepare students for study in an English-speaking college or university environment. Through these exercises students should deepen their knowledge of the vocabulary and grammar necessary in academic settings. This practice will also help students make progress in the Listening and Speaking sections of TOEFL.

Course Goals 

Students can understand short and clearly structured lectures on academic topics and take good notes on them.

Students can get involved in interactions in academic settings.

Students can understand and use the basic vocabulary and grammar frequently used in academic settings.

Teaching Methods

This course is categorized as a practical. Lessons will concentrate on comprehension of educational media (spoken, written, audio-visual), note-taking, creation of oral and written summaries and presentations (slideshows and other audio-visual materials), and oral and written analysis and commentary related to the materials studied. Students will develop the ability to comprehend short interviews and lectures, take notes on them, make written and oral summaries of them, and finally comment on them. Basic grammar and language skills will be reviewed as necessary. Authentic materials such as speeches and films will also be studied, with material selected according to the abilities of the students. Coursework assignments will be graded, and feedback will be provided collectively or individually. Feedback will be given through quiz and test results and comments from the teacher during classes.

Course Schedule, First Semester, Autumn 2023

Refer to the syllabus published by the university.

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

At least one hour of preparation and review will be necessary before each class.

Assessment Criteria and Methods

Reports: 30%

Final presentation: 40%

Final test: 30%

Textbook

No textbook required. 

Expectations for Enrolled Students

Students will have homework each week and frequent quizzes based on the videos studied in class. Listening skill is the most important skill to develop for first year students, so students will be encouraged and guided to find listening material for their own independent study. Each month students will have to write a short report on a resource of their own choosing (for example, a song, a video, a news article, a book, an English lesson).

Method to Contact the Teacher

riches[at]seijo.ac.jp or WebClass
Building 3, room 3813
Monday 15:00-16:00 and Friday 10:40-11:40.