English Language Program

Academic English 1 is a pre-intermediate level course designed to provide students with the basic skills needed for academic English. In particular, the course focuses on helping students read and listen to key information from short academic texts. The course also focuses on discussing the information read and heard, and including the information into short pieces of writing. The overall goal is to guide students through the process of gathering key information and synthesizing that information into a short piece of academic writing. The course emphasizes accurate vocabulary choices, basic sentence structure and coherence within paragraphs. The course will be useful for students who need to rehearse or refresh their basic academic English skills necessary for assignments and exams in IUJ. Please note that only students who are required to take this course may join this course. If you are required to take this course in Fall, you will also be required to take Academic English 2 in Winter.

Academic English 2 is an intermediate level course designed to provide students with the skills needed for writing short essays or reports in an academic style. The course focuses on helping students read key information from academic texts, and summarize and synthesize the information into an essay. The course provides guidance on how to organize the essay coherently, including how to write an introduction section, body paragraphs, and a conclusion section. The course also emphasizes the accurate use of compare and contrast language found frequently in academic writing when analyzing concepts and building arguments. By the end of the course, students will have a sound grasp of how to organize a coherent essay which is necessary for other writing assignments in IUJ. Please note that only students who are required to take this course may join this course in Fall. If you are required to take Academic English 1 in Fall, you will be required to take this course in Winter.

In Academic English Literacy (AEL), students will develop the skills they will need to succeed in academic programs. In particular, we will learn strategies for comprehending academic texts and lectures, how to present arguments to support our ideas, and how to avoid plagiarism. We will also learn how to participate in public speaking, especially debates, and how to write a well-organized, well-supported academic report. Only students who are exempted from Academic English 1 can participate in this course.

English for Research Writing (ERW) is a twice-weekly course designed for second-year students in either GSIR or GSIM who are non-native speakers of English. ERW is especially designed to help second-year students who are (1) new to IUJ and/or (2) in need of further Academic English assistance, and wish to prepare themselves to start writing their graduation Thesis or Research Report. ERW aims to provide students the fundamental knowledge of English writing necessary before starting to write their graduation Thesis or Research Report). This course will primarily be an introduction to academic research paper writing. Review key elements of academic English writing and organizing an academic research paper. Develop self-editing and proofreading skills. Learn how to avoid plagiarism. Develop the skill of summarizing from multiple sources, especially to provide evidence and support for claims that are made in the paper. Review note-taking skills. Respond critically to readings
(One credit; two 90-minute classes per week; two individual tutorial sessions per term.)

The Spring English for Research Writing (ERW) course is designed to help first-year and 1-year students further develop their academic writing skills, especially those students who would like to begin working on or have to complete their thesis/research report during the following summer. In particular, we will learn how to write academic paragraphs, clearly transition between concepts, synthesize ideas, organize a research proposal/introduction, and utilize paraphrasing/summarizing to avoid plagiarism.
(One credit; two 90-minute classes per week; two individual tutorial sessions per term.)

The English for Thesis Writing (ETW) course is designed to help students develop academic writing skills, particularly those that can be directly applied to their IUJ thesis or research report. In particular, we will learn how to write the major parts of a research paper: the introduction, methodology, results, and discussion. This course can only be taken by second-year or 1-year students who are ready to begin writing their IUJ theses/research reports in the Fall term.
(One credit; two 90-minute classes per week; two individual tutorial sessions per term.)

This course is designed for second-year students who are non-native speakers of English. It aims to help students develop writing skills that can be directly applied to their IUJ thesis/research report. All the activities and assignments of the course are linked to this goal. The basic goals of the course are developing an understanding of: an academic writing style emphasizing clarity, accuracy, and logic; basic principles of organization and development in academic writing; structure and organization of research papers; and proper attribution of source material. All writing assignments are linked to students’ thesis writing activities. Students engage in writing one or more chapters of their actual thesis draft (e.g., introduction, literature review, and methodology).
The fall term ETW course is suitable for those students who are not weak in English, have a clear thesis topic, and are prepared to starting writing their thesis draft. The winter term ETW course is a continuation of the English for Research Writing fall term course. Students who take English for Research Writing during the fall term usually enroll in this winter course.
(One credit; two 90-minute classes per week; two individual tutorial sessions per term.)

English for Professional Communication (EPC) focuses on developing students’ professional oral or spoken business English skills. Particular attention will be placed on the development of English capacities in the areas of socializing, interviewing, meeting management, and negotiations, as training in these areas will provide the most benefit to learners in their post-IUJ professional careers in Japan or beyond.

For students who enroll in and/or are interested in taking this course, an online information session will be held in the second module of the Winter term. In this information session, the instructor will review the content and organization of the course, as well as answer any questions or concerns prospective students may have.