English Learning Support Room at Dokkyo University: Promoting Learner and Teacher Autonomy
Presenter: Yuka Iijima, Mari Tsujita and Reina Wakabayashi, Dokkyo University, Japan
This presentation introduces the English Learning Support Room (ELSR) at Dokkyo University, Saitama. The ELSR was established by the Interdepartmental English Language Program to serve two functions: (1) providing students with face-to-face advising that help them solve learning problems, make an action plan to achieve their goals, and carry it out, and (2) providing teachers with a common space for accessing teaching resources and sharing information with colleagues. Since its start in the fall 2010, various attempts have been made to build an effective management system for this newly implemented facility to offer quality services, including training advisors, integrating advising with the Program curriculum, and distributing newsletters. The presenters report the ELSR activities and how they are run and managed using the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle, and discuss students’ perceptions of the services and future agenda of the facility based on the student and advisor feedback.
1. English Learning Support Room (ELSR) at Dokkyo University*:
Promoting Learner and Teacher Autonomy
Yuka Iijima, Mari Tsujita, Reina Wakabayashi
Interdepartmental English Language Program, Dokkyo University
PURPOSE TARGET MANAGEMENT
• To provide advising sessions & workshops • Students in 7 departments (German/ • Guidelines booklet
to develop autonomous learners French/Economics/Management Science/ • Advising workshops
• To support teachers through faculty Law/International Legal Studies/Policy • Notebook for sharing
resource space Studies) (approximately 6,300) information among staff
• All instructors of English (full-time & part-time) members
CHARACTERISTICS
• Integration with curriculum TIME
• On-campus facilities • Advising sessions (2 days/week)
• English Learning Roadmap • Faculty resource space (Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm)
Learner Autonomy Support Teacher Autonomy Support
Reservation
• Textbook samples
• Resource books on
TESOL/Applied
Teaching Linguistics
Advisor Pre-advising Materials • Textbook survey
Sharing results
Self-reflection
Advising
Teachers’ Resource Space
Post-advising Teachers’ Teachers’
Advising Communication Workshop
Self-reflection Session
Workshop
Student Feedback Number of Users
Advising Sessions
I now know what Semester Number
It was easy for Fall 2010 93
materials to use for
me to talk one- Spring 2011 146
studying. I was able
on-one. Total 239
to decide my next
learning goals.
Teachers’ Resource Space
Nov. 2010 – Oct. 2011
It was Number of teachers
17
relaxing. I have more (actual number)
Number of books checked out 44
confidence. My
motivation increased.
It’s useful because Workshops
I was able to Type Number
the advisor gives me make a study Full-time instructors 8
feedback on my work plan for the Part-time instructors 42
every week. summer. Total 50
FUTURE AGENDA *Dokkyo University ELSR opened in November 2010 as a part of the initiative “Promoting
EGAP Education Contributing to the Development of the Competences Expected of
• Reconsidering advising schedule College Graduates” EGAP , funded by
MEXT as Program for Promoting University Education and Student Support Theme A:
• Attracting more Junior and Senior students Program for Promoting University Education Reform
• Developing Teachers’ Resource Space A (2009-2011).