6-2. SSW & MCW

This course aims to equip first-year students with academic skills and the skills and mindsets to study independently, autonomously, and cooperatively to be successful in various academic and social experiences at university.

In the first half of the semester, students learn about learning together with others and coordinating studying on their own through readings and discussions. In the second half of the semester, students learn in a practical way how to find academic resources, how to write academically, and the difference between plagiarism and citing. Lastly, students listen to the stories of senior students and graduates invited as guest speakers, and set goals to increase their motivation to study. This class makes extensive use of group learning by dividing students into small groups, with undergraduate TAs acting as facilitators.

Working cooperatively with people from different cultural backgrounds is everyday practice at APU and has become commonplace in today’s globalized society. This course aims to equip first-year students with the basic skills and attitudes for intercultural communication and cooperative learning required in such settings.

This class is based on a combination of lectures provided by faculty members and workshops facilitated by teaching assistants (TAs). In principle, the lectures will be held in large classrooms separated by Japanese and English language bases, and the workshops will be held in small classrooms mixing Japanese and English language bases. In these work shops, students will be further divided into small groups mixing Japanese and English language bases to focus on acquiring skills and attitudes related to intercultural learning and multicultural cooperation. In the second half of the course, students will work on a group project while applying such skills and attitudes, and present their group project during a final presentation event.