Challenges and Successes of the Study Group and the Role of Self-Access Learning Center

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Challenges and Successes of
the Study Group and
the Role of Self-Access
Learning Center
Tomoya Shirakawa
Kanda University of International Studies
JASAL 2018 x SUTFL 5 conference

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Presentation
Outline
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What is Study Group?
Successes
Challenges
Suggestions

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Kanda University of International Studies
(KUIS)
z

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Self-
Access
Leaning
Centre
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Self-
Access
Leaning
Centre

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Self-
Access
Leaning
Centre

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Learning communities in the SALC
Kuis8.com

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The Study Group

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What is ”Study Group”?
 Group of 1st ~ 2nd year students
 Study (mainly) on TOEFL ITP (grammar section)
 Official group in the SALC
 Language: Japanese
 Monday & Wednesday 5th period and after

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How they study?
Industrial management is the aspect of business management
that was most prominent in the United States for the past 90 years.
A B C
D

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How they study?
Industrial management is the aspect of business management
that was most prominent in the United States for the past 90 years.
A B C
D
TOEFL ITP
→ has been

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Research Methodology
 Qualitative approach
 12 participants
(5 sophomore and 7 freshman students)
 Semi-structured interview

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Successes

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 To improve my TOEFL score
 I want to study with motivated people
 To meet my friends
 I don’t study at home, so I need to study while
I’m in school.
 I can study without feeling any pressure
(because there are only students)
Why do you study in the group?

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 There are motivated people
 Fun!!
 I don’t have to go every time
 I can hear other students’ ideas
What do you like about the Study Group?

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Successes
 Motivation from peers
 Keep the group informal so that members can
study without feeling pressure
 No obligation to participation
 No teacher

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Challenges

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 Not finishing all the questions → solution1
 Sometimes just a few people
 I need to listen to senpai’s explanations even
when I understand → solution2
 I think it’s difficult to join without being invited
 Making copies every time is tiring (leader)
What don’t you like about the Study Group?

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Solutions (their example in practice)
Solution 1
 Not finishing all the questions
 Avoid spending long time trying to
understand super difficult questions
 Their choice

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Solutions (their example in practice)
Solution 2
 “I need to listen to senpai’s explanations even
when I understand.”
 The leader make members who understand explain
 Never know you understand or not unless you explain

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Challenges
 Lack of capable students (currently only 1)
 Too informal
 No newcomer
 TOEFL only

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Suggestions
 Rooms or spaces
 materials
 Free to use for potential learning community
 Privilege for existing community
 Advertising (only if the group want new comers)

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Do you want any teacher?

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Do you want any teacher?
 No

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Do you want any teacher?
 No
 → teacher = formal
 They study informally and therefore autonomously

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Suggestions
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 SALC should be KUROKO to allow
informality for such communities
 Autonomy!
 Kuroko is a stagehand in kabuki who
assists the actors in their performances

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Thank you for listening!
ありがとうございました！
Any Questions?
Tomoya Shirakawa
tomoya.s.1176@gmail.com