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
Learner Autonomy Support Teacher Autonomy Support
PURPOSE
• To provide advising sessions & workshops
to develop autonomous learners
• To support teachers through faculty
resource space
CHARACTERISTICS
• Integration with curriculum
• On-campus facilities
• English Learning Roadmap
FUTURE AGENDA
• Reconsidering advising schedule
• Attracting more Junior and Senior students
• Developing Teachers’ Resource Space
Yuka Iijima, Mari Tsujita, Reina Wakabayashi
Interdepartmental English Language Program, Dokkyo University
TARGET
• Students in 7 departments (German/
French/Economics/Management Science/
Law/International Legal Studies/Policy
Studies) (approximately 6,300)
• All instructors of English (full-time & part-time)
TIME
• Advising sessions (2 days/week)
• Faculty resource space (Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm)
MANAGEMENT
• Guidelines booklet
• Advising workshops
• Notebook for sharing
information among staff
members
Student Feedback Number of Users
I now know what
materials to use for
studying. I was able
to decide my next
learning goals.
It’s useful because
the advisor gives me
feedback on my work
every week.
I have more
confidence. My
motivation increased.
I was able to
make a study
plan for the
summer.
It was
relaxing.
It was easy for
me to talk one-
on-one.
*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
College Graduates” EGAP , funded by
MEXT as Program for Promoting University Education and Student Support Theme A:
Program for Promoting University Education Reform
A (2009-2011).
Reservation
Pre-advising
Self-reflection
Advising
Session
Post-advising
Self-reflection
Advisor
Sharing
Teaching
Materials
Teachers’
Workshop
Teachers’
Communication
Advising
Teachers’ Resource Space
• Textbook samples
• Resource books on
TESOL/Applied
Linguistics
• Textbook survey
results
Semester Number
Fall 2010 93
Spring 2011 146
Total 239
Advising Sessions
Nov. 2010 – Oct. 2011
Number of teachers
(actual number)
17
Number of books checked out 44
Type Number
Full-time instructors 8
Part-time instructors 42
Total 50
Teachers’ Resource Space
Workshops
Workshop