The purpose of this second level communication course is to improve students'   

English oral communication skills and help them develop their self-confidence   

in speaking English in front of an audience. In addition, the course aims to    

allow students to share with each other ideas and information on both general   

and specialist academic topics about which they themselves are genuinely        

interested.                                                                     

                                                                                

None. However, students who have previously taken one of this instructor's      

first level communication courses will find in this course a good opportunity   

to further develop the speaking skills they have already acquired.              

In this course, students will take it in turns to give short (approximately 10  

minute) oral presentations in English on matters of their own choosing. The aim 

of the course is to break away from dependence on textbooks or simulated        

communication organized by the teacher and move instead towards genuine         

communication organized by the students themselves. Accordingly, students will  

not be obliged to talk about particular topics but will be free to speak about  

anything that interests them and which they feel will be of interest to their   

classmates. Previous year's topics have included families, pets, club           

activities, part-time jobs, introductions to various parts of Japan, foreign    

travel, personal relationships, favourite books, music and films, famous        

people, important historical events, scientific discoveries and even the best   

way to learn English. One proviso in this second level course is that each      

student must make at least one presentation on a topic related to his or her    

academic specialty. Students will be expected to give either two or three presen

tions, depending on the number of students who take the course.                 

Students must prepare their presentations carefully and be able to give their   

speech using notes, rather than simply reading from a script. On the other      

hand, they will not be expected to memorize their presentations. While each     

student is giving his or her presentation, the other students will take notes,  

either in English or Japanese. After each presentation there will be a          

follow-up question and answer session in English and the teacher will provide   

the presenter with a detailed feedback report on his or her overall             

performance.                                                                    

                                                                                

                                                                                

Students will be assessed according to the form and content of their            

speeches (50%), the quality of their note-taking (20%), attendance rate (10%)   

and degree of active participation in the question and answer sessions. (20%)   

None.                                                                           

                                                                                

                                                                                

None.                                                                           

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

This course is entirely student-centered. Whether or not it is interesting and  

enjoyable for students depends to a great extent on how well students prepare   

for and give their presentations and how enthusiastically they ask questions to 

the speakers.