Academic Skills Workshop “Learn from mistakes!” (June 3, 2025)

First-year students may have managed to get through spring term registration, but as the term comes to an end, we, the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), thought that they must be wondering, “How do I figure out what classes to take in the autumn and winter?” and “How did my senpai students (seniors) choose their classes?” To address these concerns and questions, we held the Academic Skills Workshop, cooperating with ICU Brothers and Sisters (IBS) and Quantitative Skills Support (Q-Support).

At the beginning of the event, we reviewed the basics of first-year course planning, recommending that they focus on ELA/JLP in their first year. We also guided the students through the pre-registration procedures for the upcoming term.

Next, five IBS and two Q-support seniors shared their experiences, including what they were glad they did in their first year and wished they had done differently. Questions collected in advance from participants included, "When should I start taking English-taught courses?” and “How do seniors manage their studies, club activities, and part-time jobs?” The talk also covered other topics such as ELA, Natural Science courses, and student life in general.

According to participants' post-event questionnaires*, the average satisfaction score was a very high 4.67 out of 5.00, and the average confidence and sense of security in their academic studies and student life in general increased from 3.13 to 4.13 before and after the workshop. Some participants commented that they felt relieved that they could go at their own pace, and that they felt more confident by getting their day-to-day questions and concerns answered by seniors in person, which made us think that we had achieved our goal of eliminating anxiety about studying among first-year students.
*15 out of 19 participants responded.

Academic Skills Workshop “Learn from mistakes!”
- Honest reviews and experiences x tips for course planning -
Date: Tuesday, June 3, 14:00-15:00 (Convocation Hour)
Place: T-kan Classroom
Target Audience: First-year students
Number of Participants: 19
Language: Japanese (English is acceptable for questions and answers.)