Report: Language Program for Faculty (LPF)

The Language Program for Faculty (LPF), CTL's first initiative, was implemented in January and February 2025.

The Language Program for Faculty, initiated by the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at ICU, was an innovative project designed to connect ICU students’ educational development with faculty’s academic activities. This program provided Japanese language classes tailored specifically for teaching staff whose native language was not Japanese. It offered an excellent opportunity to enhance language skills for teaching, student advising, and research.

The program was open to both newly arrived and experienced faculty members, as well as their families, fostering inclusivity and a supportive learning environment. It was held on Fridays during January and February 2025, with sessions taking place during the 5th and 6th periods (15:10–17:40) across five meetings. Lessons were carefully customized based on participant feedback collected through a Needs Survey.

One of the most distinctive aspects of the program was its integration of ICU students enrolled in the Japanese Language Teacher Training Program. By reversing traditional roles, students gained hands-on teaching experience while guiding faculty members—a unique learning opportunity for both groups.

Each session was attended by about 10 faculty members and 5 student instructors, and every session was lively. The participating faculty members highly appreciated the enthusiasm of the Student Instructors (SIs), the teaching methods, the allocation of activity time, and the ratio of SIs to participants. Additionally, the program provided an opportunity for faculty members to deepen their connections with one another through group interactions. Positive feedback was also received from the SIs, who found the experience valuable for their growth, as they engaged in tasks such as lesson plan creation, teaching implementation, and interacting with other SIs and faculty members.

This initiative highlighted ICU’s commitment to fostering its vibrant and collaborative community.