Spring Information 2013
Table of Contents
- Message from TIUA Faculty
- Spring Semester Dates
- ASP English Language Studies Course Descriptions
- ASP Course Registration Pattern
TIUA Spring Course Schedule MWF 2013 (PDF)
TIUA Spring Course Schedule TTh 2013 (PDF)
TIUA strongly encourages the students’ use of English language during all classes, for all student proficiency levels, throughout the school year. Not using enough English in class detracts from your own progress in English learning, as well as that of your classmates. We expect you to do your best/make a strong effort to use English in your classes. Practicing English as much as possible in class will enrich your experience both in and out of class during your stay in the USA. - The Faculty of TIUA
Tokyo International University of America
Mission: TIUA, established in 1989 in Salem, Oregon, USA as a branch of Tokyo International University (TIU), Kawagoe, Japan, provides an educational environment that enables students to pursue academic goals, develop intercultural awareness and explore personal values and interests. Co-curricular programs in Residence Life and Student Activities are designed to offer students opportunities to learn through experience about other people and cultures. As a result, students gain and share insights about their own traditions and values. (Full Mission Statement available upon request)
2013 Spring Semester Dates
The All-Student Meetings during Spring semester are every Monday, 3:30pm, in the TIUA Auditorium. Attendance is required.
| Tuesday, February 12 | Spring Semester slasses begin (check your course schedule) |
| Activities Fair - University Center, 2nd floor, 4:00-5:30PM, Cat Cavern | |
| Friday, February 15 | WU Black Tie |
| Sunday, March 10 | Daylight Savings Time begins (more information later) |
| Monday, March 11 | Health Education - TIUA Auditorium Male students - 3:30-4:10PM Female students - 4:10-5:00PM Followed by All-Student Meeting |
| Monday, March 18 | Summer Session and Fall Housing Selection information (TIUA Auditorium) Kaneko Commons Housing Information - after All-Student Meeting |
| March 25-29 | Spring Break (no classes) TIUA offices are open |
| Monday , April 1 | Drawing for Summer Semester Course Registration (more information later) |
| Tuesday, April 9 | TOEFL Test - 9:45AM - Bring your completed Admission Form |
| April 10-16 |
Students staying in their current residence sign up for space (in-house room selection) |
| Thursday, April 18 |
Summer Preview - Summer Semester Elective and English VI courses 3:45-5:00PM – Professors will explain about their courses (more information later) Lottery for Fall housing, all campus (more information later) |
| Wednesday, April 24 | Summer Semester Course Request Form Due to your Academic Advisor by 4:30PM |
| Thursday, April 25 | Summer Semester Course Registration |
| Monday, April 29 | Summer roommate information - Brief summer housing information |
| Friday, May 3 | Summer Kaneko roommates due - Due to Emma |
| Monday, May 6 | Summer housing information |
| Wednesday, May 8 | Last day of Spring Semester |
| Saturday, May 11 | ASP students move to Kaneko Every student must be on campus from 1:30-10:00PM 7:00PM - Check in 9:00PM - Mandatory floor meeting |
| Wednesday, May 22 | ASP students Fall Roommate waiting list lottery Only for students who do not have a roommate for Fall semester |
TIUA ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDIES
Course Descriptions
English I: Listening (Spring)
Students develop listening comprehension skills useful in university contexts. Intensive listening practice exposes students to everyday and academic language used in a variety of topics and situations. Class guests, sample university lectures, use of audio and videotapes, and observations and interviews outside the classroom support the development of listening comprehension and academic note-taking skills.
English II: Speaking (Spring)
Students develop speaking skills appropriate in university contexts. Examples of such skills are: holding extended conversations, asking and answering questions in class, giving oral summaries, giving presentations and speeches, participating in discussions and debates, and having conferences with professors. The course includes activities and assignments outside of the classroom that enable students to further practice what they have learned in class.
English III: Academic Writing (Spring)
English IV: Academic Reading & Discussion (Spring)
Using an integrated workshop approach, with readings centered around themes from American culture and society, students increase reading comprehension and speed in English and build skills in drawing conclusions, making inferences, using context clues, separating fact from opinion and analyzing articles. They also develop general academic vocabulary as well as vocabulary related to specific subject areas (economics, sociology/anthropology, political science, etc.). In addition to their main text, students read material from subject area textbooks and read and discuss current events articles in newspapers and magazines.
Writing assignments are based on readings and discussions, focusing on summarization, explanation, analysis, and argumentation. In addition, students maintain a personal “dialogue” journal to record and share informal reactions to what they read and experience. In this journal, the professor responds to what the student writes in order to establish a written conversation about topics of interest to the student.
Students further develop reading, writing, vocabulary, and grammar skills, as well as computer skills, through regular use of the computer lab facilities.
English V: Grammar (Spring)
This course is designed for college students at the beginning to intermediate levels of English to develop basic accuracy and fundamental competence in grammar in preparation for academic study. Depending on the section, the course introduces the form, meaning, and usage of grammatical elements such as parts of speech and verb tenses needed to form and understand simple and compound sentences in statement, interrogative, and negative form. It presents basic grammar structures in situational and cultural contexts and provides extensive and varied opportunities to practice targeted structures communicatively in pair and group activities. For other sections, the course reviews and builds on basic grammar structures and introduces the form, meaning, and usage of complex sentences and the passive voice. It presents fundamental grammar structures in situational and cultural contexts and provides extensive and varied opportunities to practice targeted structures communicatively in pair and group activities. The course helps students develop basic grammatical skills in all four skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
English VI: Language and Culture (Summer)
English VI is a summer semester course. If you take one TIUA elective and one Applied English Course, you are required to also take one English VI course. This course is designed to increase the student’s oral fluency through the study and discussion of high-interest topics (business issues, social trends, cultural issues, and current events). Students use all skills in this course but the emphasis is on further development of listening and speaking skills. Students have opportunities to participate in debates, to lead and participate in discussions, to deliver speeches, and to give presentations of their individual or group work. Various topics or themes are offered each year.
Applied English (Summer and Fall)
The main focus of Applied English is the development of English language skills. The course is closely coordinated with a specific ASP elective course. For example: American Society, Human Resource Management, American Politics. Students will use all skills in this course: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Discussions, presentations, listening activities, and reading/writing assignments will focus on the topics of the ASP elective course—but the purpose of the activities is to help the student develop greater oral and written fluency in English. It will also help students to better understand the subject matter being taught in the ASP elective course.
English VII (Fall)
This advanced English course centers around one or several themes of interest to the students. Advanced reading and discussion, essay writing, speeches and debates allow students to further develop their English language skills. Some themes may be: Race and Justice in America, Public Speaking, Oral Fluency and Pronunciation, American Culture in Literature, Native Cultures of North America. Specific themes vary each year.
College Life Orientation (Spring and Fall)
College Life Orientation was created to facilitate student adjustment to life at TIUA, WU and in the Salem Community. College Life Orientation actually begins during the Pre-departure Orientation Program by helping students form a more realistic understanding of American college life and by setting goals for their study abroad experience.
In spring semester, College Life Orientation guides students in learning “how to” skills and information needed to function in an American university setting. Spring Semester classes encourage student exploration of important cultural differences that may lead to difficulties and misunderstandings. The goal is to help students adjust as smoothly and as quickly as possible in all aspects of their university life and to give students the opportunity to develop the adjustment skills and knowledge they need to have comfortable and successful lives while living and studying in the United States. Spring semester College Life Orientation allows students an opportunity to use all of the language skills they are learning in their language courses.
By fall semester, College Life Orientation students have acquired a deeper understanding of themselves and how to succeed in an American university setting. Therefore, the focus of College Life Orientation changes and the goals are threefold: (1) guide students in exploring issues of American society more deeply; (2) help students focus on self-reflection so they can see what they have gained from their experiences in the United States; and (3) guide students to develop the adjustment skills and knowledge they will need to reenter Japanese university life.