First Year Courses

Academic Reading and Writing Course (ARW)

The most important teaching principle of the ELP is that all classes are connected to a content topic. This means that all classes in the ARW course deal with the same topics or themes. A content topic usually lasts 3 or 4 weeks. Some of the ELP topics include "Educational Values," "Issues of Race," and "Bioethics."

The Academic Reading and Writing course includes the following classes:

  • Narrative Presentation (NP)
  • Academic Reading and Writing (ARW)
  • Tutorials (Tut)
  • Program-Wide Test (Test)

NP: NP is a lecture hall class where an ELP teacher speaks to all sections in a Program at once. The instructor presents additional information on the content topic. This class is held once a week and gives you practice listening to academic lectures and helps develop your listening and note-taking skills.

To view a sample lecture, click here.

ARW: This is a section-level class. The ARW classes meet three times a week and is taught by non-Japanese teachers. The class focuses on developing critical thinking and academic reading and writing skills.

Tut: A tutorial class is a special time when you can to talk individually with your ARW teacher about problems or questions you have about your writing assignments. This class is often arranged by appointment.

Test: At the end of each content topic, a test is given to all the students at the same time. The test could be a multiple choice test, a short answer test, or an essay test.

Reading and Content Analysis Course (RCA)

This course is similar to the ARW course but is taught by a Japanese instructor. The following classes are included in this component:

  • Narrative Presentation (NP)
  • Reading and Content Analysis (RCA)
  • Tutorial (Tut)
  • Program-Wide Test (Test)

RCA: RCA is a section-level class. The class consists of a reading part and a writing part. The reading part develops the skill of reading content for accuracy. The writing part develops your understanding of English sentences, paragraphs, and academic texts.

Tut: Tutorial periods are scheduled to give you time to talk individually with your RCA teacher about problems or questions you have about your writing.

Test: At the end of each topic, a test is given.

Communicative Strategies (Programs A and B)

Communicative Strategies classes help you learn the English language skills that you need to be successful in ARW and RCA classes. The classes meet once a week. The classes also help prepare you to take other classes taught in English at ICU.

Spring term
Every student has to take the following classes:

  • Academic Learning Strategies (ALS)
  • Academic Listening and Note-taking (ALN)
  • Academic Speaking 1 (ASP 1)
  • Academic Speaking 2 (ASP 2)
  • Program-Wide Test (Test)

ALS: ALS class introduces the essential learning skills and academic study habits needed for university study.

ALN: ALN class helps you develop your listening and note- taking skills. You will practice note-taking techniques and learn how academic lectures are organized.

ASP: ASP classes help you become more fluent in spoken English.

Test: Communicative Strategies tests are usually given twice in the term.

Fall and Winter terms
You may choose two classes out of the first five listed below. These classes meet once a week.

  • Listening Skills and Strategies (LSS)
  • Advanced Academic Speaking (AASP)
  • Pronunciation (PR)
  • Communication through Multimedia (CM)ΚΚΚ
  • Vocabulary Acquisition (VA)
  • Program-Wide Test (Test)

LSS: In the LSS class you listen to different types of speeches such as academic lectures, reports, and news broadcasts. You practice note-taking, learn to hear English sounds, and learn effective ways of self-study.

AASP: The purpose of this class is to learn advanced presentation and discussion skills. Discussions are more complex than in Spring term. You will do a group project, participate in a formal debate, and learn how to give effective short speeches.

PR: PR class helps you improve your pronunciation and intonation.

CM: This class gives you the chance to use various skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing, synthesizing, organizing, and summarizing) through the use of multimedia.

VA: The purpose of this class is to introduce, practice, test and review academic English vocabulary.

Test: The Communicative Strategies tests are usually given once or twice per term.

International Christian University : English Language Program