Language Support Programs for International Graduate Students

Fall Semester 2010

Ritsumeikan University is offering language support programs for International Graduate Students. One of the programs is the Japanese Conversation Program which will help you to learn basic Japanese conversation and brush up your Japanese speaking skills. The other program is the English Writing Support Program which will improve your English writing skills through consultation with a native English instructor on your thesis or essay.

Click here for the program details by pdf.

◆Japanese Coversation Program

The purpose of this program is to improve your Japanese speaking skills. There are two levels in this program.

A Japanese instructor and Ritsumeikan student volunteers will help your learning in both classes.

Classes will be divided into two levels.

Intro Class	This class is for those who have never studied Japanese in the past or have a little knowledge of Japanese. The goal of this class is to acquire the basic Japanese speaking skills to stay in Japan. You will have a lot of daily conversation practice to get to know more of the Japanese language. This class is a good start to study Japanese.
Beginner Class	This class is for those who have studied Japanese before or have a basic knowledge of Japanese. The goal of this class is to be able to communicate with the Japanese instructor and Ritsumeikan student volunteers smoothly. There will be a lot of conversation practice with the instructor and students volunteers. You will also learn basic Japanese writing in this class.

Campus	Kinugasa Campus(KIC)	Biwako Kusatsu Campus(BKC)
Date	September 27, 2010 – December 20, 2010 Every Monday (and Tuesdays in December ) 9/27, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, 11/22, 11/29, 12/6, 12/7(Tue), 12/13, 12/14(Tue) ,12/20	September 29, 2010 – December 22, 2010 Every Wednesday (and Fridays in December ) 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/1, 12/8, 12/10(Fri), 12/15, 12/17(Fri), 12/22
Time	Intro Class: Period 4 (14:40-16:10) Beginner Class: Period 5 (16:20-17:50)	Intro Class: Period 5 (16:20-17:50) Beginner Class: Period 6 (18:00-19:30)
Place	9/27-12/13, 12/20 YOYOKAN 969 12/14 YOYOKAN 978	Presentation Room at Central Ark (3rd Floor)
How to apply	* Please download (1) *Application Form* and (2) *Placement Test* and submit it to the Office of Graduate Studies (s-igs@st.ritsumei.ac.jp) * Application Deadline : One day before your preferred day of class

---NOTE---

* All applicants are required to submit the Placement Test for registration. However, if you cannot answer

any questions on the Placement Test, please mention it on your Application Form.

* You may choose your class according to your Japanese proficiency. If you can answer more than 50% of the questions on the Placement Test, we recommend joining the Beginner class. If the class is too easy or difficult, you may change your class after attending the first lesson.

◆English Writing Support Program

The purpose of this program is to improve your English writing skills. The English instructor will check your thesis or essay and give feedback on your writing. You will have a 45 minute private lesson with the instructor to find areas for improvement in your writing. The instructor can give you advice for improving your academic papers. If you are planning to publish your thesis or submit your essay but do not have confidence in your writing, this is your chance to improve your writing skills. Bring your thesis or essay, and improve your academic papers!

*Improving your writing skills in English

This program is not a proof reading service. You are required to attend the private lesson after you submit your papers. Your papers will be returned from the instructor in the private lesson with his/her feedback. The English instructor will check grammar and composition of your papers and give you advice for improving your writing skills. The instructor will be able to check approx. 15 pages in 45min, so please describe clearly on the application form which part in your papers you would like to be checked the most.

*Taking the private lesson at least once

The private lesson will be more effective for improving your writing if you join the lesson more than one time. Revise the papers based on the first advice and make an improvement. Then submit the papers again to get more advice!

*Schedule of private lessons

Date	October 12, 2010 – January 11, 2011 (Every Tuesday) 10/12, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16, 11/23, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 1/11 *Private lessons will be held on either Kinugasa Campus or Biwako Kusatsu Campus depending on the number of request.
Time	Session 1: 16:20 - 17:05 Session 3: 18:00 – 18:45 Session 2: 17:05 – 17:50 Session 4: 18:45 – 19:30
Place	Kinugasa Campus(KIC) or Biwako Kusatsu Campus(BKC) Classroom will be announced by email after submission of your application.
How to Apply	* Please download (1) *Application Form* and submit it with (2) your thesis or essay to the Office of Graduate Studies (s-igs@st.ritsumei.ac.jp) * Application Deadline : One week before your preferred day of private lesson

*This English Writing Support Program is provided by Ritsumeikan University in cooperation with SEICO Co., Ltd.

---NOTE---

:* Please do not submit more than 15 pages per one private lesson. The instructor may not be able to check all your papers if it exceeds 15 pages.

* If you cannot submit your essay or thesis by the deadline, your reservation will be cancelled.

* You need to apply for each lesson if you would like to have more than one lesson. Your next application will be accepted after submission of essay/thesis for your previous lesson.

* If there is opening on the day of scheduled private lessons, it is still possible to have a lesson without advanced reservation. Please call SEICO (072-237-5804) between 9:00am and 2:00pm to check for openings on that day.

* Please double space your text and format the papers in A4 or letter size.

* The instructor will not be able to instruct or give professional advice on your research.

* Please inform your professor beforehand that you are taking this program.

If you have any questions about the programs, please feel free to contact to us!!

Office of Graduate Studies, Ritsumeikan University

s-igs@st.ritsumei.ac.jp

Shinji MAEDA(Mr.)/Junko KAMIMURA(Ms.)