Learning in Diversity

For Beginners

Planning

Set Up Your Goal

If you are confused, thinking “there are just too many ICL classes to choose from,” don’t worry. You have come to the right place! All you need to do is stop for a second and think about what you wish to learn and achieve by joining our community. Students in our community have all sorts of ideas when they come to us. Some of them say that they want to make friends with international students. Others wish to communicate in English better. There are also those who wish to study abroad and maintain the English ability they have acquired overseas whilst living in Japan. It is very important that you know what you wish to achieve with the experience and skills you earn with us.

Make Plans Based on Your Goal

When you have a solid goal, it becomes easier to choose classes that are best suited to help you with your aim. Note the theme of the course, language used in class, and the amount of interaction between home and international students in each session, then make plans tailored to achieve your goal in the most effective way. In order to choose the right course, we recommend that you read the syllabuses carefully. Check out our list of unique Intercultural Collaborative Learning classes available for you on this website!

Preparation

Prepare to be Open about Yourself

When you talk to your classmates for the first time or your group is still in the ice-breaking phase, it is extremely important that you are not only open about yourself but also willing to learn about others. This sincere approach will help you establish trust with your classmates.
There are occasions when you stumble across questions about your own country that you do not have the answer for, or, even if you do, you do not know how to phrase it in Japanese (English). It is crucial that you are prepared to talk about yourself and ready to ask questions before the class. For your reference, we have drawn up some tips below to help you enjoy conversations in class.

Working Together as a Group

Make Sure that Everyone Understands You

Are you aware that there are some students for whom Japanese or English is not their first language? Make sure that the way you talk, the speed of your speech, and your diction are all accessible to everyone and try not to use too many difficult words. Just because no one asks you questions does not mean that they have understood you perfectly. You need to ensure that you are all on the same page by pausing the discussion from time to time and asking your team if they are following. It is especially important; that you be the guide for non-native speakers if the language used in the discussions is your first language.

Establish a Safe Conversational Environment for Everyone

When you are in a conversation group, it is vital that you ensure the atmosphere of the group is safe and fair for everyone. Be mindful of the fact that you are all from various backgrounds and learn to welcome the diversity. You should be able to take advantage of these differences, but you also need to make sure that you are treating each other equally. Pay special attention to those who have never lived abroad or studied in an intercultural collaborative setting and guide them in the conversations. You need to be always aware of your surroundings and encourage interaction in the group if necessary.

Learn to Work together as a Team

When you are working together as a team, it is important that you recognize other students’ capabilities and assign them roles that match their skills; so they can contribute successfully to the team. Imagine that you are organizing a presentation. Patching your homework together on a sheet of paper is not what we call “working together.” Only when your ideas merge, can you appreciate the value of diversity.

Failure is the mother of Success

The world of Intercultural Collaborative Learning can be full of surprises. There may be times when you feel uneasy about stepping out of your comfort zone. You may even wish to give up on it altogether. However, it can also be said that you won’t be able to learn anything if you are only scratching the surface for fear of immersing yourself entirely in a multicultural environment. It is normal to have difficulty making yourself understood. Try not to get frustrated if some students do not know about something that you take for granted. If you are having a hard time comprehending one another, recognizing the situation is your first step. Try to confront your confusion and adopt a different approach to communicate even if it only leads to another error. Although we cannot assure you that it is all sunshine and rainbows in the world of Intercultural Collaborative Learning, these errors and confusion will be the sustenance that make you blossom in the end.

Don’t be afraid to speak up!

Be mindful not to leave any comments unanswered in discussions. Anyone would feel vulnerable if there was no response to their statement. This could lower their motivation and lead to inactive interactions. Think of it as a game of catch. Keep up a flow of affirmation and opposition, question and confirmation, to form a smooth stream of conversation. When you are having a discussion in a foreign language, it is very useful if you have memorised some phrases by heart, ready for use. When your classmates text you outside of class, it is important to reply to them as soon as you can, to keep the conversation alive.

Do not Be Ashamed of Your Japanese/English

We know that feeling when you have something to say but do not know how to say it. This happens especially often when you are conversing in a foreign language. It is truly frustrating when people mistake your silence as indifference, even though you would talk if you could. We appreciate how difficult it can be, but try to speak up even if your wording may sound a bit confusing. There is no need for perfection in grammar or pronunciation; you will be understood. If you do not know how to articulate your idea, be honest about it. Your classmates will probably ask you a couple of questions to figure out what you are trying to say.

You Cannot Say Anything Wrong

In an intercultural environment, you could get paranoid about saying things in the wrong way or saying something incorrect. The fear of criticism and confrontation could make it hard for you to express yourself. However, we advise you to be brave and speak your mind anyway. In Intercultural Collaborative Learning, we believe that all ideas are equal in value and the difference of opinions is a positive stimulant that makes Eureka moments possible. There are no right or wrong answers in our class. Moreover, we urge you to be original and different, because we trust that diversity is the key to an active interaction.

Talk “Face to Face”

When your teacher asks you to work with teammates outside of class, do not waste this wonderful opportunity by only texting them. Try and have some online meetings even if it is only half an hour long per week. Face-to-face conversations will help you establish trusting relationships.

Make Realistic & Achievable Goals

Some students are quite ambitious when they join our community, thinking that they can achieve anything by the end of the term. However, most of them feel discouraged once the term begins, because they realize that there is a long list of things to be done and feel quite hopeless when faced with this challenging reality. This despair, however, is common for most learners, and we believe that you can turn it into something positive. If you feel inadequate, instead of giving up, think of it as an opportunity to figure out your next move. Make small, achievable goals as well as monthly and annual ones. Try to come up with an achievable goal such as “I am going to speak up at least twice in the next class” or “I am going to ask international students questions in our next group activity.” If you need help to make your plans, we recommend that you ask your supervisor for some guidance. (If there are TAs or Study Supporters assigned to you, you could ask them too.)

Be Responsible for Your Actions

In any group activity, you should always be conscious of the fact that your actions have consequences. Imagine a situation where one of your group members is so arrogant that s/he dismisses any comments from others. This type of negative behaviour could only lead to inactivity in the group. On the other hand, if one of the students presents a positive attitude in the group, making remarks such as “I like your idea! Can you tell us more about it?”, this positivity will spread to the others quickly. In order to build a respectful relationship with your peers, it is crucial that you have a shared understanding as to what is and what is not acceptable. If your projects require extra hours of work outside of school, you need to make sure that everyone is doing an equal amount of work. Of course, because of the nature of our classes, the time difference and the variance of school term times could affect the efficacy of your work. It helps to maintain motivation if everyone in your team knows their assignment as well as their shared goal and does their share responsibly.

Keep Everyone in the Loop

Whenever you have a discussion in your group, make sure to keep the record available and accessible for your team on a shared drive. This record enables them to work on their coursework more efficiently, and also has the advantage of making the process of your team’s contribution visible. It may also be useful to keep a shared note of ideas, which will stimulate conversations and make you even more productive as a team.

For Advanced Learners

Spread the Positivity!

Language proficiency is not the only key to a successful group discussion. Make sure to smile and nod, signalling to the speaker that you are interested. We appreciate how difficult it can be to communicate through a screen. Try using phrases such as “We are such a good team!”, “We have done so much today!”, “Our meeting is always so much fun!”, “I am listening!”, or “Thank you for doing ~ for me!”. Be mindful of the fact that you are trying to achieve something wonderful together as a team. Do not be shy. Tell each other how you feel. This is the key to building a good team.

Keep a Record of Your Work Together

Having classes online could make you feel like you have little connection with your schoolmates. You could, however, keep a record of your shared moments together by taking screenshots in meetings. It is also fun to come up with a name for your group or post your activities on Facebook.