Times Of TIU

Writer: Samantha P.
Editor: Natsumi K.

      Have you toured around the new campus yet? The 2023 fall semester has just begun, and everyone is busy moving to the Ikebukuro campus. You might be wondering about the new facilities that the new campus offers, but don’t fret if you’re not sure what they are because this article will explain about the TIU Commons.

TIU Commons comprises two interactive spaces, which are the Learning Commons (3rd floor) and the Global Commons (2nd floor). The Learning Commons is shared by the Japanese Lounge, English Lounge, Academic Advising, PEP, PAW, and Cafe, while the Global Commons is a free space for students to chill out, but it also has PA office hours and an Exchange Student Program for student consultations.

LEARNING COMMONS

The Learning Commons offers two services, such as the English Lounge and the Cafe, which are operated by the Global Teacher Institute (GTI) and the Learning Commons interns. It is similar to the English Plaza at the Kawagoe Campus; they just changed its name to Learning Commons after relocating to the Ikebukuro Campus, as English Plaza still exists on the Kawagoe Campus. Additionally, instead of an English-speaking policy, it is now a bilingual space for English and Japanese speakers. Dushala Deshapriya and Brandon Yongson, the learning common interns, shared their duties, which involved managing the whole area, assisting GTI professors, and engaging in Peer English Practice (PEP) conversations with students.

Compared to the English Lounge, where English is the only medium of language you can speak, students can benefit significantly from having conversations with GTI and PEP to practice their English. You can also make reservations and play games with them. This is recommended for students who are planning to participate in exchange student programs and also for those who are planning to take English language proficiency certificates such as TOEIC, IELTS, and many more.

The space is also shared with Academic Advising, where students can discuss their careers with professors in their field. PAW are peers that can help them with their writing skills, such as by giving advice, doing brainstorming, and fixing the structure of their academic writing. 

THE CAFE

In the Learning Commons Cafe, every student can have one free drink per day. You read it correctly; it’s free. With that, everybody can chill out here and socialize with other people whilst enjoying a refreshing beverage. All the interns and the teachers are very welcoming, and you should visit them when passing by the Learning Commons.

The cafe serves as a bridge between the Japanese Lounge and the English Lounge, where students are allowed to converse in both languages. Moreover, watch out for any events that are taking place there, as they can be pretty interesting.

JAPANESE LOUNGE

The Japanese Lounge is where you can practice your Japanese skills, such as speaking and writing. The space is mainly operated by Terakoya and Conversation Partners (CP). CPs are peers with whom you can practice your Japanese skills or who can help you with your Japanese homework. Try it out by making a reservation on their website to see the available CPs to interact with. Next is Terakoya, they are teachers with whom you can also practice your Japanese skills and homework. Another thing is that some students also ask for help with JLPT questions and academic writing. Unlike CP, Terakoya accepts walk-ins with reservations. Students just have to write their name on a white board to reserve a time slot. These services are available on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 13:20 to 18:20 (CP) and from 13:20 to 16:40 (Terakoya). Each session will last 20 minutes (CP) and 30 minutes (Terakoya), so if you’re interested, do drop by.

Yutaro Odo, a Japanese Language Institute (JLI) professor, said, “In comparison to Kawagoe Campus, the distance between the Japanese Lounge and English Lounge on Ikebukuro Campus is closer. I really find it interesting to see the language exchange of English and Japanese between students.” 

According to Conversational Partner interns Yuto Taniguchi (Leader) and Shota Urushizaki (Vice-Leader), students might feel a little bit pressured or nervous around teachers, so some of them choose CP to feel more comfortable because they are close in age. You can also talk to CPs about your hobbies, interests, school life, and a variety of topics.

GLOBAL COMMONS

Global Commons is a free hangout spot for students as well as those who intend to participate in exchange student programs like ISEP and many more. They can inquire about the application process for studying abroad here at Global Commons.

The Peer Assistants (PA) will be also holding their office hours here from Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 13:20 to 17:30. Students can get assistance from the PA during office hours with Japanese translations of applications for City Hall, banks, phone calls, and many more. Similar to Terakoya, PA office hours only accept walk-in reservations instead of online bookings. During office hours, the student must write their name on a whiteboard. Keep in mind, though, that the PA will only carry out activities that are within the area of Global Commons. The student cannot ask PAs to accompany them to other locations directly.

Conclusion:

Do you now know the difference between the Global Commons and the Learning Commons? It’s a new campus for everyone, but I hope this can help you understand it a little bit better. You should also try to meet friendly interns and fellow students at TIU Commons because you’ll get to know more about numerous students from various backgrounds. Last but not least, stay tuned to all the events that are being held in both Global Commons and Learning Commons.