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FAQ

Q1

How can I make
cross-cultural friendships?

Q2

What should I do
if I want to study abroad?

Q3

How can I prepare
for an English exam
like IELTS, TOEIC or Eiken?

Q4

I want to be able to
hear authentic English!

Q5

How can I practice
English conversation?

Q6

How can I practice
presentations and Q&A sessions
for international conferences?

Q7

How can I read
English academic papers?

Q8

How can I improve my ability
to write English papers
and essays?

Q9

What is the difference
between TOEFL, TOEIC,
and IELTS?

Back to TOP

Q1

How can I make cross-cultural friendships?

  • A

    Join Conversations Sessions at English House.

    You can have a casual 20-minute conversation with an SA. The SAs come from a variety of countries including Japan. You can choose who you would like to speak with and take the session either face-to-face or online. Reservations can be made via the web!
    https://moodle.gs.chiba-u.jp/moodle/course/view.php?id=32488
    *SA: Abbreviation for Student Assistant -a student who is fluent in English. The majority are international students, but there are also some Japanese SAs.

  • A

    Join Lunch Chat at English House.

    The event is held every day. Please check the English House SNS for details as the Lunch Chat language is not always English. Feel free to visit and bring your lunch!
    https://www.chiba-u.ac.jp/englishhouse/2ndlayer01/lunch-chat/index.html

  • A

    Join LEX (Language Exchange Programme).

    This is a type of tandem learning. You apply online and are partnered with a student of the language you wish to learn. You teach each other about your language and culture and make friends at the same time. The LEX programme runs for 10 weeks in each semester. and registration is in April and October. Don't miss out!
    https://www.chiba-u.ac.jp/englishhouse/2ndlayer01/lex/index.html

  • A

    Take classes with students from other cultures.

    J-PAC is a program for undergraduate students at partner universities who are interested in Japanese culture and society. With international students and Japanese students in the same class, it is a great opportunity for cross-cultural interaction.
    https://cie.chiba-u.ac.jp/programs/index.html
    J-PAC: Japan Program at Chiba. J-PAC: Japan Program at Chiba, a long-term exchange program at Chiba University.

Q2

What should I do if I want to study abroad?

  • A

    Gather information from the Study Abroad Office.

    There are many things to consider, such as timing, duration, and destination. You can find a lot of information on the Study Abroad office website, for example, information on short-term and long-term programmes, events such as seminars by people who have studied abroad and information on financial support. There are also Chiba University Moodle courses such as "Study Abroad Program for Undergraduate Students" and “Study Abroad Program for Graduate Students”, where you can see information about each program in detail.
    https://www.ryugaku.chiba-u.jp/index.html

  • A

    Attend seminars by people who have studied abroad.

    By listening to the stories of seniors who have studied abroad, you may be able to get a concrete image of what it is like to study abroad. You will also be able to learn about the points to consider when choosing a study abroad destination and what preparations are necessary beforehand.
    https://www.ryugaku.chiba-u.jp/info/event.html

  • A

    Consult with the International Student Office.

    You can make an appointment with the International Student Division to discuss study abroad either online or in person at the Nishi-Chiba Campus. By gathering as much information as possible on your own before your consultation, you will be able to get more useful advice.
    https://www.ryugaku.chiba-u.jp/others/counsel.html

Q3

How can I prepare for an English exam like
IELTS, TOEIC or Eiken?

  • A

    Take an English Elective course.

    Electives such as "Study Abroad Preparation" will prepare you for the TOEFL iBT and IELTS exams. "Study Abroad Preparation (B)" focuses on IELTS and "Study Abroad Preparation (C)" focuses on TOEFL iBT. Search the syllabus and take the course.

  • A

    Book an Individual Lesson at English House.

    You can take a 25-minute individual lesson with a teacher. You can choose your teacher based on their specialities and you can take the lessons face-to-face or online. Individual lessons are free of charge. Reservations can be made online, but you need to book early!
    https://moodle.gs.chiba-u.jp/moodle/course/view.php?id=32488

  • A

    Join an English House Workshop.

    Various workshops are held on an irregular basis. For example, "IELTS Workshops," "Academic Vocabulary Workshop," "How to get a High Score in TOEIC” etc. Check the English House website for more information.
    https://www.chiba-u.ac.jp/englishhouse/2ndlayer01/workshops/index.html

  • A

    Join a Study Group at English House.

    Groups of students with similar aims, for example to gain a target score in TOEIC or TOEFL iBT come to an orientation meeting at English House at the beginning of the semester and are organised into groups depending on their aims and availability. Each group of students decides on their own schedule, learning aims, materials, and methods of study. A teacher is available to answer any questions or provide advice if necessary.

Q4

I want to be able to hear authentic English!

  • A

    Improve your listening skills with LTM-CALL!

    LTM-CALL is an English learning system developed by Chiba University and is available to all Chiba University students free of charge. The system offers a wide variety of levels and content, so you can study with the material that best suits you. Enjoy listening to authentic English through videos. By listening intensively, you will be able to increase your understanding, which means you will spend less time processing what someone is saying, making it easier to join in a conversation. If you are new to learning with LTM-CALL, please sign up for an information session. We will show you how to use the system effectively.
    https://cele.chiba-u.jp/call/contact/

  • A

    Hang out at English House.

    Every day, students hang out at English House and speak a mix of English and other languages. If you are nervous at first, just go along with your friend and soak up the languages. Gradually, you’ll be able to make friends and join in conversations when you feel more confident.

Q5

How can I practice English conversation?

  • A

    Join Conversation Sessions at English House.

    You can have a casual 20-minute conversation with an SA. The SAs come from a variety of countries including Japan. You can choose who you would like to speak with and take the session either face-to-face or online. Reservations can be made via the web!
    https://moodle.gs.chiba-u.jp/moodle/course/view.php?id=32488
    *SA: Abbreviation for Student Assistant -a student who is fluent in English. The majority are international students, but there are also some Japanese SAs.

  • A

    Take an Elective course.

    There are two English elective courses that focus on English communication: Basic English Communication and Pre-Intermediate Communication. You can find details on these courses in the syllabus on Portal.

  • A

    JAlso LEX

    EH events

Q6

How can I practice presentations
and Q&A sessions for international conferences?

  • A

    Join Individual Lessons at English House.

    ou can take a 25-minute individual lesson with a teacher. You can choose your teacher based on their specialities and you can take the lessons face-to-face or online. Individual lessons are free of charge. Reservations can be made online, but you need to book early!
    https://moodle.gs.chiba-u.jp/moodle/course/view.php?id=32488

  • A

    Take the "English for Presenting at International Conferences" course.

    If you are a graduate student, there are several Common Graduate Education courses available to help you present at conferences. For example, "English for Presenting at International Conferences," "Online Academic Presentation," and "Academic Presentation" are available. The course contents as well as the terms and class formats differ, so students are encouraged to take courses according to their schedule and needs.

Q7

How can I read English academic papers?

  • A

    Find English-language papers on the Web of Science

    Web of Science is a database that selects and collects articles from over 18,000 of the world's most influential academic journals. It has a variety of functions, such as checking the number of times an article is cited, searching for related articles, and checking the journal's impact factor.
    https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/basic-search
    (If you are accessing from off-campus, you need to log in to My Library from the Chiba University Library website.)

  • A

    Find papers in the e-journals subscribed to by Chiba University.

    E-journals subscribed to by Chiba University can be searched from "E-Journals A to Z" on the library website.
    https://alc.chiba-u.jp/entry/search.html

Q8

How can I improve my ability to write
English papers and essays?

  • A

    Join Individual Lessons at English House!

    You can take a 25-minute individual lesson with a teacher. You can choose your teacher based on their specialities and you can take the lessons face-to-face or online. Individual lessons are free of charge. Reservations can be made online, but you need to book early!
    https://moodle.gs.chiba-u.jp/moodle/course/view.php?id=32488

  • A

    Take the "Academic Writing" course.

    If you are a graduate student, "Academic Writing," a Common Graduate Education course, is available to help you write papers in English. Since it is an on-demand media class, graduate students who are not at the Nishi-Chiba Campus can also take it.

  • A

    Take advantage of the Academic English Consultation service at Academic Link Center.

    This is an English editing and consultation service where you can receive proofreading and advice on your English writing. This service is conducted by an instructor from the English editing service "Editage" using Zoom. You can book a consultation and receive advice orally while sharing your manuscript on the screen.

  • A

    Take advantage of Grammarly.

    This is a very useful editing and proofreading tool for anyone who needs to write reports, emails, or papers in English and wants to improve their writing. Chiba University students can use the paid version of Grammarly with which you can get suggestions on how to write higher quality, more naturally phrased English.
    https://grammarly.gs.chiba-u.jp/top

Q9

What is the difference between
TOEFL, TOEIC, and IELTS?

  • A

    TOEFL iBT

    The TOEFL iBT is a computer-based test that measures English language proficiency in academic settings, primarily at the university and graduate level. TOEFL iBT 72 is the language standard for our study abroad program.

    Testing time Approx. 2 hours
    Examination fees US$245
    Format Four skills test: Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing. For Writing, you will need to type on your keyboard and for Speaking, you speak into your computer.

  • A

    TOEFL ITP

    The TOEFL ITP is a paper version of the TOEFL iBT, which is administered to organizations, and while it is similar to the TOEFL iBT in that it measures English language skills required for academic situations, the question format is very different, and the availability of the scores is limited.

    Testing time Approx. 2 hours
    Examination fees 5,160 yen (if taking the exam on campus)
    Format Two skills test: Listening, Reading.
    Mark-sensing format

  • A

    IELTS

    IELTS has two formats: Academic Module and General Module. IELTS scores are used by more than 11,000 institutions in 140 countries around the world. IELTS 5.5 is the language standard for our study abroad program.

    Testing time Approx. 2 hours and 45 minutes
    Examination fees 25,380 yen
    Format Four skills test: Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing.
    You can choose to take face-to-face or online exam. For the Writing module, you can take the test with pencil and paper or you can take the Writing module online. The speaking module is a face-to-face interview.

  • A

    TOEIC L&R

    The TOEIC L&R test measures English communication skills in the office and in everyday life. In Japan, many companies use TOEIC L&R scores as a reference for internal promotions, overseas business trips, and overseas assignments. In addition, scores from the English Language Undergraduate Examination may be used for entrance examinations for graduate schools at the University, and many people use TOEICL&R scores. Keep in mind that TOEICL&R scores can be used in situations other than job hunting.

    Testing time Approx. 2 hours
    Examination fees 7,810 yen
    Format Two skills test: Listening, Reading.
    Mark-sensing format

  • A

    TOEIC L&R IP

    TOEIC L&R IP is a TOEIC test for groups. It is an inexpensive way to take the same format as the official TOEIC L&R test, so you can take it as a test of strength before taking the official test. However, please note that, like TOEFL ITP, TOEIC L&R IP is limited in the places where scores are accepted.

    Testing time Approx. 2 hours
    Examination fees 4,220 yen (if taking the exam on campus)
    Format Two skills test: Listening, Reading.
    Mark-sensing format

  • A

    Recently, an increasing number of educational institutions are accepting either TOEFL or IELTS scores, regardless of which country you wish to study in. It is better to look at past papers of both tests and analyse whether TOEFL or IELTS is more suitable for you before taking the test.

    If you are trying to demonstrate your English ability to others in Japan, you can use TOEIC or Eiken, which are highly recognized in society. However, TOEIC and Eiken are not well recognized in Europe and the United States, and it is safe to assume that scores are not available.

    Note. The above information is valid as of February 2024. When taking these tests, please confirm the test fees or question formats on the official websites of each test.