Examining the special english lessons class: An extra-curricular program to enhance english communication skills for undergraduate engineering students at the University of Tokyo

The Global Ware Project (GWP) of the Center for Innovation in Engineering Education (CIEE) in the University of Tokyopsilas School of Engineering provides a ldquoSpecial English Lessonrdquo program for engineering undergraduate students. The purpose of this program is to help those students improve their English language skills and enhance their international communication abilities. To conduct this program, GWP faculty invited instructors from other English language programs to conduct a series of special after-hours classes in English. Over time, the number of students participating in this program grew until enrollment reached over 380 in 2007. This highly successful program is an effective way of teaching English when a facility doesn´t have enough teachers or funds to provide a solid education for large numbers of students. This program does not outsource lectures to English language schools; rather it is a collaborative program between those English schools and GWP, with the GWP supervising the classes.