Tokyo Institute of Technology: Lunchtime English Café launches online

After providing students with an opportunity to practice their English-speaking skills through casual lunchtime discussions for several years, Tokyo Tech’s Institute for Liberal Arts (ILA) was forced to suspend these sessions temporarily due to the effects of COVID-19. English Café, a new online form of the event, was launched for the first time on May 20, bringing together four Japanese students, five international students, and a faculty member at ILA.

English Café, hosted by ILA’s Professor Hugh de Ferranti and Associate Professor Mariko Anno, now runs every other Wednesday and Thursday at lunchtime, and is supported by staff from the Student Success Support Section at the Student Support Center. Students who register in advance can freely join the sessions as they like. For the inaugural session, English Café received 26 registrations.

After a light-hearted greeting from host de Ferranti, the students split into groups of three and held two 20-minute group talks in Zoom breakout rooms. The new online format opened up the session to a more diverse group of students. Attendees included students from Suzukakedai Campus, for whom participation was difficult when sessions were held on Ookayama Campus. Registrants also included a broader range of students from different levels of study compared to past face-to-face sessions.

English Café looks to be another useful channel through which Tokyo Tech students can not only practice their English skills, but also exchange ideas and opinions in a safe, comfortable atmosphere.