Tutoring System

1. The Mentor Program

Soon after arriving in Japan, foreign international students naturally have to focus their efforts in the short term on mastering Japanese, familiarizing themselves with Japanese customs, and of course, studying in order to achieve their desired academic results. But over the longer term, they also require more personalized assistance with everyday issues. Since it is difficult for academic advisors to be solely responsible for providing this kind of guidance, and since it is more effective to rely on younger people to fulfill this particular role, the mentor program was established to supplement the guidance provided to students by their advisors. The program functions most effectively when there is trust and cooperation between all three parties, the advisor, the mentor, and the international student, so it is important that all three stay in close communication with one another.
The purpose of TUAT’s mentor program is to actively help international students become accustomed to student life and life in their local communities as quickly as possible.
Given this purpose, undergraduate international students are eligible to take advantage of the mentor program for their first two years at the university, while research international students (researchers, graduate students) may participate for one year after their arrival in Japan. Graduate school students, undergraduate students, and international students who are fluent in Japanese will be selected to serve as mentors.

2. The Mentor’s Role

The mentor serves three primary roles.

(1) Guide

Mentors provide help to ensure that their mentees’ studies and research activities at TUAT proceed smoothly. Specifically, they provide advice based on their own experiences to help mentees obtain the credits they need to earn for their curriculum and to complete paperwork and follow other necessary administrative procedures.
They also show students how to use campus facilities, including the library. In the case of graduate student international students, the mentor instructs the mentee in how to join academic societies and how to use outside institutions, such as the National Diet Library, as necessary.

(2) Tutor

As students who are studying the same kinds of subjects as the international student or who are involved in similar fields of specialized research, mentors can help explain things that international students might not fully understand. They can also edit lab and training reports prepared by their mentees, thereby helping them to improve their Japanese language skills.

(3) Friend

As a friend in the same age group, the mentor can explain elements of Japanese culture and society in a way the international student can understand, and can discuss these topics with their mentee. If possible, the mentor should discuss Japanese culture and society in comparison with those of the international student’s native country, and strive toward a deeper mutual understanding. Mentors may also introduce international students to many Japanese friends and create opportunities for them to meet a wide variety Japanese people.
Mentors should consult with mentees about the school-related challenges they are facing. Mentors may also have opportunities to help international students figure out issues related to everyday living, such as public transportation, the telephone system, and shopping.