BY AYAKO KAGEYAMA

We entered a university with a dream, attracted by "living English, useful English" the catch line of the English course of the Faculty of Foreign languages in Sapporo University. In reality, they draw up a curriculum where we learn four language basic skills, listening, speaking, reading and writing, the most important part of learning English. In the credit system based on the standards of the Ministry of Education for the establishment of an university, for two credits 15 to 30 hours of lectures and laboratories are needed while for exercises and practices 30 to 45 hours are needed. This standard estimates our study time outside classes. We wonder, however, if our university has the idea it only needs to keep to the minim level of the standard. In this article, we argue concerning two indications of this idea I noticed after entering Sapporo University.

Firstly, one point that concerned me at once after entering was the length of time from the entrance ceremony to the beginning of classes. This year (2000), private universities such as Sapporo University and Fuji Women's University held orientation, explanations, and medical examinations and at last started classes a week after wards. On the other hand, national universities like Hokkaido University started classes four days after, while public universities such as Hokkaido University of Education did so only two days after. Private universities, including our own, should bring forward the classes. At the long-awaited entrance ceremony lots of students had fresh minds and great expectation of the university. They had started their university life at last but were disappointed because they spent a vain week before starting classes. This time is a vague week not only for freshmen, but sophomores, juniors, and seniors as well.

Secondly, compared with other faculties, there are a remarkable number of lectures which are canceled because students are examined during regular classes even though there is a set term for semester examinations. Actually, there are many students who have only three or four subjects or less examined within the examination term. It throws doubt on the reason for the existence of the term. It is unsatisfactory that teachers from abroad examine students early so that they can return to their own countries. In addition it is unsatisfactory when part-time teachers examine students even two weeks before. On the other hand, the time set for giving students their grades from the end of an examination is so short that some professors say they must give examinations early. The university is a place where students study and teachers help them. Classes are the most important means. We can't allow classes tobe taken away according to a teacher's or the school 's convenience. In addition, we doubt that giving examinations out of the term is a rule accepted by the department of studies. The university shouldn't allow exams out of the examination period and should unify giving them within the period. The schedule for the period of examination is determined by the university and it is only common sense that regular classes should be conducted up to that times.

Thus it seems we students have a lot of complaints about classes run by the university. We hope to have more classes. This is different from our thinking in high school days. The reason is that, we don't want to pay expensive school fees for not enhancing our scholastic abilities. We wonder where the school fees for classes canceled at the teacher's convenience disappeared to. The free time left to students is actually important for study. They should not the minimum number of classes for the credit standard, but conduct as many classes as they can. We want to have more opportunities to relate to teachers. This is the first step in spending more satisfactorily and fully our limited time at the university.