Student Reactions to Self-Organised Learning Environments (SOLEs) in Japanese Universities

Authors

  • Michael Lyons Meijo University, Kani, Gifu, Japan

Keywords:

SOLE;, EFL, tertiary, presentations

Abstract

In self-organised learning environments (SOLEs), students work in groups to answer “big questions” 
(BQs) and then present their findings. The teacher does not teach, but rather takes on the role of 
facilitator, encouraging maximal student autonomy and collaborative learning. It is an approach to 
education that diverges from traditional teacher-cantered education systems. As such, it might seem 
unorthodox to school administrations and confusing to students. This study, conducted in Japan in 
2024, offers a framework for conducting SOLEs in conventional tertiary EFL programs. It provides data 
on student reactions to SOLEs and points the way for future studies.   

Author Biography

  • Michael Lyons, Meijo University, Kani, Gifu, Japan

    Mike Lyons is a Canadian living permanently in Japan. He teaches English at several universities in the Nagoya area. He owns and operates his own schools in neighboring Gifu Prefecture. He is primarily interested in researching Self Organized Learning Environments (SOLEs) in various contexts. He teaches SOLE courses at Meijo, Nagoya Zokei, and Nagoya Ongaku Universities. He is the founder of SOLE Japan and co-founder of SOLE Online.

References

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Published

01-07-2025

Data Availability Statement

The research data is not currently available.

Issue

Section

Research Articles

How to Cite

Lyons, M. (2025). Student Reactions to Self-Organised Learning Environments (SOLEs) in Japanese Universities. Journal of English Language Teaching, 67(4), 43-49. https://journals.eltai.in/jelt/article/view/JELT670407

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