------ About Us ------ 

😊Welcome to Shiminly! Our name, ‘Shimin’ is Japanese for ‘citizen’. Our mission is to give learners the tools they need to become Global Citizens of the 21st Century. 🌍 We are dedicated to imbuing our students with the skills and tools they need to become empathetic, resilient, and well-rounded individuals. 🌟 

Our facilitators are highly experienced, well-traveled, and trained to deliver our lessons using modern teaching methodologies, such as: 

🧔 Socratic Method  

💭 Inquiry-Based  

🛠️ Problem-Based 

✅ Task-Based 

📚 Project-Based  


------ Our Core Skills ------ 

We have built our curriculum around 7 Core Skills, which are: 

💞 Emotional Intelligence 

🧘‍♀️ Self-Awareness and Adaptability 

🗣️ Teamwork and Communication 

🌍 Global Citizenship 

💡Creativity and Innovation 

🧠 Critical Thinking 

🌠 Motivation and Exploration 


------ Lesson Topics and Order ------

Day 1️⃣: How to Be Independent 💫🤩

Day 2️⃣: Believe in Yourself 🦁💪

Day 3️⃣: How to Choose a University 🎓🤔

Day 4️⃣: First Year: Making Good Choices 🍎🍺

Day 5️⃣: Applying to University 1 - Interviews 🗣️💬

Day 6️⃣: Applying to University 2 - Admissions Essay 📝🏁

Day 7️⃣: First Year - Reaching Out 😶‍🌫️💞

Day 8️⃣: It’s OK to Not Be OK 😞🫂

Day 9️⃣: Weather Changes Change Me ❄️⛈️

Day 1️⃣0️⃣: Sleep Hygiene 😴🛏️

Day 1️⃣1️⃣: Staying Active, Even When You’re Busy 😄🏃‍♂️

Day 1️⃣2️⃣: Gym Enthusiasts 🏋️‍♀️💪

Day 1️⃣3️⃣: Applying for Jobs 🏢 👩‍💼

Day 1️⃣4️⃣: Keep it Professional 👔🤝

Day 1️⃣5️⃣: Managing Money 💵⚖️

Day 1️⃣6️⃣: Bites on a Budget 🥗 💸

Day 1️⃣7️⃣: What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do 🚨🫣

Day 1️⃣8️⃣: Making Excuses 🙌😇

Day 1️⃣9️⃣: How to Spot Fake News 🔍📰

Day 2️⃣0️⃣: Academic Honesty - Strategies and Techniques 🎓🤥

Day 2️⃣1️⃣: Academic Writing 🏫👨‍💻

Day 2️⃣2️⃣: Teamwork Strategies 🙏☯️

Day 2️⃣3️⃣: Polite, Yet Firm 🧑‍💼🤗

Day 2️⃣4️⃣: Ethical Leadership 💼⚖️


------ Lesson Descriptions ------

Day 1️⃣: How to Be Independent 💫🤩
🎯 As they take their first steps into the world alone, learners will explore the elements of adulthood, such as personal responsibility, decision-making, and financial autonomy. 
🎯 They will read about and develop skills that will foster a sense of independence, such as reflection, self-care, and self-management. 
🎯 For their main task, they will create a set of goals and plans that will help them put their best foot forward into independent life. 

Day 2️⃣: Believe in Yourself 🦁💪
🎯 As they encounter their first adult challenges, learners will explore and discuss the elements of life that may bring down one’s confidence, such as social media, self-deprecation, and family influence. 
🎯 They will create a set of coping strategies that will help boost self-esteem and promote success. 
🎯 For their main task, they will use their creativity to design a motivational poster for their local school. 

Day 3️⃣: How to Choose a University 🎓🤔
🎯 As they make what could be one of the most important decisions in their lives, learners will explore and discuss the main reasons someone might choose to attend university. 
🎯 They will learn about the most important factors to consider when deciding which university to attend, such as location, budget, and employment prospects. 
🎯 For their main task, they will carry out guided online research based on a set of questions provided. 

Day 4️⃣: First Year: Making Good Choices 🍎🍺
🎯 As they begin to map out their first year of independence, learners will explore and discuss the most common and important choices they may have to make in their first year of university, such as what to major in, how to schedule their classes, and how they will cope with student life. 
🎯 They will also learn about the most common mistakes students make in their first year. 🎯 For their main task, they will prepare for and engage in a debate covering questions, such as whether or not to study or campus, or whether a top-tier university education is different to a lower-tier university. 

Day 5️⃣: Applying to University 1 - Interviews 🗣️💬
🎯 As they expand their academic options, learners will read about the typical application process for most universities. 
🎯 They will learn some tips for how to prepare for and carry out a university interview as well as the most common questions asked. 
🎯 For their main task, they will be assigned a set of common university interview questions to roleplay with a partner. 

Day 6️⃣: Applying to University 2 - Admissions Essay 📝🏁
🎯 As they zone in on their academic and career goals, learners will explore the most common elements of a university admissions essay, or personal statement and how to structure it. 
🎯 They will also read about some common mistakes that students make that might affect their application. 
🎯 For their main task, they will create an outline for a personal statement based on the major or university they would like to apply for. 

Day 7️⃣: First Year - Reaching Out 😶‍🌫️💞
🎯 As they prepare themselves for the mental challenges of student life, learners will explore some common stressors that students experience during their first year of university. 
🎯 They will read about some coping strategies and factors that might exacerbate these stressors, such as diet, finance, and peer pressure. 
🎯 For their main task, they will research services that universities commonly provide that can help students manage stress.

Day 8️⃣: It’s OK to Not Be OK 😞🫂
🎯 As they realize the importance of mental health, learners will read about the symptoms and causes of common mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depressive disorder. 
🎯 They will learn how to identify possible warning signs in a friend or peer, as well as some strategies for how to help. 
🎯 For their main task, they will read a set of case studies and come up with suggestions for dealing with the situation. 

Day 9️⃣: Weather Changes Change Me ❄️⛈️
🎯 As they get ready for life in a different country, learners will explore the positive and negative effects of cold, wet, or hot weather on mental and emotional health. 
🎯 They will learn some strategies for protecting one’s mental health when in a new or extreme climate. 
🎯 For their main task, they will read some case studies of students who have gone to study abroad and are experiencing difficulties with the change in weather, and come up with some tips for how they can deal with these challenges. 

Day 1️⃣0️⃣: Sleep Hygiene 😴🛏️
🎯 As they realize how draining student life can be, learners will explore the science of sleep phases and how these can affect one’s mental and physical health. 
🎯 They will learn about the role of diet, exercise, and stress levels in managing sleep cycles, and explore some strategies for how to get regular, good-quality sleep. 
🎯 For their main task, they will create a poster that promotes and explains the importance of good sleep hygiene. 

Day 1️⃣1️⃣: Staying Active, Even When You’re Busy 😄🏃‍♂️
🎯 As their busy schedules quickly fill up, learners will read about the benefits of regular exercise and the physical and mental health risks of a sedentary lifestyle. 
🎯 They will explore some strategies for how to incorporate exercise into a busy schedule. 
🎯 For their main task, they will use what they have learned to create a realistic exercise routine that they can manage along with their studies. 

Day 1️⃣2️⃣: Gym Enthusiasts 🏋️‍♀️💪
🎯 As they define their health goals, learners will read about and identify the most common pieces of equipment found in a gym, including their names and which muscle groups they target. 
🎯 They will explore some examples of safe and effective workout routines, as well as tips for good gym etiquette. 
🎯 For their main task, they will create their own personalized 7-day workout that details which muscles they will exercise and which equipment they will use. 

Day 1️⃣3️⃣: Applying for Jobs 🏢 👩‍💼
🎯 As they prepare to step into the world of work, learners will explore and discuss the benefits of having a part-time job and the most common types of jobs available to students. 
🎯 They will learn how to read a job posting as well as some dos and don’ts of writing a resume and cover letter. 
🎯 For their main task, they will use what they have learned to respond to a sample job posting. 

Day 1️⃣4️⃣: Keep it Professional 👔🤝
🎯 As they begin their careers, learners will explore the elements of professionalism in the workplace, such as attire, punctuality, demeanor, and language. 
🎯 They will read about some examples of workplace conflict and some tips and phrases that can help avoid or resolve them. 
🎯 For their main task, they will be assigned a workplace scenario and asked to create a roleplay that displays professional behavior. 

Day 1️⃣5️⃣: Managing Money 💵⚖️
🎯 As they receive their first paychecks, learners will explore and discuss the reasons and benefits of effective money management and financial independence. 
🎯 They will learn some strategies for how to create and maintain their own budget around work, studies, socializing, and accommodation. They will also read a case study about two students in their first year of college who need help making a budget. 
🎯 For their main task, they will put together their own first-year budget and plan for how they will implement it. 

Day 1️⃣6️⃣: Bites on a Budget 🥗 💸
🎯 As they become more self-sufficient, learners will explore and discuss the prices and accessibility of common staple foods in English speaking countries and what affects these, such as inflation. 
🎯 They will learn about some strategies for effective food management, such as meal plans, budget-friendly recipes, and efficient food storage. 
🎯 For their main task, they will be assigned a budget and asked to create their own 7-day meal plan that is nutritious and delicious. 

Day 1️⃣7️⃣: What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do 🚨🫣
🎯 As they get settled into their accommodation, learners will read about examples of household emergencies, such as water leaks, gas leaks, carbon monoxide buildup, power outages, and housefires. 
🎯 They will learn some possible causes for these problems as well as some strategies for how to deal with them safely and efficiently. 
🎯 For their main task, they will be assigned a household problem and asked to create a roleplay that demonstrates how they will tackle it effectively while keeping a cool head. 

Day 1️⃣8️⃣: Making Excuses 🙌😇
🎯 As they become more integrated into their social surroundings, learners will explore and discuss examples of uncomfortable social situations they may commonly encounter at school, work, or out in the community. 
🎯 They will learn some strategies and functional language for how to politely remove themselves from conversations. 
🎯 For their main task, they will be assigned a social dilemma and asked to create a roleplay that demonstrates self-preservation but also polite behavior. 

Day 1️⃣9️⃣: How to Spot Fake News 🔍📰
🎯 As they utilize different sources for their academic and personal studies, learners will explore the pervasiveness of and reasons for fake news in our modern world. 
🎯 They will learn some strategies for how to identify misleading information and which elements to check, such as the author, date, location, and purpose of publishing. 
🎯 For their main task, they will be asked to either write an example of a real or fake news article. They will then peer review each other’s texts and be asked to identify which articles were fake and which ones were real using the strategies they have learned. 

Day 2️⃣0️⃣: Academic Honesty - Strategies and Techniques 🎓🤥
🎯 As they prepare for an increase in their academic responsibilities, learners will explore and identify common examples of academic dishonesty, such as cheating, deception, fabrication, and plagiarism. 
🎯 They will learn about the benefits of maintaining academic integrity, as well as the consequences of breaking it. 
🎯 For their main task, they will answer some questions and create their own academic integrity for their classroom. 

Day 2️⃣1️⃣: Academic Writing 🏫👨‍💻
🎯 As they prepare to submit their first assignments, learners will explore examples of different academic texts and their purposes, such as descriptive, analytical, critical, and persuasive. 
🎯 They will learn some strategies for structuring such texts, as well as functional linking words. 
🎯 For their main task, they will be assigned a topic and be asked to write an academic text using the structures and language they have learned. 

Day 2️⃣2️⃣: Teamwork Strategies 🙏☯️
🎯 As they team up with their academic and professional peers, learners will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of working in a team in different settings. 
🎯 They will learn about the characteristics and roles of different team personalities by reading the DiSC model: Dominance, influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. They will also learn some strategies for how to identify their own personality type and how to deal with others. 
🎯 For their main task, they will be assigned a scenario and asked to create a dialogue that displays productivity, efficiency, and healthy conflict resolution. 

Day 2️⃣3️⃣: Polite, Yet Firm 🧑‍💼🤗
🎯 As they grow as individuals and define their own values, learners will explore examples of academic, professional, and personal situations where they will have to be vocal about their needs and expectations or stand their ground on an issue they feel strongly about. 
🎯 They will learn some strategies and functional language that will help them do this in a polite and respectful manner. 
🎯 For their main task, they will be assigned a scenario and asked to create a roleplay that demonstrates polite, yet firm behavior. 

Day 2️⃣4️⃣: Ethical Leadership 💼⚖️
🎯 As they become more serious about defining their career paths, learners will explore and discuss examples of positive leadership in the workplace. 
🎯 They will also read about and identify some red flags of a toxic work environment, as well as some examples of corruption in a company or institution, such as bribery, nepotism, and influence. 
🎯 For their main task, they will read two case studies and complete a quiz that will help them make critical evaluations of workplace ethics. 


------ Class Structure and Materials ------ 

Each of our lessons is separated into distinct sections: 

1️⃣ After being welcomed to the class, learners will be introduced to the topic through a game or warm up activity. They will then have their existing knowledge on the topic tested with various inquiry-based questioning techniques. (5-10 minutes) 

2️⃣ Then, our facilitators will present them with pertinent information on the topic and the main class task (10-15 minutes).  

3️⃣ The facilitator will then present the main task, which will predominantly be student-led. During this time, students will be creating, innovating, or solving a problem while the facilitator guides them (20-25 minutes).  

4️⃣ Learners will then have the opportunity to present their class work. They will give and receive feedback from each other as well as from the facilitator (10 minutes).  

5️⃣ Before finishing the class, learners will complete a short Exit Ticket to solidify their takeaways from the class experience (5 minutes). 
 
The facilitator will share all of our content built on Canvas LMS. We use this for display purposes only and learners are not required to create an account. To make our content engaging, we diversify our delivery methods as much as possible. Our content includes static slides with text and images built on Microsoft Powerpoint, educational videos from YouTube, online games built on platforms such as Wordwall and Baamboozle, and interactive builds developed on Articulate Storyline. Our content is well-researched and referenced in every lesson, as it is all strictly factual, objective, and secular. We only use images and YouTube videos that fall under the Creative Commons license. Each of our lessons is also matched with a selection of Common Core and CPalms standards and is inspired by a variety of UNESCO key topics.