August, 2020

A message from the counselor for international students No.16
by Kaoru Ikuta
Counselor for International Students, Center for Health Services

The Space of Online classes
The online classes for spring semester are going to end soon.
What is the difference with face to face classes? What is a lecture hall likefor you? Remember the scene when you entered the lecture hall, whatfeelings and thoughts did you have? If your friends beckon you to sit next tothem, we can enter the room with a sense of safety. Those who don’t havefriends to sit with might worry how they appear to others; sitting alone,feeling uncomfortable about being in the hall.
There might have been students who became embarrassed when they mademistakes in Japanese class and were worried about how others viewed them.
Some might become reluctant to attend class, after they had an experience ofbeing laughed at for giving a wrong answer.
We are concerned about how we are perceived by others in face to faceclasses.
We can attend online classes without expressing ourselves except in small
sized webinars. Even if we have just woken up and are wearing pajamas,
we can attend the classes. It’s like getting the Japanese character
Doraemon’s special door which leads to anywhere. Chat communication isrecommended in the classes from bandwidth usage ensuring a smooth user
experience.
Some of those who hesitate to comment in front of others canpresent their opinions by using chat form of communication. The space ofthe online classes might be a safe place without caring about how others
think of us.
How are online classes for university instructors? I feel embarrassed tosee my face on the screen and don’t know where I should look. I feeldisappointed about my appearance. When only one student appears own
figure on screen, I can make eye contact with him or her and gauge theirreactions, that makes it easier for me to lecture. For those with network
issues it is recommended to record online classes. Due to recording, classes
become the place where I care about how my class is perceived by outside
individuals. The pressure becomes bigger than it used to be.
In this message, I’ve thought about what is happening in the space of onlineclasses.
As students are required to stay at home, attend the online classes and to
submit reports almost every day, some might be stressed and tired fromoverworking. In addition to the change of daily life due to COVID-19,
students are experiencing stress, both mental and physical. Some might
have trouble concentrating, making decisions, thinking clearly. Others
might experience disruptions to their sleeping and eating patterns. During
this time, you can take care of yourself and feel safe by releasing yourtension mentally and physically and learning how to cope with stress.

Please refer to the following resources on coping with stress andreleasing your tension.
FACE COVID – How To Respond Effectively To The Corona Crisis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmvNCdpHUYM
Coronavirus | Dealing with anxiety & mental health during a pandemic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzNMABRELPg
Tips to Help Teens Cope During COVID-19
Mental Health First Aid USA
https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2020/04/tips-to-help-teens-cope-during-cov
id-19/

Relax Through Breathing
PTSD coach online, National center for PTSD
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/ptsdcoachonline/tools_menu.htm

Relax Through Visualization
PTSD coach online, National center for PTSD
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/ptsdcoachonline/tools_menu.htm
Relax Your Body
PTSD coach online, National center for PTSD
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/ptsdcoachonline/tools_menu.htm
Form Good Sleep Habit
PTSD coach online, National center for PTSD
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/ptsdcoachonline/tools_menu.htm

You can make your first appointment for counseling by email orphone. Please refer to the Health Service Center homepage andemail to hokenkanri-soudan$ynu.ac.jp (Please change $ to ＠) orcall 045-339-3153.