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Challenges and Lessons from Taiwan’s English-Medium Instruction Programs
The article from Taipei Times discusses the findings of an audit on English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) courses in Taiwan’s universities, revealing that more than half of these courses fail to meet the expected standards. The main issues include teacher-centered approaches, limited student interaction in English, and a general lack of proficiency improvement. The Ministry of Education plans to enhance teacher training and resources to address these shortcomings and improve the quality of EMI courses.
Main Takeaways
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Taiwanese Universities and Teachers:
- Enhance Pedagogy: Shift from teacher-centered methods to more interactive, student-focused approaches.
- Teacher Training: Invest in comprehensive training to equip teachers with the necessary skills to deliver effective EMI courses.
- Continuous Evaluation: Regular audits and evaluations to ensure that EMI courses meet the desired standards.
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For International Educational Institutions:
- Benchmarking Standards: Use Taiwan’s experience as a case study to develop or refine EMI courses, ensuring they focus on interaction and language use.
- Teacher Preparation: Emphasize the importance of teacher readiness in delivering EMI, which can directly impact student outcomes.
- Collaboration Opportunities: Consider collaborations with Taiwanese institutions to share best practices and resources for EMI.
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For Students:
- Active Participation: Encourage students to actively engage in EMI courses, as this interaction is crucial for language proficiency.
- Feedback Mechanisms: Students should provide feedback on EMI courses to help institutions make necessary improvements.
Overall, the key lesson is that while the expansion of EMI courses is a positive trend, ensuring their quality is critical for achieving the desired educational outcomes. Other countries implementing or expanding EMI programs can learn from Taiwan’s experience to avoid similar pitfalls.
taipeitimes.com
English-language courses below standard: auditor - Taipei Times
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