Building a New TEFL Program from Zero in a Technical U niversity CASE STUDY Kristina Ivanova Deputy Director Foreign Language Training Center Institute of International Development and Partnership ID: 137555
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Slide1
St. Petersburg, 2014
Building a New TEFL Program from Zero in a Technical University CASE STUDY
Kristina
Ivanova
Deputy Director
Foreign Language Training Center
Institute of International Development and PartnershipSlide2
General Facts
The main campus is located in the heart of St. Petersburg, on Kronverksky
ave.
, 49Total of 8 buildings where classes are held, all located in downtown St. PetersburgFounded in 1900, ITMO has grown to an organization with over 13,000 students and earned its name “National Research University” in 2009The mission of the ITMO University is to enable its graduates to meet the challenges of the 21st century
Building Comfortable
English-Language
Environment in the University Slide3
Figures at a glance
13 000 students (including 2 000 Master’s and 700 PhD)1007 international students from 26 countries
1187 professors and teaching staff
14 English-language programs in 2014-2015
Number of international professors, researchers and teachers in 2014 – 120Building Comfortable
English-Language
Environment in the University Slide4
Key “5 to 100” indicators relevant to English-language initiative
ITMO is part of the “5 to 100” Program since 2013New
program for Bachelor students launched in 2014 (x4 English language hours if compared to 2013
)
New program for professors and teaching staff introduced in 2014 (ESP, Academic writing)New program for administrative staff launched in 2014 (Business English, Conversational English, Classes with native speakers)Building Comfortable
English-Language
Environment in the University Slide5
STUDENT FOCUS: WHAT IS DONE AND WHAT’S AHEAD
Running Master’s programsNew Bachelor’s English Language program
Building Comfortable
English-Language
Environment in the University Slide6
Academic focus of current English-language programs
14 Master’s programs in EnglishFocus on Physics, Nano
-materials, Engineering, IT, Computing, Optics
Required level of English-language proficiency for students to enroll – B1
Lectures are delivered in EnglishStudents are both Russian and international Building Comfortable
English-Language
Environment in the University Slide7
English language teaching:
length of programs for Bachelors
Previously
1 academic hour / week for Bachelor students of 1
st and 2nd yearNo English language classes for Bachelors of the 3rd and 4th
year
2 academic hours / week for Master’s students
Building Comfortable
English-Language
Environment in the University
Starting with Fall 2014
4 hours per week, 4 years of all Bachelor programs Slide8
English language teaching:
specifics of new programs for Bachelors Building Comfortable English-Language
Environment in the University
Starting with Fall 2014
Placement tests for all 1
st
year Bachelors
Groups of 10-14 students vs 25+ previously
Communicative approach to teaching
1 level per year + additional knowledge
Levels A1 to C1
Blended learning approach
Testing upon completion of each level/ moduleSlide9
English language teaching:
Learning materials Building Comfortable English-LanguageEnvironment in the University
Starting with Fall 2014
Cambridge University Press materials (including Touchstone)
New lexis
Boosting students’ communicative skills
Listening, reading, writing
On-line workbooks
E-learning management syste
mSlide10
English language teaching:
general and course-specific training
Previously
No diversification of English Language courses depending on student majors
Building Comfortable English-Language
Environment in the University
Starting with Fall 2014
1
st
and 2
nd
year of Bachelor studies – general English, communicative teaching methods
3
rd
and 4
th
year of Bachelor studies – introduction of special vocabulary, lexis
3
rd
and 4
th
year of B. studies: EMI for disciplines related to the majors (in cooperation with corresponding Chairs)Slide11
English language teaching:
cooperation of English Language teachers with subject teachers
Previously
No cooperation
Building Comfortable English-Language
Environment in the University
Starting with Fall 2014
English for Academics course – for building professional communication skills used for lecturing, participation in conferences, writing articles
Assistance in compiling discipline programs in EnglishSlide12
English language requirements for students, staff and teachers
Currently Master’s Double Degree program applicants – B1
No additional pre-program training
Building Comfortable
English-Language
Environment in the University
By 2018
Bachelor program graduates – B1
International Office staff – C1
Double-degree program teachers and staff – C1
Other administrative staff – B1Slide13
English-language related services available to staff, students, administration, researchers
Academic mobility programs for studentsEnglish language courses for administrative and teaching staff, starting October 2014
International student festival “You are needed”
Institute of International Development and Partnership to facilitate international relations of the University
Excursions and extracurricular activities for foreign studentsCenter of International Staff Services: visa support, information support, assistance with housing and adaptation, Russian language classes
Building Comfortable
English-Language
Environment in the University Slide14
English language
teaching: length of programs for University staffPreviously
No
free ITMO-based programs for teaching and administrative staff
Starting with Fall 20142,5 years for staff included into international activities, or until they reach C1 level
1,5 years for other staff, or until they reach B1 level
E. for Academics & Academic Writing - 6 months each
International Students and Scholars RockSlide15
FOCUS ON STAFF: WHAT IS DONE AND WHAT’S AHEAD?
All interested administrative and teaching staff tested to assess English language proficiency levels
New
g
eneral English courses for administrative staffNew English for Academics courses for teaching staffNew Academic Writing courses for researchers, promising Master’s students, PhDsAcademic Writing schools abroad for the best students of AW coursesBenefits for staff who excel – Cambridge FCE and CAE exams free of charge
Building Comfortable
English-Language
Environment in the University Slide16
English language teaching:
Learning materials for administrative staff and academics Building Comfortable English-Language
Environment in the University
Starting with Fall 2014
CUP Face to Face for beginners (listening, understanding, speaking)
CUP English 365 for elementary to pre-intermediate (enhancing speaking skills)
English for Academics (CUP + British Council) for researchers, PhDs, administrative personnel
Academic writing – CUP study books to improve researchers’ skills in
pre-writing
,
writing
,
reviewing
and
revisingSlide17
Evaluation of the current status of English Language teaching, challenges and possibilities
Currently
Technical university with very low English language proficiency level
Formerly a restricted-access university concentrated on serving military industry purposes with very limited international cooperation
New program of English language teaching for Bachelors launched in Oct 2014With students - resistance to change is minimal, high interest in new program
Challenging situation with multiple campuses (4
blgds
) and organization of the study process / teachers
Challenging situation with study rooms – to be resolved next year
Building Comfortable
English-Language
Environment in the University Slide18
Future of TEFL at ITMO: plans for 2015-2016
Success is to be continued and multipliedUpon completion of 2014-2015 academic year pilot program for Bachelors, ALL 1st year Bachelor students admitted in September 2015 are to be included into the program
Reconfiguration of the internal system of English Language Chairs at ITMO
New EL groups for academic and administrative staff in additional locations
Guest lecturers (both Russian and international) – Academic Writing and EAPMaster-classes for AW and EAP course attendees Short-term programs abroad for the best students attending AW and EAP courses
Building Comfortable
English-Language
Environment in the University Slide19
Thank you!
Kristina IvanovaDeputy DirectorForeign Language Training Center
Institute of International Development and Partnership
FLTC@niuitmo.ru
WWW.IFMO.RU
Saint-Petersburg
, 2014