[2022.11.10] 111學年11月份EMI教師經驗交流會 November EMI Teacher Experience Sharing Meeting in the 111th Academic Year

November EMI Teacher Experience Sharing Workshop of the 111th Academic Year

Speaker: Teacher Zhang Yixin from the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology

Date: November 10, 2022

Time: 12:10-13:10

Location: Room 203, Front Building of Zhixing Building

Participants: Teacher Chen Qiaonan, Teacher Zhang Jingzhi, Teacher Zhuang Huiyan, Teacher Lu Jiafeng, Teacher Yan Weizhe, Teacher Gao Yujie, Teacher Cai Minghan, Teacher Xue Te, Ye Zuxiu, Chen Yijie

Experience sharing content:

1. English Teaching

• Original Intention/Motivation and Changes

• Ideas about English Teaching

Over the past 11 years, the experience of English teaching has been different every year. In 2022, starting from this semester, teaching EMI courses, I discovered that EMI teaching is really different from English teaching because of the characteristics of the students we face, which are completely different.

2. Foreign vs Taiwanese Students

• Mental Preparation

Foreign students have several characteristics: strong motivation to learn, strong initiative/interactivity. Although there is not much difference in English proficiency in international programs, differences in accents sometimes lead to memorable incidents in communication. Finally, there is the diversity in professional backgrounds. In this aspect, by understanding students' backgrounds and having conversations about their daily lives, we can determine course design and content to deepen knowledge in students' minds.

Taiwanese students are not like foreign students. Their motivation to learn is generally lower, not to mention interactivity. How to motivate Taiwanese students to improve in these areas is something that teachers need to put more effort into in course design.

• Teaching Experience and Suggestions

Regarding the diversity in professional backgrounds, it is important to understand and respect students' backgrounds and adjust the format of classes through conversations with students, incorporating online teaching tools.

For EMI courses, which are taught on a per-session basis, it is recommended to explain the course outline in the first class and provide definitions of specialized terms with the assistance of Chinese.

Increase the time for Q&A. Finally, conclude the entire class to leave a stronger impression on students.

3. Conclusion

• In terms of policy/implementation, there is still a lot of pressure to transform compulsory/licensed professional subjects into EMI courses because it is a department related to licensing exams. Therefore, the transformation starts from elective courses. For students, it is hoped to replace compulsion with encouragement, providing them with sufficient motivation for learning and thereby improving learning performance. For teachers, it is recommended to have supportive measures such as teacher evaluations. Ultimately, it returns to the essence of education, "Educating students for a century/developing their qualities" really takes time!