The University of 浪花直播 College of Education hosted a delegation of 16 professors from Taiwan in February for a two-week training program focused on using English as a medium of instruction. The program was led by the ) and the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership (TLPL). This training program is part of and aligns with , Taiwan鈥檚 goal to achieve bilingual fluency by the year 2030. It was the second iteration of the program, following the first cohort held in early 2024.
The Taiwanese delegation, consisting of professors from diverse fields including business, engineering, environmental sciences, food sciences and the arts, divided their days between two key areas of instruction. The MEI sessions focused on improving English proficiency and communication skills, looking closely at the language that instructors use while teaching and working with students. The TLPL sessions addressed how to integrate those skills into their instructional practices.
鈥淲e did a lot of work talking about various teaching methods, like how to scaffold and how to differentiate for students,鈥 said John Chi, a Ph.D. candidate in applied linguistics and language education, who facilitated the TLPL sessions. Raymond Smith, curriculum and instruction coordinator at MEI, facilitated MEI鈥檚 content.
In addition to improving English proficiency, the program challenged participants to reflect on the academic cultures of both the U.S. and Taiwan, with the goal of exploring how to integrate approaches from both cultures to enhance student learning.
Chi introduced the delegation to 浪花直播鈥檚 campus and culture, including visits to the campus farm, classrooms and the 浪花直播 Art Gallery. During their visit, the gallery was showcasing works by a renowned Taiwanese calligrapher, creating a personal connection for some attendees. The delegation also attended research talks on campus by various guest speakers and connected with cultural and educational representatives from Taiwan in the Washington, D.C., area.
鈥淲e would love to do this kind of thing again. Between our location, reputation and experience, I am hopeful that this can be a model for future types of collaboration,鈥 said Jonathan Malone, interim director of MEI and one of the developers of the program.
