Oxford EMI (English as Medium of Instruction) training program online course

The Oxford EMI Training Program was held online from March 9 to 15, 2020.

This program aims to improve classes taught in English in countries where English is not the first language. In the program, lectures on methods for teaching in English are given by Oxford EMI Training instructors. The program had been held at ICU in August 2018 and March 2019, and it was scheduled to take place at ICU’s Othmer Library again this year. However, due to the spread of COVID-19, a rapid decision was made to deliver the program online. Twenty-five faculty members in total from ten higher education institutions across Japan, including six ICU faculty members, participated in the program.

The course was delivered using the web conference system Zoom and the learning management system Moodle. On the first day, an overview of the course and a description of how the course will be conducted was given, and a lecture titled “Internationalisation of Higher Education” was presented by one of the instructors. In addition, the teams that the participants will be working in during the five days of training were announced.

The schedule each day was as follows: the participants completed the assignments posted on Moodle individually and in groups by 4 p.m. and a feedback lecture was given by the Oxford EMI Training instructors from 6 p.m. on Zoom.

In the five days of training, through advice given by the instructors, group work, and discussion, the participants learned how to design interactive classes for students at different levels of English proficiency as well as students with different personalities, and the participants studied the techniques etc. needed to further students’ understanding. In the final part of the program, an assignment was given which involved the participants sending a video of their own class to Oxford EMI and receiving feedback.

The following are some of the comments that were given by faculty members who participated in the program: “It provided an opportunity to learn about methods for teaching in English and active learning.” “It was good that I was able to meet faculty from other universities and other fields.” In addition, many faculty members commented that “it was very helpful for conducting classes online in the Spring term.”

Moodle of the Oxford EMI trainig course