SUSU delegation represented by Elena Yaroslavova (Acting Director of ILIC), Ksenia Volchenkova (Head of the Department of Foreign Languages), and Associate Professor at the Department of Linguistics and Translation Irina Stavtsevatook part in International Conference on ESP/EAP/EMI in the Context of Higher Education Internationalization. The conference was held at MISIS National University of Science and Technology on November 23 – 25, 2017.
The conference was organized by MISIS National University of Science and Technology jointly with the Association of Global Universities in cooperation with the British Council in Russia, New Economic School, and “Pronunciation” Section of the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (ITEFL, UK). The event was actively supported by the international publishing houses and organizations who also were among the participants (Cambridge University Press, Macmillan Publishers, University of Cambridge Local Exams Syndicate, Klett, Skyeng). In the course of the conference, Russian and foreign experts discussed key issues in the field of teaching English language – a language of science and education. It is for the fourth time that MISIS National University of Science and Technology, being one of the Project 5-100 participants, is holding a conference of such scale. The forum aims at providing the universities participating in Project 5-100 with an opportunity to exchange experience in language training, as well as to expand collaboration with other Russian and foreign universities. This conference is also a venue for discussing the main issues of teaching English in higher education with international experts.
Ksenia Nikolaevna Volchenkova delivered her presentation on “Spontaneous Emerging of the University EMI (English Medium Instruction), Its Thorough Development and Implementation” at this conference. EMI is a new field of development in the context of a school of higher education, which comes as a result of the globalization and internationalization processes in the system of higher education. As part of her presentation, Ksenia Nikolaevna shared her experience in developing the course on “English Medium Instruction” designated for university professors who give lectures and teach specialized English language courses to foreign students. The presentation sparked interest among the conference participants, and collaboration in this field was offered by the scientists from St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and ITMO University. The presentation delivered byIrina Vyacheslavovna Stavtseva covered the issues of developing and fulfilling a model of continuing education for professors of the Department of Foreign Languages working under project “Advanced Language Training for Bachelor Degree Students”.
Case format allowed to demonstrate the specifics of solutions to difficult tasks on organizing and holding trainings for professors of the Department of Foreign Languages. Special attention in the presentation by Irina Vyacheslavovna was paid to the specifics of holding a methodological workshop “My Pedagogical Know-How”, to an original advanced training course “Technology of Blended Learning in the Context of Communicative Approach”, and to joint work of professors on creating a system of online support.
Within the frameworks of the events held under Project 5-100 in cooperation with the Association of Global Universities, Elena Yaroslavova and Ksenia Volchenkova participated in the meeting of the “English Medium” working group, where cases of universities were considered and the plan of actions for 2018 was outlined. A speech was delivered by the conference participants’ colleague from the University of Cambridge, Doctor Karen Ottewell managing a group on development of an academic literacy test. Also, the conference participants attended a lecture by the leading pronunciation expert Robin Walker. The group members held a discussion and drew a list of topics and issues for the next year’s meeting:
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University Language Policy;
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Academic Skills Assessment, and Ways of Assessing Academic Literacy;
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Linguistic Aspects of Teaching English as Lingua Franca;
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Language Problems in International Professional Communities;
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Considering University Cases on Developing Academic Skills/Educational Self-regulation; and
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Summarizing Changes/Achievements of the Universities while Participating in Project 5-100.
The conference was organized by MISIS National University of Science and Technology under Project 5-100. Elena Nikolaevna Yaroslavova supervises event М. 8.1.3 “Implementing Advanced Language Training in Bachelor Degree Program”, Ksenia Nikolaevna Volchenkova supervises event М. 2.1.1 “Implementing Best Language Practices”, Irina Vyacheslavovna Stavtseva is a member of the М. 8.1.3 project team.