The College of International Culture, Education and Foreign Affairs (hereafter referred to as the College of ICEFA) at Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages has been recognized as one of the key colleges to promote English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) for realizing Taiwan’s Bilingual 2030 plan. Focusing on the use of English in an international context, the College of ICEFA not only offers English language training, but also provides courses in the disciplines of Culture and Education, International Affairs, and Negotiation and Communication. Moreover, it has taken the initiative to offer EMI courses in the fields of international economics and global politics. This academic enterprise advances the traditional method of English language education in a local context. In the 2021/22 (academic year 110), the College of ICEFA offered 200 EMI courses for students in various disciplines.
A majority of English proficiency tests offered in Taiwan are simply listening and reading tests. These types of tests fall short of accurately representing students’ English proficiency. The College of ICEFA has adopted a 4-skill English proficiency test to address this issue. All freshmen (including the English department, International Affairs department, Translation and Interpreting department, and Foreign Language Instruction department) will take the Versant 4 Skills Essential Test developed by the American publishing company, Pearson. This will be conducted using pre- and post-tests to assess the progress of students’ English ability when enrolled in EMI courses. The 35-minute test includes all four skills necessary to be considered proficient in English: Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. The test is adapted to students’ proficiency level and students’ results will be available immediately after taking the test. Moreover, the College also partially subsidizes students to take other internationally recognized 4-skill English proficiency tests (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS) for various learning needs.
To encourage students to challenge their English skills, the College of ICEFA provides financial incentives. When students demonstrate a 4-skill English proficiency level of B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) before entering their sophomore year, they will receive a scholarship of NTD 3,000. A scholarship of NTD 5,000 will be awarded to students with a C1 level of proficiency. Senior students with a total of 75% or more credits in EMI courses will receive a scholarship of NTD 10,000. Besides offering a subsidy for the English proficiency test, the College will also subsidize students who are earning internationally recognized certificates in their specific professions with a maximum award of NT$10,000. This will help to assure students’ competitiveness in the international market.
In order to improve the teaching quality in EMI courses, the College of ICEFA implemented a classroom observation strategy to see how both Chinese and English are used in EMI classrooms. Additionally, the observation will focus on the classroom interactions between teachers and students, and provide feedback to EMI instructors. The College will also host EMI online workshops for instructors to share insights and experiences.
With 56 years of solid foundation in foreign language instruction at Wenzao, the College of International Culture, Education and Foreign Affairs continues to thrive and refine its programs to benefit students’ academic experiences. The College imports the talent pool of faculty members, students and alumni from around the world. It harnesses the energy and clear vision of foreign affairs as it provides the finest EMI faculty training for the 2030 Bilingual Nation, and expands the horizons of international culture and education. With this talent cultivation, the College of ICEFA is committed to raise Taiwan’s international reputation and visibility.
