From January 22nd to February 2nd, 2024, 10 teachers from the School of Foreign Languages who led by the Dean of the School of International Education, Yan Hui. They successfully completed a two-week offline teacher training course which called English Language Bridge (ELB) at Curtin University in Australia. Teachers who have obtained the training qualification will provide ELB course training for our students who will go to Curtin University for further studies.
On the morning of January 22nd, Dr. Peyman Sabet, a ELB training teacher at Curtin University warmly welcomed everyone and introduced the project overview and main learning content. Dean Yan expressed gratitude for the warm reception from Curtin University and conveyed expectations for the training program. Dr. Sabet then led all teachers on a tour of Curtin University campus.
Teachers and Dr. Sabet took a photo together
Curtin University Introduction
Curtin University's history can be traced back to 1966 and is the largest public comprehensive research university in Western Australia. The school currently has over 58,000 students, from a total of 105 countries. 25% of the students are international students from overseas. Curtin University has a long history and deep culture. Bentley Campus is the main campus which is beautiful and quiet with no walls separating it from the surrounding community.
Curtin University Bentley Campus
Curtin University ELB Course Introduction
The ELB course is the school's English language course which designed to provide international students with opportunities to learn English. This course covers multiple aspects of English learning, including listening, speaking, reading and writing. Through different teaching methods and activities, it provides students with a high-quality English learning environment.
This course includes multiple levels, ranging from beginner to advanced. Students can choose the level that suits them for learning. The teaching content of the course not only focuses on the learning of English skills, but also includes the development of academic English expression and academic research abilities. This course also includes Australian culture、social knowledge and practical skills which provids necessary support and assistance for students' study and life in Australia.
Curtin University ELB Classroom
In the two-week intensive training course, Dr. Sabet and Dr. Michele Doray (the training director of ELB) taught our teachers about teaching methods, linguistic theories, updates and developments in foreign language teaching theories, as well as how to teach English grammar, vocabulary, reading, and other courses. They emphasized the construction of student-centered classrooms and how to cultivate students' ability to learn independently. The teachers conducted two lesson designs on grammar and vocabulary through group collaboration and improved the teaching plan after listening to the constructive opinions of two PhDs.
This training program also gaved opportunities for teachers to visit and observe the ELB classroom teaching at Curtin University where everyone had the chance to closely observe and participate in the teaching of ELB courses.
Dr. Sabet's Task Based Language Teaching
Dr. Doray discusses reading classrooms with teachers
Click to watch the video of teachers participating in training
Teachers not only gained new insights in teaching methods and practices but also updated their teaching philosophy and improved their teaching skills through interaction and communication with experts. They also reflected on and planned how to apply these insights to their classroom teaching at Shanghai Zhongqiao Vocational and Technical University and provide high-quality ELB English training courses for international communication among Shanghai Zhongqiao Vocational and Technical University students.
