Bilingual Education Program for Students and Teachers (BEST)

at National Taipei University of Education

A. English Instruction Ratio Reaching 70% in the year 2022 to 2023

To enhance students' English proficiency and improve their competitiveness in the job market, the university's freshman English teachers reached a consensus to adopt a fully English-taught curriculum. English oral assessments were also integrated into the courses. The Center of General Education offered specific courses, featuring our school’s highlights such as "Teaching Professional Development English," "English for Exhibitions," "News English," "Application of English Picture Books in Elementary English Classes," "English for Cultural Tourism," "Business English," "English Presentation and Public Speaking," and "English Picture Book Reading for Appreciation" as English for Specific Purpose (ESP) courses. These courses were open to all students for electives based on personal interests or professional development needs. 

B. 9.6% of Sophomores and First-Year Master's Students Enrolled in EMI Courses

NTUE aimed to increase opportunities for students to take EMI courses. To achieve this, faculty with foreign doctoral degrees were brought together, and a professional development community for English-medium instruction (EMI) teachers was established to sharpen teachers’ skills in EMI classes with a focus on teaching strategies and digital learning. Between the years 2022 to 2023, there were a total of 50 EMI courses, with 184 credits offered by 32 teachers. EMI courses were more prevalent in international degree programs, in particular, such as in the Master’s program in Contemporary Art Criticism and Curatorial Studies and also in the International Master's program in Learning and Instruction. In total, there were about 8.32% of sophomores, 18.93% of juniors, 9.86% of seniors, and 9.21% of first-year master's students completed EMI courses between the years 2022 to 2023 at NTUE. 

C. Introduction of Interdisciplinary courses for "English Enhancement for Faculty and Staff"

The 15-week English enhancement courses, including group and spoken courses, were offered. The curriculum was designed, based on the B1 Pre-Intermediate level of Cambridge English. Federal employees, faculty members, and staff were prioritized in the program, with 40 participants. The 30 classes included 18 listening and reading classes, 10 speaking classes, one formative assessment, and one summative assessment. 

In addition, to improve writing skills, participants also completed six English essays during the course. 

D. Establishment of an International Bilingual Resource Platform for Academic and Cultural Exchange

For academic exchange, NTUE collaborated with the University of Bern in Switzerland on the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Program, using platforms such as Discord and FlipGrid. Students from both schools, led by three professors, engaged in a 10-week course discussing the education systems and language education in Switzerland and Taiwan, as well as exploring the design of issue-oriented lesson plans. To promote international exchange, NTUE established a Minecraft metaverse server, with students serving as "Minecraft International Exchange Ambassadors." Various English activities were organized through Minecraft, and distinctive university buildings were created in the Minecraft world for communication and promotion. Additionally, we participated in a five-week EVO Minecraft MOOC international exchange event, sharing current achievements in community activities in English and engaging in discussions. The project aims to establish an international bilingual resource platform by 2025, achieving international academic and cultural exchange outcomes and consolidating English enhancement resources.