Arqus Provided Opportunities for Lecturers to Improve Their English Language Skills
From August 14 to 25 of this year, twelve lecturers from Vilnius University (VU) participated in intensive training on English for Specific and Academic Purposes organized by the Arqus alliance partner, Maynooth University in Ireland. The program was led by Prof. Valerie Heffernan, head of the School of Modern Languages, Literatures & Cultures (SMLLC) at Maynooth University, and Mark Hennessy, coordinator of English for Academic Purposes courses.
The training was designed for academic staff from Arqus alliance universities who teach courses in English as a medium of instruction (EMI), rather than their native language. The training emphasized not only the use of academic English in specific social and professional contexts but also focused on the development of pedagogical competencies and the promotion of critical thinking. Participants were introduced to various academic English vocabulary and discourse (teaching language) currently used in various fields of higher education. They gained pedagogical knowledge and learned how to apply it in practice. The intensive training allowed participants to apply their acquired language and pedagogical knowledge in authentic settings through individual and group tasks. Each day's sessions concluded with content summarization, with a particular focus on English language vocabulary and discourse, as well as reflection and question-and-answer sessions.
Dr. Giedrė Vaičekauskienė, a lecturer from the Faculty of Communication who participated in the training, mentioned that in preparation for the new semester, lecturers improved their academic English, shared knowledge, and practical insights about teaching philosophy, assessment methods, providing feedback, promoting students' academic reading, fostering creativity, and developing „pedagogical language”. The rich program of training for lecturers provided opportunities to expand their individual teaching and learning contexts, critically assess their personal teaching styles and methods on an international level and establish new university connections. "How can we constantly remain authentic, meet the requirements of higher education, and establish inclusive feedback with students? These questions were pondered during the Arqus alliance-organized training at Maynooth University in Ireland," recalled G. Vaičekauskienė.
The organization of these training sessions was made possible through the efforts of the Arqus alliance's Work Package 11 Arqus Plurilingual and Intercultural Hub. One of the tasks of this work package was to establish a stable and sustainable system for improving the language skills of the Arqus academic community. After analyzing the needs of the Arqus academic community, it became clear that it was necessary to organize training for university lecturers who teach in English as a non-native language. In response to this need, courses were organized at Maynooth University for VU lecturers in an English-speaking environment.
Furthermore, one of the objectives outlined in VU's Language Policy Guidelines and Implementation Plan is to „Improve the subject-specific English language competence of academic staff to reach at least C1 level according to the CEFR. A measure for achieving this objective is the „Development of Subject-Specific English Language Teaching and Learning for Academic Staff at the University. According to this plan, VU’s Pro-Rector for Studies, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Valdas Jaskūnas, initiated these training sessions. "We hope that the collaborative opportunities offered by the Arqus alliance will interest our academic community in the future. We invite you to follow the news of the Arqus alliance and actively participate not only in this impact but also in other activities of the Arqu” alliance,” said Pro-Rector V. Jaskūnas.