The course

‘English for Lecturers’ aims to provide lecturers who teach their courses in English as a second/foreign language with the support to hone advanced language skills and become more effective communicators in undertaking English-medium professional activities. Please note that three separate modules, Grammar & Practice, Communication for University Teaching, Vocabulary Expansion are available in the course and they run independently of each other. 

Grammar & Practice: this module reviews and consolidates the key grammatical areas essential for functioning effectively in academic contexts. It covers eight broad topics that deal with the most problematic usage issues in English grammar. In the lessons we will first discuss the grammar rules relating to each topic, then do practical exercises at advanced level. There will be plenty of opportunity for individual oral presentations and group discussions. This module has been considered highly useful by past participants, including those who had planned on taking the ITACE exam. The module consists of 20 hours and runs for 10 weeks. 

Please click here to register for the Grammar Module by 26th September 2022 at the latest. 

For whom?

The course is intended for members of staff employed by the VUB, including postdoctoral researchers and teaching assistants. Full-time PhD students are not eligible for this course, as the Doctor Schools provide them with tailor-made training courses. Lecturers working elsewhere are welcome to register for the course provided there are places available.

Lecturers who are unable to take the course can contact the course instructor to request individual support by appointment through Jianwei.Xu@vub.be

Teacher

The course is taught by Jianwei Xu, who holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics and an MEd in TESOL from La Trobe University, Australia. She has strong intercultural awareness and extensive experience in teaching English as a second/foreign language in higher education. Her research interests reside primarily in the sociocultural perspectives on second language learning and teaching, intercultural education, and multilingualism and heritage language education. 

Where and when?

Hybrid face-to-face.

Friday 2 – 4pm. Specific lesson dates are indicated in the registration form.

Registration conditions

Register by 26th September 2022.

Price

VUB staff: free of charge

External: 290 euros

Maximum number of participants

15