Twenty faculty members from the School of Foreign Languages SWJTU attended the vocational training in the University of Reading, UK, from July 30, 2014 to August 25, which was sponsored jointly by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and SWJTU. This training involves professional training courses and various cultural activities, which has broadened participants’ international vision and enriched their theoretical and practical knowledge in English teaching.
The training courses were designed and offered mainly by the International Study and Language Institute of the University of Reading. The three-week training covered courses concerning language teaching and British culture. The lecturers at the courses of the language teaching displayed to the trainees how the University of Reading and other universities of UK practiced the teaching of English for Academic Purposes (EAP). Teachers of the University of Reading gave demonstration lessons, exemplifying how to carry out listening, speaking, reading and writing drills under the linguistic context of EAP, and elaborating on these drills from the theories of language teaching and second language acquisition (SLA). The special presentations greatly inspired and enlightened the trainees, such as the ones about the evaluation of EAP proficiency, writing of academic papers and reports for international academic conferences, and languages in the discussion courses. From the British cultural courses, the trainees understood the multicultural policies and their status quo, the style and present situation of British newspapers, the current comedy shows, as well as the famous National Trust (the National Trust), etc. They also visited the local museums, cathedral relics and Vernon Manor, and learned Scottish dancing.
In between the courses, teachers from SWJTU also spared time to tour cultural sites in London and visited world-renowned universities like the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and University of York. The trainees gained a better understanding of British history and of how to carry forward and properly utilize the historical treasures like the ancient buildings and excellent academic traditions of Oxford and Cambridge.
During the training, faculty members from SWJTU won plaudits from teachers of the University of Reading. With a strong sense of cooperation, they actively participated in classroom activities, complied with the attendance disciplines and cared for each other during their studies in UK. The temporary class committee, consisting of Zeng Xiangmin, Li Hao, Pu Maohua, Ou Bangming, Dai Zhiyong and Fu Huaquan, played its full part during the training. Upon the completion of courses, all teachers were granted diplomas by the International Study and Language Institute of the University of Reading.