ENHANCING FOREIGN LANGUAGE- MEDIUM PROGRAMMES IN HIGHER EDUCATION A PROJECT REPORT

1. ENHANCING FOREIGN LANGUAGE- MEDIUM PROGRAMMES IN HIGHER EDUCATIONA PROJECT REPORT ANNA ZELENKOVÁ - MÁRIA SPIŠIAKOVÁ Faculty of Economics, MBU in Banská Bystrica

2. Aim To introduce the project „Enhancing Foreign Language-Medium Study Programmes at MBU” – activity: developing professional competences of teachers teaching in these programmes

3. Project activities • Creating new joint-degree study programmes • Innovating present courses in foreign languages • Teacher training and building a self-study centre for foreign languages

4. Activity 3 • Aimed at students’ needs • Satisfying teachers’ needs To create a space for autonomous learning and improving language and specific-content knowledge

5. Main prerequisite Professionally prepared teacher • Teacher training courses for teachers participating in study programmes in foreign languages (English, German)

6. Teacher-training Preparatory phase 1. Needs analysis (questionnaire, 180 teachers, language and pedag. needs) 2. Course design • Foreign language improvement • Pedagogy / methodology • Intercultural competence Realisation phase 4 courses in English, 1 in German

7. Content: • language • pedagogy • intercultural competence

8. Topics • co-operative learing and team work • facilitation of discussion and academic debate • effective questions supporting learning • learning by solving problems and by tasks • providing feedback • understandig intercultural differences • classroom management in a English • alternative assessment methods

9. Language competence • Use of English in the teaching process and academic situations • Presenting and communicating views and opinions • Communicating in intercultural environment

10. Pedagogic competence • Based on constructivist theory of learning • Learning theories (Gardner’s model) • Innovative methodology (learner- and learning-centred) • Development of student’s autonomy (self-study) • Innovation of teaching materials

11. Intercultural competence • understanding cultural differences and cultural diversity • cultural values and beliefs that influence behaviour • body language across cultures • culture in the classroom

12. Trainers´experience Teachers appreciated: • Acquired knowledge about innovative methodology by practical applications of methods • Approaches to syllabus design: defining learning outcomes communication learning outcomes monitoring and assessment practical classroom management

13. Trainers´experience Teachers appreciated: • importance of students´reflection on the ways of learning • knowledge about learning theories and learning styles (Gardner´s multiple intelligences theory) • being in the role of learners

14. Contribution to the strategic goal of the project • changes in and restructuralisation of curricula • improved quality of higher education Higher competitiveness of university on the European education market

15. Thanky you. Questions?