The English Language Centre (ELC) of Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH) recently organised a three-week Summer English Programme 2020 (July 1 to 21) for nearly 300 incoming first-year students of the University of Macau (UM). This was the first time this programme was conducted fully online and with a new curriculum on English for Academic Purposes (EAP). It consisted of e-classroom learning, supervised study time and mentorship time. The programme aimed to help students adapt to UM’s study environment which uses English as the medium of instruction. Participating students said the programme significantly increased their confidence in English and improved their four language skills.
This year’s programme included a series of intensive courses with interactive online learning activities which included projects such as developing a promotional video, speaking journals and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) modules in which students of different UM faculties learn and practice using their subject-specific basic vocabulary through in-context passages and videos. Also, 33 programme assistants were invited to assist in the programme. These Programme Assistants provided essential academic support for students during supervised study time and mentorship time.
The programme was successfully completed on Tuesday, 21 July. Students were assessed using an innovative e-portfolio approach alongside other more traditional methods. Students showcased their new-found English confidence and abilities and get ready for university-level study success in the upcoming academic year.
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- 1. During the SEP e-class – the participating students were attentive to the instructor’s class
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- 2. In this class project, students were asked to compare two universities. This group was comparing the campuses of Tsinghua University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong
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- 3. In one of the SEP e-class project, students created a promotional video for a local Macao business, and in this photo, they were talking about some of the challenges they encountered while making the video
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- 4. SEP 2020 includes English For Specific Purposes (ESP) modules in which students of different UM faculties learn and practice using their subject-specific basic vocabulary through in-context passages and videos. Here is an example module for FBA and FSS students