English Language Centers at universities?

Work Teaching English in Taiwan
1

Hi,

I’ve been able to learn that most foreign teachers of English at the university level (at least in universities of technology) are attached to the Applied Foreign Language department of that university.

However, I have also been told (briefly) about another type of English school, also WITHIN a university, called an “English Language Center.” As far as I can tell, this center seems to run somewhat like a bushiban within a university. It hires foreign teachers, not at the PhD professor level, etc, but rather instructors at the master’s degree level.

Can anyone tell me what the ELC is and how it differs from what the teachers in the AFL Dept do?

Any idea what the ELC is called in Mandarin?

Thanks for your help.

2

Take a look at Michael Turton’s site. It mainly deals with teaching at a university, but there is something about the language school part. Not overly flattering if I remember.

users2.ev1.net/~turton/teach_index.html

3

Thanks for the reference. Turton’s site was one that, fortunately, I located early on. I did go back to it, after reading your post, and look for info there on ELCs. Didn’t see any explicit references.

My only “clue” so far is that ELCs MAY BE the classes in English that are taught to non-English majors at universities (mandatory two years of English for every student, etc).

If anyone knows something specifically about ELCs at universities, I’d really like to know/talk to you.

Thanks.

4

[quote=“seeker4”]Hi,

However, I have also been told (briefly) about another type of English school, also WITHIN a university, called an “English Language Center.” As far as I can tell, this center seems to run somewhat like a buxiban within a university. It hires foreign teachers, not at the PhD professor level, etc, but rather instructors at the master’s degree level.

Can anyone tell me what the ELC is and how it differs from what the teachers in the AFL Dept do?

Thanks for your help.[/quote]

An ELC is a separate (usually not always) department within the College of Foreign Languages, etc. It provides courses to the rest of the school which may or may not include English major students. It is NOT a buxiban. However, some departments may run additional English Language courses to supplement these.

The ELCs I have worked in operate exactly like other departments, and tend to hire like other departments. Most Universities I am familiar with would prefer to hire Ph.D’s for these courses, too, but due to lack of adequate supply make do with Masters.

AFL means that the emphasis is on practical rather than academic English (read: literature), including business English, etc. This normally takes students from first year to fourth year with a degree appropriately entitled.

There are however different kinds of ELC where one kind merely serves the students in that institution, but the extension version which opens courses to all comers (like LTTC, etc) is much more like a regular buxiban than any of the previous mentioned.

Some schools have both traditional, AFL and ELC departments, and even an extension dept. thrown in for good measure.

However, the individual organisation of these departments may vary from school to school quite considerably. Hence my evasive language.

Lines are grayed in many areas, though as some extension colleges do provide traditional format degrees.

It depends.

Kenneth

5

In many cases, it’s two words: cash cow.

Requirements to get on staff are usually less stringent, as well.

HTH
Terry