Moscow, 20-21 November 2014

National University of Science and Technology MIS&S

English language environment @MISiS

2

MISiS at a glance

English language training and services for students

English language training and services for staff

Challenges and future prospects

10%

90%

MIS&S at a Glance

3

MIS&S in NUMBERS

MIS&S KEY HISTORICS FACTS

1930

MIS&S established

Specialization: metallurgy

1962

New research area: Superconductor materials

2000

New research area: nanomaterials

2010

New research area: metamaterials

2013

MIS&S is selected for 5-100 program

Entered top 100 BRICS universities

1976

Alexey Abrikosov, the Nobel prize winner in physics, Head of Theoretical Physics Department in 1976-91

International students

Russian students

Students Teaching and research staff Lecturing in English

98%

Russian staff

International staff

15 Thousand students 1,5

Thousand staff

84%

16%

Staff lecturing in Russian only

Staff lecturing in English

2012

MIS&S adopted new strategy

2%

English language training for Bachelor students

4

• 1-8 semesters • Modular organisation based on CEFR levels• Individual pathways according to placement• Blended-learning technology (60%-40% or 50%-50%)• Project work • Integration of General English and EAP• Introduction to ESP (ESAP, EOP)• Standardized testing (IELTS test)

5

Pathways to the English course

Pathway 1 Pathway 2 Pathway 3 Pathway 4 Pathway 5

1 А1 A2 B1 B1+ B2

2 A2 B1 B1+ B2 B2+

3 B1 B1+ B2 B2+ B2++

4 B1+ B2 B2+ B2++ C1

5 B2 B2+ B2++ C1 C1+

6 B2+ B2++ C1 C1+ C1++

7 IELTS IELTS IELTS IELTS IELTS

8 ESP ESP ESP ESP ESP

6

• F2F - Face-to-face session• LMS – Learning Management System• Online session

Blended learning cycle: Levels A1-B1

F2FLanguage

Input

LMSPractice

F2FProduction

LMSConsolidation

F2FSkills

development

LMSInteraction

and self-assessment

English language training for bachelors: results

7

18%

61%

17%

4%

Entry levels 2010

Level 0 Level A2

Level B1

Level A1

1%

14%

22%

36%

25%

2%

IELTS testing results 2014

Level 0 Level A1 Level A2 Level B1

Level B2Level C1

English language training for bachelors: Operations

8

• Admin team: academic coordinator, module coordinators, exam officer, internal trainers, tech support team

• Continuous professional development schemes• Quality assurance system

English language services and support for students

9

• Academic and technical support• Peer study groups• Joint events with subject teachers

English language training for bachelors: Effects

10

• Develops student academic skills• Promotes collaborative learning • Helps academic mobility• Contributes to enrollment • Establishes international standards • Increases MISiS brand awareness

2013 20140

102030405060708090

59

84

41

16

Was the intensive English training a factor that favoured your decision

to enter MISiS? (%)

Yes

No Yes No

11

• Low entry levels (60% - A0-A1)

• Increasing number of international students with beginner levels

• Low intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to learn English

• Insufficient academic skills including self-organisation, learner autonomy, team-work, academic integrity

• Lack of student familiarity with blended-learning or distance-learning models via technology

BA English language programme: Constraints

English environment outside of the curriculum

12

• BA in Linguistics • Language teacher training • Translation studies

• Centre for Foreign languages • Language support for academic mobility • Faculty training and testing

• International students support unit • Orientation• Cultural awareness• Integration into academic community

English language training and services for staff

13

• 2009 - 2012 General English language training for admin staff and faculty

• 2010 1-month training programme for subject teachers at Cambridge University

• 2010 – 2013 “English and methodology” regular training for faculty

• 2014 IELTS preparation and testing for faculty

Services for international faculty - + 1 admin staff from the USA to help international recruitment- Documentation in two languages

Challenges

14

• Little opportunity for use of English among staff and students

• Lack of horizontal communication between departments and units

• Resistance to change

Prospects

15

• Review of language programmes for MA and PhD

• Set up peer tutor scheme for BA and MA students

• Get more involved with working group on change management and internal communication

Questions?

16

riyal@misis.ruwww.misis.ru National University of Science and Technology ‘MISiS’