【Article by EMI Resource Center News】

What is EMI classroom observation quality assurance? The EMI Resource Center (EMI Center) held its second information session on October 12. The event was offered in a hybrid format with both in-person and online attendance with a view to enhancing participation. In addition to teachers taking part in classroom observation this semester, participants included faculty from both inside and outside the University who have not yet joined the observation scheme but wished to learn more about classroom observation and EMI courses.

The session was divided into three parts: sharing of experience, an introduction to the administrative procedures of classroom observation, and finally a Q&A and exchange among the participating teachers. After a brief introduction to the EMI Center by Center Director, Dr. Mei-Chuan Wei, Dr. Cheng-Han Wu, the Center's full-time faculty member and Contract Assistant Professor in the Department of English, explained the philosophy behind classroom observation and shared his experience both of being observed and of serving as an observer. Dr. Wu emphasized that classroom observation is centered on dialogue and interaction between EMI instructors and observers, built on observation and discussion, so that the EMI Center can gain a deeper understanding of, and provide, the support and resources faculty need when offering EMI courses.

Pu-Sheng Shen, the Center's full-time assistant, then gave a briefing on the classroom observation procedure and explained the purpose and use of the related documents. Center Director Dr. Mei-Chuan Wei added that the language used during classroom observation depends on the language shared by the instructor and the observer: most observations are conducted in Mandarin, while those for international faculty are conducted mainly in English. Regarding the lesson plan and observation record form, Dr. Cheng-Han Wu noted that in response to the feedback received the Center will consider to simplify the forms as much as possible without compromising the purpose of observation, so as to reduce the burden on both instructors and observers.

The Q & A session saw lively exchanges among the participating teachers. Dr. Jian-Jia Chiou of the Department of Finance asked how one should properly play the role of an observer, and which aspects an observer should pay particular attention to during an observation. Responding to the questions, Dr. Cheng-Han Wu, who has extensive observation experience, emphasized that the focus of observation is not the course content but rather how smoothly the class runs, and in particular teacher–student interaction, such as whether the instructor maintains eye contact with students while lecturing. Other questions such as who would see the observation record form were also asked. Center Director Dr. Mei-Chuan Wei explained that the record is filled in by the observer, but the discussion between the observer and the instructor during the post-observation debrief is, in effect, the content of the record; no one else sees the form.

Beyond EMI classroom observation, Dr. Jui-Jen Peng of the Department of Public Administration and Dr. Ming-Sheng, Wang of the Graduate Institute of Social Work also shared their experience of offering EMI courses. Dr. Peng said that his EMI course deals with technology-related laws, so teaching in English to a class made up predominantly of local students poses considerable challenges, especially in explaining specialized legal terms and concepts. This requires much more preparation time to ensure that students' learning outcomes are not affected by the course being taught in English.

After the session, Helena Hrdlickova, currently an exchange lecturer in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, spoke with the teachers present about Taiwanese students' participation and learning in EMI courses. She said the session had been very helpful and expressed the hope of joining more such events. Participating teachers also made the concrete suggestion of establishing an EMI faculty community for sharing experience and mutual support. Director Mei-Chuan, Wei said that a similar suggestions was made by teachers at the first information session and that the Center is tentatively planning a party at the end of the semester or the end of the year, inviting EMI course instructors to get to know one another and exchange experience in a relaxed, festive setting. This would also serve as an opportunity to build an EMI faculty community that meets regularly.

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The NCCU EMI Resource Center will host faculty development sessions on November 16 (Monday), November 30 (Monday), and December 7, 2026 (Monday). The sessions will feature Dr. Cheng-Han Wu (NCCU) and Dr. Charleen Chia-Lin Liu from the National Taiwan University of Arts (NTUA). Covering classroom teaching strategies, reading instruction, and course management, the sessions will share practical teaching methods and experiences that can be directly applied in EMI classrooms to enhance teaching effectiveness and student engagement. Each session is open for separate registration. All NCCU faculty members are welcome to participate. Details are as follows.

Event Information

Session 1: SMALL Moves, Stronger EMI

Time: Monday, November 16, 2026, 12:00–13:30

Speaker: Dr. Cheng-Han Wu (NCCU)

About: A ready-to-use toolkit built on four "SMALL" strategies: Scaffolding, Motivation, Active Learning, and Languaging.

Session 2: From Text to Connection: Making EMI Reading Active

Time: Monday, November 30, 2026, 12:00–14:00

Speaker: Dr. Cheng-Han Wu (NCCU)

About: A hands-on workshop using real course materials to try out Think–Pair–Share, the Frayer Model, and a Gallery Walk for more active EMI reading.

Session 3: My EMI Teaching Journey

Time: Monday, December 7, 2026, 12:00–13:30

Speaker: Dr. Charleen Chia-Lin Liu (NTUA)

About: How creative design and institutional support can raise EMI visibility and student participation.

Venue: Conference Room 5, 7th Floor, Administration Building

Registration: https://forms.gle/2DJjUxBndzcubvfv8 (October 12 – November 10)