Starting from this semester, the English Department has proposed a series of programs to upgrade TKU students’ English proficiency, including setting a English Corner at Building of Foreign Languages and Literatures, a website to promote reading ability—“Readathon” [http://www2.tku.edu.tw/~tfex/decwebsite/dechome.htm], and providing a writing consulting service by graduate students of English Department. Dr. Yueh-kuey Huang, chair of English Department, recommends TKU students to make good use of these resources to brace their English proficiency.

The “English Corner”, at FL112, is the hub for these resources. Various English TV series, and 52 English satellite TV channels are facilitated in the room. In addition, graduate students will provide English writing consulting services at T307 every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 7~9 p.m.

The “Readathon” website, which contains selected English news, information about latest fashionable entertainment, fun stuff, learning resources, etc., is set up to provide an enjoyable reading environment. Teachers of Freshman English courses can utilize the website materials for teaching and learning activities. As most websites do, “Readathon” is an ongoing project and will keep renewing the materials. English Department also holds “Freshman English Workshop” meetings to exchange teaching experiences and motivate students’ reading through various activities integrated with “Readathon.”

Besides, the English Department will open a new optional course “Advanced English” next semester for English majors. Those who fail the GEPT Intermediate Test (or TOEFL-CBT minimum 187, IELTS 5.5 grade) before their graduation have to take this course, which will drill those students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing through practices, and also provide information and simulated tests of TOEFL. Dr. Huang wishes that such course would be applied to students of other departments in the future. (~ Chen Chi-szu)

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