There has been a growing feeling within the National Institute of Technology that students need to improve their foreign language ability due to the globalization of society. In particular, students are expected to develop their speaking skills in English, such as making presentations and discussing a wide range of topics in class. For this purpose, an increasing number of colleges have entered into academic partnership with universities overseas, encouraging students to study foreign language there. This paper reports on the four-week English language program that was originally developed for our students at Singapore Polytechnic from 26 August to 24 September 2016. This program has provided group work and experiential tours so that our students can strengthen their confidence in overcoming the language barrier. The students had several opportunities to give presentations in the lectures. To evaluate the effectiveness of the program and gather suggestions for improvement, we conducted a questionnaire with the participants. Almost all of the students were satisfied with the program. In view of the encouraging feedback, we consider this program effective in motivating students to learn English.
english for specific purposes (ESP)
english for general purposes (EGP)
overseas training
active learning
intercultural understanding
student exchange