Darrell Thomas Healy
Michelle Daly
To comprehensively improve students’overall English application skills and better prepare them for fully English-taught professional courses, Limerick International College officially launched its English Language Enhancement Special Program on June 1st. This course, targeting all freshmen of the Class of 2024, will run through June 15th. It innovatively combines immersive teaching by foreign instructors with smart classroom technology, creating a new“learn-and-apply”language learning model. The program has quickly ignited students' enthusiasm, injecting strong momentum for rapid English improvement.
Prior to the launch, the college management team ensured smooth course implementation through sufficient preparation and coordination with multiple stakeholders. They specifically developed the“Limerick International College International Talent Enhancement and Development Implementation Plan,”scientifically designing the teaching scheme and rationally allocating resources. The course is delivered on campus by an experienced team of foreign instructors. Classes employ a fully immersive English teaching approach, focusing on strengthening core English language skills. To meet students' graduation language requirements, IELTS-specific training is integrated, covering all four areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, systematically enhancing students' language application abilities. Furthermore, the program incorporates diverse methods like case studies and project practice. Centered on the dual themes of“Academic English + Professional Scenarios,”it includes activities such as simulated seminars for fully English-taught professional courses and role-playing exercises for international academic conferences. This fosters a strong academic atmosphere and comprehensively improves students' professional English application skills.
To precisely address students’diverse needs, the college implements tiered teaching by discipline, scientifically dividing students into Class A and Class B. Content and pace are tailored for each class, ensuring effective guidance for every student. Course assessment results will also be linked to the graduation language test. Combining process assessment with summative evaluation, the program builds a language ability cultivation system covering the entire university learning cycle. Leveraging the advantages of IT-enabled teaching, smart classrooms serve as a key supporting platform. Multi-screen projection devices and a multimodal teaching resource library facilitate authentic English conversation practice, truly enabling students to“learn while using and apply immediately.”
This program aims to help students solidify their language foundation from the very beginning of their studies and establish a path for continuous development, creating a learning experience akin to being in an overseas classroom. Currently, the foreign instructors, Darrell Thomas Healy and Michelle Daly, have arrived on campus, and the courses are proceeding in an orderly manner. The implementation of this English Language Enhancement Special Program represents a significant practice for Limerick International College in deepening teaching reform and embodying its philosophy of cultivating international talents. Moving forward, the college will continue to explore effective pathways for language enhancement, continuously optimize the language learning ecosystem, and empower students to grow into interdisciplinary talents equipped with professional competence and an international perspective.
