tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647858.post114708484114725744..comments2024-03-22T16:44:22.235-04:00Comments on 外 not: "Perspectives on the Language Centers in Taiwan's Universities" SymposiumJonathan Bendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10697405682873882601noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647858.post-1148139313694611592006-05-20T11:35:00.000-04:002006-05-20T11:35:00.000-04:00Ha, ha, ha...you’re kidding, right? Actually, our ...Ha, ha, ha...you’re kidding, right? Actually, our budget at MCU ELC is independent of the DAE and we do most, but not, of our own administrative work. Now, it's true that the weird history of MCU creates its own academic problems, but the amazing thing is that even in national universities, when they set up compulsory English programs, the reports I hear all sound the same. I don't mean to sound Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647858.post-1147704387069507602006-05-15T10:46:00.000-04:002006-05-15T10:46:00.000-04:00There are some uncomfortable similarities between ...There are some uncomfortable similarities between what you're describing, Scott, and what I think we'll be soon experiencing. But I think one advantage (I hope!!!) about having a language center is that it would have its own budget line, separate from that of the FLLD. And another might be that there will (hopefully!!!!) be less pressure on faculty in the language center to publish in order to beJonathan Bendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10697405682873882601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647858.post-1147614044892844272006-05-14T09:40:00.000-04:002006-05-14T09:40:00.000-04:00As I have said elsewhere, I disagree completely wi...As I have said elsewhere, I disagree completely with Clyde concerning the place of English in Taiwan society. On the other hand, I have to agree completely with him concerning the mess created by the creation of language centers. Language centers are set up as though they are academic departments, but are then expected to fulfill the commercial needs of the school. At MCU, we are pressed in to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647858.post-1147190313381103292006-05-09T11:58:00.000-04:002006-05-09T11:58:00.000-04:00Thanks for your input, Clyde. What you said about ...Thanks for your input, Clyde. What you said about student motivation and university administration is sobering. And, unfortunately, it doesn't contradict the general feeling that I came away from symposium with. I would add that some current and upcoming changes in MOE requirements for promotion at private universities won't make things any better for language center teachers.Jonathan Bendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10697405682873882601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647858.post-1147147026277450422006-05-08T23:57:00.000-04:002006-05-08T23:57:00.000-04:00In my experience, and I've seen up close about fiv...In my experience, and I've seen up close about five of these over the past ten years, the center solves ONE problem only, and that is the required Freshman English classes (the recreation of a center at CYUT is an example--five years before the first center was closed). <BR/><BR/>This keeps these teachers out of the the regular FL or AFL department, so that strategies and standards can be made Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com