Successful “farewell” symposium on the growing use of English in the international classroom

On Thursday April 24, 2014, the Language Centre organized a symposium on the growing use of English in higher education, to mark the retirement of English teacher Bob Wilkinson. Not only did speakers from The Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Georgia contribute to the programme, the audience and a panel of experts (Joop de Jong, Christel van Gool, Maia Rogava & René de Groot) also engaged in a lively debate about the challenges they encounter on a daily basis in the use of English in the international classroom.  

Please find the various presentations and speeches below:

• Innocence lost and humanity found. Going beyond naïve expectations and strong prejudices in English Medium Instruction.
Charles van Leeuwen, UM FASoS and former director of the UM Language Centre

• To teach in English, or not to teach in English, is that the question?
Maia Rogava, Ilia State University, Tblisi, Georgia

• From implementation to quality assurance to language development: The next step for English in the HE classroom.
Glenn Ole Hellekjær, Department of Teacher Education and School Research, University of Oslo.

• The good the Bob and the ugly.
Erik Driessen, Maastricht University, FHML Education Office

• To ELF or not to ELF. English as a lingua franca in the life of Antwerp English majors.
Kris van de Poel, Head of Applied Language studies, University of Antwerp

• From Dunglish to English.
Tom van Veen, Dean of Internationalisation of Education, UM
Alexandra Rosenbach, Policy advisor Internationalisation, UM

• EMI and the Maastricht experience: lessons I have to unlearn.
Bob Wilkinson, Maastricht University Language Centre

The symposium programme was closed by Nick Bos, vice dean of Maastricht University.

The organizing team once again thanks the speakers and panelists. Thanks to them and to the active interest and participation of the audience the symposium turned into a success. Most important of all, Bob and his partner, Ineke, utterly enjoyed and appreciated the entire day.

The Observant interviewed one of our speakers, Charles van Leeuwen, prior to the symposium. You can read the article here.

<< Back