From September 12 to September 17, 2014, President Zhu Yixin, togetherwith Professor Lu Xiaoyong, Head of the Department of Publish English Teaching,led a delegation of seven members to visit Southeast Asian Ministers ofEducation Organization Regional Language Center, National University ofSingapore and Nanyang Polytechnic, learning about the educational concept oftechnical & vocational institutions of higher learning, the module oftraining the talent and the experience in conducting the international cooperation.

During the meeting with Mr. Lv Xiaodong, the Director of Southeast AsianMinisters of Education Organization Regional Language Center, the members ofthe delegation learned that the organization paid much attention to theeducational concept and the teaching methodology during the training oflanguages. The institution adopted the tailor-made program method, trying totrigger the learners’ interest by combining the communication in English andthe cultural cognitive skills. By holding English international conferences onthe regular basis, the institution accelerates the international cooperation.

The next stop was the National University of Singapore. The delegationheld an in-depth discussion with Professor Bao Zhiming, Associate Dean of theEnglish Department of the University, learning about the curriculum design ofthe courses of the English major. Professor Bao emphasized that only by layinga solid foundation of the students’ language skills and knowledge can thestudents learn the language at their own pace and can they apply the languagewithout much difficulty at their work. After the discussion, the delegationvisited the campus of the University and experienced the different atmosphereof the University.

When having the discussion with the faculty from Nanyang Polytechnic,Mr. Huang Yunmo, the Director of the Department of International Development,described the 51 Programs and its language and communication courses withdistinctive features. The course takes into full account the needs of workplace, highlighting the necessity to train students’ ability of using thelanguage in real context of workplaces. President Zhu Yixin also introduced thecharacteristic features of the teaching in our college and proposed sometentative approaches through which the two tertiary schools may initiate thecooperation in international context.

During the visit, the delegation held two discussionson how to absorb the advanced experience from the overseas institutions ofhigher learning and reached consensus on how to enhance the quality of theforeign language teaching and learning and develop the characteristic featuresof ours. In addition, the delegation also visited National Museum of Singaporeand Peranaka Museum, deepening the understanding of the history and culture ofSingapore. (Contributed by the Department of Public English Teaching.)