As universities expand English-Medium Instruction (EMI), many face the same challenge: how to ensure students can actively participate and succeed in increasingly multilingual classrooms. At National Taiwan University (NTU), a newly certified faculty development programme is helping educators translate bilingual education policy into practical teaching strategies that support student confidence, engagement, and learning outcomes.
The EMI Teaching Resource Center at NTU recently received official certification from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education for its “EMI Plus Faculty Development Workshop.” The recognition reflects growing attention across higher education to the importance of preparing faculty not only to teach in English, but to create inclusive and effective bilingual learning environments for students from diverse linguistic and academic backgrounds.
A key feature of the programme is its integration of the internationally recognised Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) with teaching strategies tailored to EMI classrooms. Developed by a cross-disciplinary NTU team spanning life sciences, management, humanities, and engineering, the five-day, 36-hour workshop focuses on practical classroom application rather than theory alone. Faculty participants explore approaches such as the BOPPPS teaching framework and linguistic scaffolding techniques designed to reduce learning anxiety, strengthen classroom interaction, and improve student comprehension in bilingual settings.
The workshop also places strong emphasis on peer feedback and reflective teaching practice. Under the guidance of certified ISW facilitators, participants engage in multiple rounds of micro-teaching, discussion, and revision before completing a final teaching demonstration. Upon completion, educators receive certification from the Ministry of Education, the Taiwan Assessment and Evaluation Association, NTU, and the international ISW network.
As universities across Asia continue to strengthen bilingual education capacity, NTU hopes the programme can contribute to a wider community of educators equipped to support high-quality, student-centred multilingual learning environments.