July 1, 2021
Dr. Jan Hare, Dean pro tem, is pleased to announce that, as of July 1, the English Language Institute (ELI) became part of the Faculty of Education. The ELI’s staff, operations and programs will form an important component of the Faculty of Education’s growing slate of international educational opportunities.
Since 1969, the ELI has provided English language learning opportunities to thousands of international students each year. Programs include the Vancouver English Experience Program, English for Academic Purposes, Business English, and Global Citizenship through English, among other offerings. In pre-pandemic times, students travelled to Vancouver to access the programs, which comprise modules of 3 to 8 weeks. Most students reside with a homestay family and participate in a range of social and cultural activities with their homestay families and with UBC students acting as cultural assistants.
There is a long history of collaboration between the Faculty of Education, most particularly the Department of Language and Literacy Education (LLED) and the ELI. For 23 years, the ELI Curriculum Advisory Committee has included a cohort of LLED faculty including Professors Duff, Norton, Shi and Reeder. Half of ELI’s current cohort of instructors were trained in LLED, and LLED graduate students regularly work in the ELI. Much of the ELI approach to language pedagogy has been influenced by research and theory from LLED.
ELI’s transition into Faculty of Education will yield many positive outcomes for learners, staff and faculty in both units.
We extend a warm welcome to our new colleagues!
