English for Higher Education Professionals

The English for Higher Education Professionals course is an intensive professional training course that aims to help participants express themselves more confidently and accurately in English in international HE settings.

Course Overview

The English for Higher Education Professionals course is an intensive professional training course that aims to help participants express themselves more confidently and accurately in English in international Higher Education settings while also getting the opportunity to experience and explore the charm and vibrancy of modern day Dublin.

Who is it for?

The English for Higher Education Professionals (HEP) course is an intensive professional training course for academics and administrators working in Higher Education Institutions who need English to regularly interact effectively with students and colleagues.

Format

This English for HE Professionals course can be organised as either a one-week or two-week course and consists of 20 classroom-based sessions per week, plus an extensive cultural and social programme led by your teacher trainers.

  • 20 lessons of group tuition / week
  • 1 lesson = 50 minutes
  • Course Duration: 1 week or 2 weeks
  • Level: Upper-intermediate (B2)
  • Course Location: Dublin

2024 Dates

Spring 2024 Summer 2024 Winter 2024
11th March – 23rd March 1st July – 13th July 9th December – 20th December
25th March – 6th April 29th July – 10th August

Course Aims

  • Manage communications and participate in meetings with students more effectively.
  • Be able to better decode and respond to oral and written messages (cross-cultural communication).
  • Demonstrate increased control and flexibility over a range of grammatical structures and functions to communicate ideas for a range of academic purposes.
  • Gain awareness of Irish culture and society through topical, interactive lessons.
  • Establish contacts between teachers from a variety of education systems and facilitate future networking.

Methodology

This is a practical course which uses real teaching and learning tasks. Teachers completing the course will return home with immediate, practical ideas to implement in their own work and / or teaching practice.

Participants are expected to actively participate in the workshops, reflecting on their own beliefs and practice, and sharing thoughts, ideas and expertise in pair work, small groups and with the class as a whole.

During the course participants will also take part in a range of afternoon activities where they will be encouraged to develop their language skills in a more informal environment outside the classroom and further enhance their knowledge of contemporary Ireland.

Course Themes and Sample Timetable

The English for Higher Education Professionals course has three main components:

  • Communicating in International Contexts

  • Language Skills for Higher Education *
  • Irish Life and Culture (including focus on language development)

The Language Skills for HE component has two distinct strands. One for academics, and a distinct one for administrators working in HE to reflect their different professional duties and tasks.

* Language Skills for HE – Academics Strand

  • Planning and Delivering Lectures
  • Language for Seminars (Explanation, Supporting Evidence)
  • Research Writing

* Language Skills – Administrators Strand

  • Language for Client Services (Clarification, Mediation)

  • Organising and Conducting Meetings

  • Email Writing

To ensure your course meets your development objectives, the schedule of sessions on every course is drawn up and agreed with each group of participants and Erasmus Plus coordinators on the basis of pre-course training needs analysis questionnaires.

Week One
(Sample)
Session One
9am to 10.40am
Session Two
11am to 12.40pm
Afternoon Activity
Monday Course Orientation.

 

Communicating Beyond Words – it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. Non-verbal communication

Dublin’s Parks, Squares and Public Spaces Orientation tour of the city
Tuesday Getting the Right Message – politeness, hedging, directness, dealing with uncertainty The Higher Education System in Ireland Visit to Trinity College Dublin and The Book of Kells
Wednesday Enhanced Academic Writing Using Corpora Ireland, the EU and Brexit, The Border and a Border Poll Walk and Talk Tour – Local History
Thursday Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Higher Education – What’s happening, where is it going, how does it affect teachers and learners, how can we use it? The CEFR / An introduction to IELTS – what it is and what it isn’t Visit to MoLi – Museum of Literature Ireland
Friday Student Motivation and Wellbeing Reflection on learning. Looking ahead. End of course feedback and Irish Coffee Free afternoon

(Option: join our Film and Fluency Club)

Saturday Full day excursion to Howth

Follow Up

Participants on the course are encouraged to keep in contact, sharing materials and experiences when back in your own classrooms. Follow-up contact is made with the participants three months after completion of the course to gather feedback on the effectiveness of the classroom activities presented and on how your teaching practice has been developed. The course trainers are available for follow-up advice and support at all times.

Price List

1 - week training course

450
  • Programme includes materials, excursions and activities.
  • Additional Fee: Homestay Accommodation: €265 for one week of host family accommodation (single room, half-board) + €65 placement fee

2 - week training course

890
  • Programme includes materials, excursions and activities.
  • Additional Fee: Homestay Accommodation: €530 for two weeks of host family accommodation (single room, half-board) + €65 placement fee