By Danni ZHENG, Centre for Foreign Languages

Starting university is an exciting milestone, but for many students, adjusting to a fully English-medium environment can be challenging. To help first-year students build confidence and essential skills from day one, the Centre for Foreign Languages (CFL) hosted this year’s English Enhancement Programme (EEP) from 1 to 5 September, before the first week of the academic year.

The programme brought together 2,400 incoming students, offering them a week of intensive training through six key academic courses: Academic Reading, Academic Writing, Academic Listening, Academic Speaking, Critical Thinking, and Academic Vocabulary. With the support of 40 dedicated teachers, students participated in engaging activities and strategy-based lessons designed to ease their transition to university life.

The Teachers’ Perspectives

Academic Reading – Dr. Peter Xiao Luo: EEP’s reading component enhances students' ability to read critically and selectively, encouraging independent thinking and the use of high-quality sources.

Academic Writing – Dr. Gabby Guozhi Cai: Mastering academic writing is a prerequisite to success in higher education. Through the EEP, freshmen can gain a glimpse of the key features of academic writing and begin to develop an awareness of the differences between academic English and general English.

Academic Listening – Mr. Alexander Mark James: Students learn to listen with a purpose, focusing on key concepts, theories, and subject-specific vocabulary.

Academic Speaking – Ms. Sharon Hsiao-han Chen: The course is designed to familiarize students with presenting research findings, summarizing ideas, and using credible evidence. It aims to strengthen students' academic communication abilities, preparing them for success in the upcoming semester.

Critical Thinking – Dr. Xueshan Zhang: The course lays the foundation for logical reasoning and analysis.

Academic Vocabulary – Mr. Vincent McGurran: Students explore strategies for approaching unfamiliar vocabulary and building confidence in using academic terms.

Student Voices

Ye Yantong: “EEP courses are practical for my future study in BNBU, especially the listening unit, which offers diverse solutions to enhance class efficiency.”

Wu Xinyi: “The EEP has greatly raised my courage to share uncertain ideas in public, boosting my confidence.”

Wang Ying: “The EEP course helped me overcome my fear of answering questions in English and made me more active in class interactions.”

Looking Ahead

Beyond EEP, the CFL will continue to provide ongoing language support throughout the year, offering writing workshops, speaking practice, consultations, and additional resources for all students across the university.

Through initiatives like the English Enhancement Programme, the university demonstrates its commitment to creating an inclusive learning environment where every student can thrive.

The success of this year’s EEP shows that a strong start can make all the difference.