Two2Tango, tandems for teaching in the glocal classroom

This course is intended for teachers who wish to develop their teaching skills and their intercultural awareness for teaching the international classroom in English. It is equivalent to 2 weeks of full-time study (3 credit points for docentur).

What is the course about?

The aim of this course is to enhance the pedagogical, cultural and linguistic competences of university teachers for teaching in the international classroom.  Participants will be encouraged to adopt a reflective approach to teaching and learning through discussing issues related to teaching multilingual and multicultural learning spaces in English, while exchanging their reflections within an international community of practice.

This online tandem will provide participants with a variety of opportunities to improve their oral communication skills alongside the teaching skills and intercultural skills needed for the international classroom.

After completing the course, participants should be able to:

  • Implement a reflective approach to their teaching practice in the international classroom
  • Reflect on the international classroom and on harnessing its cultural diversity, based on research in the field 
  • Receive and respond to feedback on own reflections from both a facilitator and your peers 
  • Identify methodologies for the international classroom 
  • Use an evidence-based approach for developing best practice in the international classroom.

How does the course unfold?

The course will run over seven months (equivalent to two weeks of full-time study), with short activities planned once a month. It will be conducted via the Canvas learning platform, through individual studies of videos and articles based on issues to do with EMI, as well as group discussions and peer feedback.

The course will be conducted in English, which means that the course information, study tasks, and literature will be available only in English.

This course is a continuation course and it is recommended that KI teachers have previously followed the course GHP or have had basic training in higher education pedagogy.

How is the course structured?

The course consists of six modules:

  • Presentations and constructive alignment
  • English as a lingua franca (ELF)
  • Cultures of teaching and learning
  • Global engagement
  • Managing and assessing group work
  • Assessment for learning

Each module lasts around four weeks (except the first module which is spread over December and January due to the Christmas break).

Each module consists of:

  • Pre-task: reading articles and watching videos;
  • Task: online discussions about the pre-task with your tandem partner via Zoom;
  • Post-task: summarising ideas about the topic in writing and commenting on 2 other contributions, as well as reflecting on own learning

At the end of the course, participants will be expected to use all their expertise to interview a student and reflect on issues related to each of the six modules.

What do participants need?

Participants need to have access to a computer with an Internet connection (with Zoom) and need to be able to attend the fourth week in the asynchronous group discussion through the learning platform Canvas. Access to online tools will be explained once participants join.

The course is free to the employees at the Karolinska Institute (Sweden). The course is free to partner institutions who provide a facilitator per tandem (equivalent to 20 hours of facilitation work per tandem).

Course literature is available online and provided via Canvas.

When and where does the course take place?

The course opens on Monday, 11th December 2023. The course will start by having all participants take an English placement test to get their CEFR scales results, then participants will answer a self-awareness questionnaire about their language skills. Once they have completed this questionnaire, they will be able to start the first module. Each module will be available during the dates specified in the timeline, allowing online discussions to be synchronised.

All theory and individual assignments need to be concluded by the end of the course Friday, 21st June 2024. In the final month, the participants will need to interview students and reflect on the challenges and opportunities they face in the international classroom.

Course 2023-2024

Course dates

11 Dec 2023- 21 June 2024 (equivalent to 2-weeks full-time study).

Location

Online

Language: English

Registration

Registration open until 31st October 2023.

Certificate

Participants will be sent a certificate of completion equivalent to 2 weeks of full-time study (3 credits points for docentur) after completing the course.

Course leaders & facilitators

Profile image

Jenny Valcke

Course leader and facilitator
Profile image

Amani Eltayb

Course leader and facilitator
Profile image

Natalie Jellinek

Course facilitator
JV
Content reviewer:
11-01-2024