The third training event took place online via the MS teams platform and was organized by ULB, Brussels. The training sessions were organized and conducted mainly by the employees of ULB, together with some public and private sector guests and guest institutions.
This wide-ranging event kicked off by covering the LSP landscape at ULB, given the highly international nature of Brussels. The training sessions included an explanation of teaching English to Academics at ULB and how to incorporate innovative pedagogical IT tools including moodle into the classroom. Personalised virtual tours of the European Economic and Social Committee and the International Criminal Court also featured, both of which generated much interest from the participants. An insightful roundtable discussion which involved experienced Brussels private sector guests responding to questions about graduate recruitment and training in a multilingual environment rounded off this event.
The agenda was as follows:
DAY 1
Welcome to ULB Langues: Explanation of the LSP landscape in both Brussels and ULB.
Online taster course in two of Belgium’s three official languages incorporating the IT teaching tools padlet, wooclap, nearpod, peradeck, jamboard and flipsnack. Participants were also able to test these tools for themselves and learnt the strengths and weaknesses of each tool.
Introduction to TEA Project (Teaching in English for Academics) and CLIL at the ULB. Participants learnt of the linguistic and pedagogical challenges facing academics teaching in English and how the TEA team uses various methods to address these.
DAY 2
Moodle Training workshop: A detailed introduction and demonstration of the Virtual University moodle online tools aimed at motivating and tracking learner progress, given by the CAP (ULB Pedagogical Support Centre). Participants learnt about the full range of moodle tools available to help them with class administration, teaching, projects, evaluation and feedback.
Moodle Implementation workshop: Online tools to motivate and track learner progress, by the CAP (ULB Pedagogical Support Centre). Participants were able to test out and evaluate the tools for themselves including using the tools in group work.
European Economic and Social Committee (Brussels): Virtual visit and interactive seminar: participants learnt about the language policy/practice in the EU institutions and what skills the graduate of tomorrow will need to forge a successful career in the EU institutions.
DAY 3
International Criminal Court (the Hague, NL): Virtual visit and interactive seminar: participants learnt about recruitment and language use at the ICC. In addition, participants learnt about how and when the court is able to conduct criminal proceedings.
Brussels private sector & the British Chamber of Commerce: Roundtable discussion on graduate recruitment and training in a multilingual environment with private sector guests. Guests responded to a range of questions giving both examples from their own experience and feedback on how future graduates could be better prepared for the Brussels international job market.