Centre of Languages and Communication, Poznan University, Poznan, Poland

The Centre of Languages and Communication (CLC) is a large centre with approximately 100 staff members (77 full-time teaching staff appointed on four-year contracts) who teach five languages: English, Polish, German, French and Spanish. It is an inter-faculty unit.

Credit-bearing subjects are taught to undergraduate students, as well as those at Masters and PhD level. Undergraduate students, many of whom enter the University at CEFR Level B1, have to attain B2 in order to be able to graduate. It also has a self-financed portfolio of courses taught outside the University curriculum, for both students and staff – from Poznan University and elsewhere. Class size is general 15 to 20 students. Their teaching portfolio comprises courses in face-to-face mode, fully online mode, and blended delivery mode.

The CLC Director is President of CERCLES (the European association of language centres).

Language Centre, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland

The number of academic staff members is 92, and the centre teaches 16 different languages, one of which students have to pass as a graduation requirement.

Credit-bearing subjects are taught to approximately 550 groups of students (in total around 13,400 a year), with students leaving high school with an approximate language level of CEFR B2. Students in Finland start university slightly later than in Hong Kong, with first year undergraduates being aged 19 or older, with many in their early 20s. Students complete at least 10 credits with a language component: 4 credits in a foreign language (e.g. English), and 3 each in Swedish and Finnish. Students learn a mixture of EAP and more specific language skills for their field of study. The Centre also has a Language Services unit, which offers revision and translation services for the University, as well as a ‘Finnish for foreigners’ course, and a Doctoral programme.

One interesting aspect of their teaching portfolio was their Autonomous Language Learning Modules which can be taken by students to fulfill their language requirement. Students learn how to become more autonomous in their learning and, using a personalized learning plan and learner diary, plan their study, monitor their progress and finally evaluate their learning outcomes.

Centre for Language Studies, University of Sussex, UK

The Centre for Language Studies (CLS) has a broad portfolio of initiatives and activities, including supervision of PhD students and offering self-financed PG and teacher training programmes. It has developed a high profile, not only within the University but also in the wider community.

As with the other two centres, CLS teaches nine other languages, with English language provision for students being mainly focused on English for Academic Purposes. A major part of their work relates to English language teaching (ELT) with an MA and PG Certificate programme in ELT, a Trinity College Certificate and overseas teachers’ courses, and doctoral research supervision. They are engaged in a number initiatives related to community engagement and internationalisation.