Good news for students passing General English Proficiency Test (GEPT)! Students qualified with the upper-intermediate level in GEPT, 187 points in CBT, or level 5.5 in IELTS can apply for waiving junior compulsory course “Advanced English” with transcripts as the bases of teachers’ grading.

The purpose of this policy, according to Chair of Department of English, Huang Yueh-kuehy, is to encourage more students to take GEPT, TOFEL, and other English proficiency tests, in order to enhance students’ English competence to the professional level. Besides, more and more institutions and companies in Taiwan apply these tests to screen applicants and employees. Therefore, passing English proficiency tests will sharpen competitive edges.

As for the freshman compulsory course “Freshman English,” Huang Yueh- kuehy said that waiving is not considered for the time being because non-English majors’ English proficiency is more unlikely to reach a standardized level.

In order to promote the use of foreign language zone, College of Foreign Languages and Literatures and plan to carry out several policies this semester including aid teaching, full-time teachers’ shifts and round-table discussions.

English corner is open from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. from Monday on weekdays. In addition to satellite TV programs, films, newspaper and magazines, and graduate students’ guidance, aid teaching is provided for students who are taking Freshman English and Listening to enhance teaching and learning effects.

Spanish corner is used for teachers’ after-class counseling and meeting with students; French corner is arranged that students who went to France as junior exchange students guide their juniors’ schoolwork; German corner is scheduled for full-time teachers at two periods of time to solve students’ problems; Japanese corner holds study sessions, rehearsals for play-acting, meetings, TV programs and films viewing; Department of Russian will regularly plays various types of Russian film every week. (~ Han-yu Huang )