1. International & Comparative Education: Education in Majority-English-Speaking Countries
Administration

2. Course communications
WeChat group QR code:
Teaching materials:
Teacher
The fastest way to contact me is through WeChat. You can write to me individually or in the WeChat group.

3. Assessment 65% writing 25% speaking test 10% in-class participation
1,500-2,000 word assignment
Topic relating to MESCs’ education, culture, and values
25% speaking test
At the end of the course
10% in-class participation
Contributing in class
Attendance

4. Outcomes By the end of the course learners should be able to
discuss opinions on education, values, and culture in majority English-speaking countries through spoken English
present an evidence-based argument on education, values, and culture in English-speaking countries through written English
write sentences in an appropriate style
write paragraphs in an appropriate structure
write different article sections (introduction, method, etc.) in an appropriate structure
cite sources appropriately
show knowledge of academic theory and findings on education, values, and culture

5. Syllabus Case: “majority” English-speaking countries
Culture and values UK
Culture: definition US
Values: definition
Australia, Canada, Singapore, ….
Emancipative values (World Values Survey research)
Immigration & multiculturalism
Education
Populism
School assessment
School pedagogy
Academic communication & research
School curriculum documents
School textbooks
Comparative methodology
Policy-making
Evidence-based practice
Parenting
Essay writing
Higher education “culture wars”
Language (writing & speaking)

6. Writing assessment 65% of your total grade
1,500-2,000 words, not including references
The assignment should follow the normal structure of academic writing, with an Introduction, a main body, a Conclusion, and References. You can use the template I provide (‘APA template for NENU assignment - Essay structure’). This template also reminds you of some important points about assignment writing.
The assignment must be evidence-based social research, and so you should cite empirical research, or cite data directly (e.g. exam papers, textbooks).
The citations and references should use the style from APA Publication Manual, which is in the Baidu cloud. So references should look like “(Jeffrey, 2015)”, or “Jeffrey (2015)”.
You must not copy sentences or long parts of your assignment from other sources. I will use a specialist software to check your writing for copying. If there is copying, you will receive 0% for the assignment, and fail the course. If you are not sure what qualifies as copying, it is your responsibility to ask me.

7. more tolerant of other cultures more tolerant of different groups
In comparison to China,
are
people in
the US
more informed ?
more tolerant
more tolerant of other cultures
more tolerant of different groups
better citizens
schoolchildren
better global citizens do
the UK
learn better critical thinking skills
university students
have higher wellbeing
[another English-speaking country]
learn better social skills
learn better intercultural skills
[another group, e.g. females]
learn more creative skills

8. Speaking assessment Around 11 mins total (similar to IELTS)
25% of your total grade
Part 1 (3-4 mins): Follow-up discussion around your assignment topic.
Part 2 (3-4 mins): I’ll give you a topic to discuss. You have 1 min to prepare, and then you will speak for 2 mins on the topic. The topic will be from our course, but it will not be your assignment topic.
Part 3 (3-4 mins): I’ll ask you questions about our topic.

9. Speaking assessment Potential speaking questions
Comparing English-speaking countries to China, how are assessments different?
What might be the causes/effects of this difference?
Which system is better?
Here is a short sample: