ECH Program on Oral Communication- EMI
This program is aimed at educators who wish to hone their skills in oral communication in English-Medium Instruction (EMI) contexts.
It develops professors into clear and confident communicators in English, capable of teaching complex concepts using the structure, clarity, and engagement of the American teaching approach.
ORAL COMMUNICATION
English-Medium Instruction (EMI) Context
Clarity. Confidence. Teaching Excellence.
Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ)
OBJECTIVE
To empower faculty across disciplines to improve oral fluency, communicate clearly and confidently in English, and teach more effectively in an English-Medium Instruction (EMI) context.
CORE EMI PRINCIPLES
CORE EMI PRINCIPLES
Foundation of effective teaching in English.
Focus
-
- Communicating content clearly in English
- Supporting understanding in multilingual classrooms
- Creating structured and engaging learning experiences
Core Elements
-
- Clarity over complexity
- Structured delivery
- Scaffolding for understanding
- Comprehension checking
- Strategic use of language
- Student engagement
- Psychological safety
In Practice
-
- Use simple, direct language instead of complex or translated sentences
- Organize explanations using clear structure (e.g., What–Why–How)
- Break down complex ideas step by step
- Check understanding regularly through targeted questions
- Rephrase, repeat, and emphasize key concepts
- Encourage participation and interaction
- Create a safe environment where students feel comfortable speaking
Outcome
-
- Clearer and more effective communication in English
- Improved student understanding and participation
- More structured, engaging, and supportive teaching
Session Details
🟣 SESSION 5 — STRUCTURED TEACHING (AMERICAN EMI APPROACH)
Clarity is structure.
Focus
- Organizing explanations for understanding
- Teaching with clarity and purpose
- Structuring information progressively in real time
Core Elements
- Advance organizers
- Why–How–What explanation model
- Signposting and transitions
- Chunking information for comprehension
- Making explanations meaningful and convincing
Language Integration
- Teaching phrases:
- “Today we will…”
- “The key idea is…”
- “This is important because…”
- “Let’s break this down…”
- “First… then… finally…”
EMI Principles in Action
- Structured delivery
- Comprehension checking
- Scaffolding for understanding
Outcome
- Structured explanation template
- Structured explanation framework for EMI teaching
- Clearer and more effective teaching delivery
- Improved organization, pacing, and instructional clarity
🟣 SESSION 5 DETAILS — STRUCTURED TEACHING (AMERICAN EMI APPROACH)
Clarity is structure.
From ideas to organized teaching
Advance Organizers: The 60-Second Roadmap to Learning
An advance organizer is a brief overview provided before instruction begins. It helps students understand:
- What they will learn (without details)
- Why it matters
- How the lesson will be organized
The Research-Based Explanation
David Ausubel, the educational psychologist who introduced advance organizers, argued that:
"The most important factor influencing learning is what the learner already knows."
Advance organizers help students connect new information to existing knowledge before detailed instruction begins.
Advance organizers reduce cognitive load, increase attention, and help students follow explanations more easily—especially in EMI classrooms where students are processing content and language simultaneously.
Simple Formula
What? → Why? → How?
Example
Today we will learn how periodontal disease develops.
This is important because understanding the causes helps us diagnose and treat patients effectively.
We will do this in three steps: causes, symptoms, and treatment options.
EMI Principle
Never start with information (the details). Start with orientation (which includes the WHY and HOW).
Give students the map before the journey.
ECH Structured Teaching Framework:
Advance Organizer → Objective → Explanation → Steps → Example → Check Understanding → Summary.
Why Advance Organizers Work
Advance organizers help students:
✅ Focus on the most important ideas
✅ Connect new information to prior knowledge
✅ Follow explanations more easily
✅ Remember information more effectively
✅ Feel less overwhelmed by complex content
Common Mistake
❌ Many instructors begin teaching immediately.
"Today we're discussing periodontal disease..." (and start explaining)
Students often need a few moments to understand where the lesson is going before they can process details.
The 60-Second Rule
A good advance organizer should take 30–60 seconds, not 10 minutes.
Its purpose is to orient students, not teach the lesson.
Advance Organizers Are Especially Important in EMI
Students are simultaneously processing:
- New concepts
- Specialized vocabulary
- English
A brief roadmap reduces cognitive load and improves comprehension.
Before vs. After
Without an Advance Organizer
Students ask:
- Why are we learning this?
- Where is this going?
- What is most important?
With an Advance Organizer
Students know:
- The objective
- The relevance
- The structure
This allows them to focus on understanding rather than guessing.
Quick EMI Teaching Formula
Before every lesson, answer:
WHAT?
What are students learning?
WHY?
Why is it important?
HOW?
How will we approach it?
ECH Reminder
Confused students rarely learn efficiently.
Oriented students learn more effectively.
An advance organizer provides the orientation that makes learning easier.
Program FAQs
What is the course format?
The course is highly interactive, practice-based, and performance-driven.
Each session combines:
- Short, focused input
- Guided speaking practice
- Real teaching simulations (micro-teaching)
- Immediate feedback from the instructor and peers
Participants will:
- Record and analyze their own speaking
- Apply communication strategies to real teaching scenarios
- Engage in live activities using tools such as Poll Everywhere and Mentimeter
The course follows a progressive structure, allowing participants to build fluency, clarity, and confidence step by step.
Where will the sessions take place?
The sessions will take place at USJ (on campus), online, or hybrid.
What is the main objective of the course?
The Main Objective of the Course:
To transform how instructors teach in English by developing their ability to deliver clear, structured, and effective instruction in multilingual classrooms—moving beyond language fluency to achieve real student understanding and engagement in an English-Medium Instruction (EMI) context.
Who teaches the course?
The course is taught by Nada M. Salem, President/CEO of AFEE and IFWE.
Nada M. Salem is a passionate educator with extensive experience in leading academic institutions in the United States and abroad. Over more than twenty years, she has taught school students, college students, student teachers, teachers, and leaders. She co-created and co- taught a methods course for teachers at The George Washington University Graduate School of Education. Nada is the Co-Editor in Chief of “Teaching World Languages: A Practical Guide- Arabic Edition” (The National Capital Language Resource Center, Washington, DC).
Mrs. Salem holds a teaching diploma, two master's degrees, one in translation and another in education, and has successfully completed most courses (40 credits) towards a doctorate (Ed.D.) in Curriculum and Instruction & Educational Technology Leadership at The George Washington University Graduate School of Education. Additionally, she holds an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard University. Mrs. Salem formerly served as Administrative Director and Assessment of Learning Coordinator for AACSB Accreditation at the GWU School of Business’s Master of Science in Finance Program. In September 2019, Mrs. Salem was selected as a WOMAN LEADER by the University of Maryland‘s Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace. She is a member of the Marquis WHO'S WHO® list of Prominent Business Professionals, and she was featured among Marquis Who's Who's Top Executives in Education and Leadership.
Mrs. Salem is the Founding President/CEO of the American Foundation for Educational Excellence (AFEE), an organization whose mission is to help, on a worldwide basis, influencers, leaders, HR professionals, and managers of educational institutions, profit and non-profit organizations and corporations, to pursue excellence by improving leadership skills, managerial competencies and educational programs, namely through face-to-face and online trainings. AFEE is an Approved Provider for both HRCI & SHRM.
Mrs. Salem is also the Founding President/CEO of AFEE’s subsidiaries, the Center for Excellence in Languages: Teaching, Editing, Translating, and Interpreting, and the International Foundation for Women's Empowerment (IFWE) which seeks to empower all women and help them thrive on the personal and professional levels, regardless of nationality and religion.
TERMS OF SERVICE: We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to reject or remove anyone who has registered or gained access under false pretenses, provided false information, or for any other action or behavior that we deem inappropriate, before, during or after the sessions, with or without prior notice or explanation, and without liability.
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