Faculty in Focus
June 7, 2021
The accessibility of English as the universal language of science
A recent feature in the Life Sciences Institute features Dr. Sandra Zappa Hollman and Dr. Alfredo Ferreira. They both discuss the benefits and the drawbacks of having English as the language of Science, and provide some insight on what the institution needs to be thinking about as a whole. Follow the link to read the feature post, The accessibility of English as the universal language of science, by PhD Candidate Sasha McDowell.
May 6, 2020
Suzie Lavallee appointed Academic Director, UBC Vantage College
We are delighted to announce that effective July 1, 2020, Dr. Suzie Lavallee will be appointed as the Academic Director of UBC Vantage College, for a three-year term. Dr. Lavallee is Senior Instructor in the Department of Forestry and Conservation Sciences in the Faculty of Forestry, where she is an experienced and passionate educator with expertise in experiential learning. Her teaching has involved running field courses with integrative curricular approaches.
October 22, 2019
Describing language using language allows students to become disciplinary thinkers
Congratulations to Alfredo Ferreira on his recent publication!
September 30, 2019
Guest Talk by Visiting Scholar Dr. Simone Sarmento
Science without Borders (SwB) was an international student mobility program devised, implemented and funded by the Brazilian federal government between 2011 and 2017. Its main objective was to promote the internationalization of Brazilian science and technology by enhancing the qualifications of Brazilian higher education students and scholars in universities of excellence abroad.
June 12, 2019
Active Collaboration Trains Engineers to be Better Communicators and Leaders
Dr. Gabriel Potvin, Chair of the Engineering stream at Vantage College, believes that engineers have a crucial role to play in addressing global and humanitarian challenges, and has taken steps to ensure aspiring engineers develop the technical, leadership and communication skills necessary to translate their innovative ideas into reality.
March 26, 2019
Faculty Profile: Q+A with Jennifer Walsh Marr, Vantage College Arts Lecturer
We recently had the opportunity to hear from Jennifer Walsh Marr, Vantage College Arts Lecturer, Academic English Program, on her experiences and interests engaging with Indigenous content and perspectives with international students.
March 26, 2019
Invited Speaker: Dr. Neil Murray, Associate Professor, University of Warwick
Join us at Vantage Commons to for guest speaker, Dr Neil Murray. Open event, everybody welcome!
January 25, 2019
I could, so I should
In the Academic English Program (AEP) at Vantage College, we don’t have language text books, in no small part due to the fact that we’re using the theories of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) and Genre and applying them to a Content & Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach. At times it’s overwhelmingly ambitious, and textbook publishers have understandably focused their resources on less demanding, less specialized markets. But beyond the exponential learning curve, this need to create resources has given me significant creative and intellectual license. Where so often English as an additional language (EAL) and English for academic purposes (EAP) instructors are told to teach this course with this textbook, my context isn’t so prescriptive. There is significant agency as an instructor I just couldn’t pass up. I could, so I should.
August 23, 2018
Inspirations from the Annual BC TEAL Conference at UBC Vantage College
A recent article from the latest BC TEAL newsletter features work presented by Vantage faculty and staff.
July 26, 2018