English Skills Acquired from the Collaborative Teaching and Supervision

ABSTRACT: This contribution describes experience acquired during the cooperation with an English speaking visiting professor and different ways of cooperation with the aim of introducing English language into teaching and supervision, and implementing new subjects taught in English into study programmes at Department of Control Systems and Instrumentation. It focuses on conditions and prerequisites for such cooperation, and follows tasks which were completed within a development project funded by a Grant Agency for Development Fund of Universities in the Czech Republic. Both undergraduate and postgraduate students were involved. The experience showed that from a staff point of view such initiatives are not easy to run and succeed in. Close contact with teaching and supervisory staff is required and also extended collaboration beyond the frequent visiting, so that the use of English as a working language becomes de facto. The time frame is also important. The experiment provided important guidelines for the future. Furthermore, results in form of summarised students ’ opinions giving an objective picture about the perception and working environment are included.