1. English language environment at the Ural Federal University

2. A large comprehensive university in Ekaterinburg with about 25 thousand full-time students and about 3,5 thousand professors and 8 thousand staff members. A merger (2011) of a classical (key feature - fundamental research) university and a technical university (key feature- engineering). Different corporate cultures and approaches to teaching and learning, at the moment 5 chairs for foreign languages with about 350 teachers. UrFU in the Ural region

3. Mission — the preparation of the highly qualified professionals for the reindustrialisation of the Ural region UrFU is the largest university in a big industrial Ural region (Ekaterinburg was closed for foreigners until 1992) UrFU in the Ural region 3 31% Of the Russian industrial production 22,5 Mln. people $ 290 Bln regional GDP Urals

4. The road map for 5-100 has only one indicator for creating of language environment – creation of a testing centre for teachers and students who are going to participate in the international study programmes. The language level requirements are not mentioned in the road map. 5-100 Road Map

5. The elements of the foreign language environment are: website in foreign languages; a lot of advert materials in English; 8 MA programmes in English; modules for exchange students in English; Institute of International Education; foreign students support centre; foreign academics support programme (formalities handling and a meeting club) EL/FL environment

6. Short term Cambridge exams preparation courses for staff members (about 500 staff members) Linguistic support (publications translation and editing) for researchers Academic English course for researchers Students club for studying foreign languages Support centre for foreign academics Support centre for foreign students International examinations (Cambridge, TOEFL, DELE, TestDaF, HSK) can be taken at the university EL/FL environment: services

7. 8 MA programmes in English, modules for academic mobility students in English Russian Studies Political Philosophy Food Biotechnology Knowledge Engineering and Intellectual Property Management Knowledge Engineering and Intellectual Property Management Safety of Construction Critical Infrastructures and Territories IT innovations in business High-Performance Sport Sustainability and Innovative development of the knowledge- intensive productions Sustainability and Innovative development of the knowledge- intensive productions Models: EMI

8. EAP is part of the curriculum for non-linguistic students No CLIL model Models: EAP, CLIL

9. Cambridge exam preparation courses for staff members Curriculum for non-linguistic students Programmes

10. Statistics: 525 staff members are taking courses in exam preparation Among them for В1 and higher levels -292 people From April 2013 to December 2014 442 people will be certified, for B2 and higher levels 148 people Programmes: exam prep courses for staff

11. 4 years for BA, 500 F2F hours 4 tracks with Can-dos and LO Track 1 - Entrance level А0 - А1 (+Blended) – minimum exit B1 Track 2 - Entrance level А 2 – low B1 - minimum exit B2 Track 3 - Entrance level В1- low B2 - minimum exit B2 Track 4 - Entrance level В2 и up - minimum exit C1 Curriculum: year 2

12. A large programme for teachers of English in the framework of cooperation with Cambridge English – TKT, CELTA, DELTA, short courses in GE, in testing writing and speaking parts of the exam, preparation for a course in testology Functioning Cambridge English examinations centre with internal examiners Achievements

13. A programme for staff members in preparation for Cambridge English examinations + influencing the university to include EL parameters in the personal ranking of staff members A large curriculum project for non-linguistic students with clear entrance and exit requirements bound to CEFR Some experience with blended learning (Touchstone CUP) Achievements

14. In effect: some knowledge and technology transfer from Cambridge English and other foreign partners, preparation of human capital and experience in cross-chairs team work as well as experience in maintaining heavy projects such as exam centre in 2 years a team of ELT qualified teachers inspired to contribute to the development of foreign language environment Achievements

15. Most important: The university has to make decisions about the strategy of the EL environment and about becoming a language-friendly university with a well-developed and growing EL environment which means becoming a centre of excellence in teaching English, in teaching in English, in offering services in at least two languages etc. What has to be done?

16. In particular: EL courses for teachers should be transformed into CLIL courses and an academic writing course A decision about the future design of ELT at the university should be made: should every institute have a chair of foreign languages with a common FL policy and requirements for teachers and students or should there be a single unit in charge of all ELT throughout the University? Elaboration of a FL policy (EAP or ESP, teaching courses in English for Russian students as part of their study programme, preparing students research projects in English), and decisions about: a common LMS for teachers, the IT implementation in FLT etc. should be made. What has to be done?

17. Your critical remarks and suggestions are welcome! Details about the UrFU Cambridge project (uclex.urfu.ru) Curriculum – to be published soon! Please contact: Maria Guzikova, mariagu@mail.rumariagu@mail.ru Tatyana Rasskazova, trasska@mail.rutrasska@mail.ru