Raising the level of internationalization of universities is not merely the current consensus among schools; it has also become one of the standards by which colleges are assessed, to the exclusion of all other subjects. More and more schools and departments are now teaching specialized courses in English. But many students are calling foul. They feel that not only does this approach do nothing to increase their English proficiency; it may also prevent them from mastering professional knowledge. It is, they claim, a case of putting the cart before the horse.

To keep pace with “globalization”, and to attract foreign students at the same time, in recent years the [Taiwanese] Ministry of Education has encouraged and assisted universities to teach more courses in English.

Friends Abroad today announced the launch of its tandem learning site Friendsabroad.com. For more information about tandem learning or tandem learning sites, please visit the Linguistic Solutions Resources page.

See Federico García Lorca’s Yerma performed (in the original Spanish) tonight at 8:00 p.m. at the University of Houston’s José Quintero Lab Theatre. Admittance is free.

My new book, Vacation Spanish: A Survival Guide for Mexico, the Caribbean, Central & South America, is now available through the publisher, Integrity Press, and through Brazos Bookstore.

For an autographed copy of Vacation Spanish send a check or money order payable to Integrity Press Ltd in the amount of $9.95 (Texas residents add 8.25% sales tax) plus $3.49 for shipping & handling to Integrity Press Ltd, 9618 Cannock Chase Dr., Houston, Texas 77065.

Vacation Spanish is also available at Brazos Bookstore at 2421 Bissonnet St., Houston, Texas 77005 or online at BrazosBookstore.com.