This conference will feature two panel discussions (listed in order of presentation), each aiming to harness the insights of experts to delve deeper into specific issues. The focuses of the two panel discussions will be the GEPT iPrep project, which is an AI-enhanced learning and assessment platform, and student support in English education at the tertiary level in Taiwan, respectively. The format for each panel will include initial presentations of individual ideas by the panelists, followed by an interactive Q&A session. For details of the time and venue, please see the program.
Topic
Transforming Language Learning and Testing in Taiwan: An AI-Assisted Scoring System Approach
Abstract
The GEPT iPrep project, a three-year initiative supported by Taiwan’s National Development Council under the 2030 Bilingual Policy, is dedicated to a singular mission: the development of an AI-assisted automated scoring system tailored specifically for the General English Proficiency Test (GEPT) in Taiwan. A diverse interdisciplinary team comprising language assessors, corpus linguists, computational linguists, and information/data scientists have provided input on the project, with the goals of enhancing the accessibility and effectiveness of English language education and enriching the English learning process by providing learners with timely and constructive feedback.
In its inaugural year, the project embarked on a series of tasks that were deemed essential, including preparation of training materials for the speaking scoring models, the development of a speech recognition system, the training of scoring models utilizing both benchmark and local learner corpora, and the creation of automatic scoring systems tailored to diverse task types and a comprehensive evaluation of the systems’ effectiveness. Effort was also devoted to enhancing the writing component, including the preparation of training materials, the expansion of Taiwan’s English Learner Corpus, and the development of automatic scoring systems, complemented by error detection and correction mechanisms.
Noteworthy progress has so far been achieved in a variety of areas including the implementation of automated scoring for picture description tasks in both writing and speaking, as well as paragraph-level read-aloud tasks, coupled with personalized feedback for each individual’s performance. These innovations not only aspire to meet global standards but also maintain a keen focus on the requirements of the Taiwanese context. Furthermore, the project is poised to significantly enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and comprehensiveness of GEPT scoring practices.
This panel discussion consists of an introduction to the bilingual policy and an overview of the GEPT iPrep project, followed by three paper presentations, a synthesis by the discussant and discussion with audience. Beyond the outcomes of the first year’s work, the presentations underscore the importance of fostering the independent development of scoring technology within a specific context. By leveraging specialized resources, the project not only benefits local learners but also contributes insights into the challenges encountered during such endeavors. These challenges, along with their potential solutions, are carefully considered and discussed, further enriching the broader discourse on technology-enhanced language assessment.
Chair

Sherry Hsin-ying Li
李欣穎

CEO of the Language Training & Testing Center (LTTC)
Professor, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, National Taiwan University

Sherry Hsin-ying Li is the Chief Executive Officer at the Language Testing and Training Center (LTTC) in Taipei, Taiwan, and a professor of English at National Taiwan University. She holds a Ph.D. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo and specializes in American Literature, especially late nineteenth-century American fiction. Since taking up the post of CEO, she has been supervising the test administrations, training programs, and research projects at the LTTC, including the government-sponsored BEST Test of English Proficiency for College Students and the LTTC’s AI-assisted automated scoring system.
Panelists
(listed in alphabetical order)

Connie Hui-chuan Chang
張惠娟

Director General, Department of Overall Planning, National Development Council

Connie Hui-chuan Chang is the Director General of Department of Overall Planning at the National Development Council, R.O.C. (Taiwan). Her major responsibilities include formation of the economy’s development plans, and international affairs covering bilateral cooperation with the U.S., EU, Australia, Japan, etc., and participation in international organizations such as APEC. Major tasks which she has been orchestrating include the Ministerial-level Digital Economy Forum (Dialogue) with the U.S. and EU, Taiwan’s latest engagement with Central and Eastern Europe, particularly Lithuania, Czech, Slovakia and Poland for economic cooperation, as well as Taiwan’s Bilingual 2030 policy and the cross-ministerial coordination of Just Transition strategy in Taiwan’s Pathway to Net Zero by 2050.
Connie was the chief negotiator for Taiwan’s negotiation with the United States Trade Representative on the Good Regulatory Practice Chapter in the Taiwan-U.S. Initiative on 21st-Century Trade.
Previously, Connie was the Executive Director of the Regulatory Reform Center of the National Development Council, which main responsibility was cross-ministerial coordination of regulatory reforms on issues raised by foreign Chambers of Commerce in Taiwan. She was also engaged in the task for planning Taiwan’s regulator adjustment to the digital economy.
Connie also worked with the Ministry of Economic Affairs in her first 11 years in the government, with main responsibility of facilitating foreign investment into Taiwan.

Jason S. Chang
張俊盛

Department of Computer Science, National Tsing Hua University

Jason S. Chang received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from New York University, and has been with the Department of Computer Science at National Tsing Hua University since 1986. Professor Chang founded Linggle Language Technology, a startup specializing in Large Language Models and Generative AI. His scholarly pursuits encompass diverse areas, including AI-Assisted Language Learning, Automated Essay Scoring, Grammatical Error Correction, and Computational Lexicography. Professor Chang is known for leading the development of the Linggle linguistic search engine and making it freely available to the public.

Berlin Chen
陳柏琳

Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Taiwan Normal University

Berlin Chen is a Professor of the Computer Science and Information Engineering Department at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), Taipei, Taiwan. He received his Ph.D. degree in computer science and information engineering from National Taiwan University (NTU) in June 2001, and then joined NTNU as an Assistant Professor in August 2002. He became a Professor in February 2010. Prof. Chen’s research interests generally lie in the areas of speech recognition and natural language processing, multimedia information retrieval, computer-assisted language learning, and artificial intelligence.

Zhao-Ming Gao
高照明

Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at National Taiwan University

Zhao-Ming Gao earned his Ph.D. in Language Engineering from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 1998. He joined the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at National Taiwan University in 1999, where he now serves as a professor. Dr. Gao has contributed as a reviewer for various conferences and journals, including COLING, PACLIC, Lexical Resources and Evaluations, and Computer-Assisted Language Learning. Dr. Gao specializes in developing corpus-based computational tools and has published extensively in the fields of corpus linguistics, computer-assisted translation, and intelligent computer-assisted language learning.

Jessica R. W. Wu
吳若蕙

Director General for R&D, Language Training & Testing Center (LTTC)

Jessica R. W. Wu holds a PhD in Language Testing and serves as Director General for R&D at the Language Testing & Training Center (LTTC) in Taipei, Taiwan. Her major projects have included overseeing the creation of the General English Proficiency Test (GEPT). Widely recognized in the testing community, Dr. Wu received the Alan Davies Lecture Award in 2022, becoming the first East Asian scholar and non-native English-speaking recipient to do so. She currently oversees the government-sponsored BEST Test of English Proficiency for College Students, as well as EAP, EMI, and CLIL training programs for teachers.
Topic
Enhancing Student Support in the University in the Tertiary Level, Taiwan
Abstract
The Program on Bilingual Education for Students in College (BEST program), launched by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in 2021, focuses on elevating students’ English proficiency for effective international communication, such as in EMI contexts. This initiative underscores the necessity of developing comprehensive support mechanisms to enhance students’ general, academic, and professional English skills.
Motivated by this policy, Taiwanese higher education institutions have established and executed various student support programs. Currently, it is crucial to assess the outcomes of these efforts, with particular emphasis on the transition from general English to English for Academic Purposes (EAP), which is integral for students engaged in English Medium Instruction (EMI) courses. Additionally, given the varied English proficiency levels among Taiwanese students, special consideration is required for students with lower motivation and proficiency. The advent of digital and AI technologies plays a significant role in facilitating personalized learning experiences, offering timely, individualized support.
This panel discussion will critically evaluate the student support initiatives influenced by the BEST policy. Esteemed international and domestic scholars and experts will deliberate on the planning and execution of these initiatives at the tertiary level. Discussion points include:
  • Strategies to ease students’ progression from general English and EAP to EMI
  • Approaches to engage and assist students with lower English proficiency and motivation
  • Methods for assessing the impact and effectiveness of student support programs
  • The role of advanced technologies in augmenting EAP learning for college students
The session will begin with an introduction by the chair, followed by presentations from panelists, a collective synthesis, and audience interaction. This exchange aims to provide valuable insights for program designers and English language educators at tertiary institutions, focusing on overcoming challenges in English language education. A thorough examination of these issues and potential solutions will enhance the support for college students on their English language learning journey.
Chair

Vincent Wuchang Chang
張武昌

Department of English, National Taiwan Normal University

After receiving his Ph.D. degree in Linguistics from the University of Florida in 1986, Vincent Wuchang Chang returned to Taiwan to continue teaching at the Department of English, National Taiwan Normal University until his retirement in 2011. He served as Chairperson of the Department of English from 1999 to 2005 and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts from 2005-2008. After retirement from NTNU, he served as Dean of College of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Chinese Culture University from 2010 to 2012. He is now teaching part-time at both NTNU and Ming Chuan University. He is known for his research in discourse analysis, testing and assessment, and Taiwan’s ELT.
Panelists
(listed in alphabetical order)

Jhy-Chern Liu
劉志成

Vice President, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology

Jhy-Chern Liu is currently Vice President of National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, in charge of SDGs, international affairs, and EMI Program. He holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Delaware and has been serving as a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Taiwan Tech since 1990.

Mei-Hui Liu
劉美慧

Vice President for Academic Affairs, National Taiwan Normal University

Mei-Hui Liu is the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Director of the Office of Bilingual Education at National Taiwan Normal University. She is also a Distinguished Professor at the NTNU Department of Education. She received her doctoral degree from the University of Minnesota, and her research has focused on curriculum and instruction, international education, civic and citizenship education, international baccalaureate educator training, and multicultural education. She has published extensively over the years on these topics, providing insights and findings that informed government policies on elementary and middle school education. At NTNU, she is instrumental in the shaping and implementation of university bilingual policies, with great advances made under her leadership in the offering of English as a Medium of Instruction courses, and the “bilingualilzation” of NTNU campuses and services.

Randall L. Nadeau

Executive Director, Foundation for Scholarly Exchange

Randall Nadeau is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Scholarly Exchange (Fulbright Taiwan), effective August 1, 2019. Professor Nadeau enjoyed an academic career as a Distinguished Professor of Religion at Trinity University spanning twenty-five years. He is the author of several books and articles on Asian religions, including research on religion in late imperial China, religious life in modern Taiwan, definitions of “religion” and religious concepts in East Asian traditions, and religion and identity. He has taught courses on Cultural Perspectives on Asian Religions, Buddhist Ethics, Japanese Literature of the Spirit World, Approaches to the Study of Religion, Personal Identity in Historical Perspective (a course on the history and society of Taiwan), Being Young in Asia, and Happiness.
Dr. Nadeau was a Fulbright scholar hosted by the International College at Tunghai University (Taiwan, 2014-2015) and a faculty development consultant at Rikkyo University (Japan, 2018-2019). He has participated in faculty-led study abroad programs in Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, and China. He is devoted to international education, inter-cultural exchange, and multi-disciplinary research.
A passionate believer in Fulbright’s values of internationalization, diversity, free inquiry, generosity and service, Dr. Nadeau has overseen a period of unprecedented growth in the Fulbright Program in Taiwan, with nearly 400 American and Taiwanese grantees per year.

Barry O’Sullivan

Head of Assessment Research & Development, British Council

Barry O’Sullivan is Head of Assessment Research & Development of the British Council. He has been involved in language testing for thirty years and during this time has written extensively on the subject and well as presenting his work at conferences around the world on hundreds of occasions. His work includes the development and validation of the British Council’s Aptis test (2012) and more recently the conceptualization of the socio-cognitive model of test development and validation. He is the founding president of the UK Association of Language Testing and Assessment.

Ralph Rogers

Director Taiwan, British Council

Throughout his career, Ralph Rogers has consistently fostered cultural understanding and cooperation between the UK and East Asia.
With extensive expertise in international relations and cultural exchange, Ralph has held key leadership roles including Managing Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in China.
Ralph joined the British Council in 2015, first as Director of Business Development in Beijing, moving to Guangzhou in 2016 to take up the position of South China Area Director. Ralph took up the position of Director Taiwan in October 2019.
During his time at the British Council Ralph has worked with numerous government bodies and higher education institutions to help support quality in the internationalisation of higher education, including student mobility, joint research, transnational education, and English medium education.
His strategic acumen and ability to identify partnership opportunities have contributed to significant commercial contracts that have enhanced educational collaborations and cross-cultural ties.
Ralph has a BA Hons in Modern Chinese Studies and an MA in Applied Translation from the University of Leeds.

Hung-Jen Wang
王泓仁

Vice President for Academic Affairs, National Taiwan University

Hung-Jen Wang is the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Director of the Office of Future University Initiatives at National Taiwan University. In his roles, he focuses on advancing educational strategies and initiatives. Previously, Dr. Wang served as the Dean of the College of Social Sciences, where he oversaw various academic programs and faculty development. As a Distinguished Professor of Economics, his research interests lie in macroeconomics and applied econometrics. His scholarly work has made important contributions to the literature. Dr. Wang has also held several editorial positions in international journals. His approach to both administration and academia highlights a balanced blend of innovation and practical application.
Supervised by
Ministry of Education
Organized by
Language Training & Testing Center
Co-organized by (in alphabetical order)
British Council
Center for Higher Education EMI Professional Development (EMI PD Center)
National Sun Yat-sen University
National Taiwan Normal University
National Taiwan University
Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages

✉ Contact Us: 2024lttcconference@lttc.ntu.edu.tw

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