Bridging Bilingual Education at National University College

 

National University College (NUC) in Puerto Rico has been a leader in education for over 40 years, offering programs designed to meet the evolving needs of its diverse student body. To enhance bilingual instruction in specialized fields like psychology and business, NUC partnered with SmartClass, integrating a dynamic English curriculum into its academic framework.

 

 

Challenges & Goals:

  • Enhancing Bilingual Learning: Needed a structured yet flexible curriculum for English instruction in specialized courses.
  • Customizable Teaching Tools: Instructors required the ability to create tailored activities for diverse student needs.
  • Faculty Support & Training: Ensuring educators had the right resources to implement an effective bilingual program.

SmartClass Implementation:

  • Pilot Program Launch: 50 student licenses purchased for digital English curriculum, placement tests, and faculty mentoring.
  • Faculty Collaboration: 10 trained professors developed a master curriculum blending SmartClass with NUC materials.
  • Targeted Courses: Initial implementation focused on undergraduate psychology, with plans to expand into business and health studies.

Impact & Future Growth:

  • Engaging Learning Experience: Custom activities improved student engagement and subject comprehension.
  • Career Readiness: Dual-language instruction prepared students for professional environments requiring bilingual proficiency.
  • Planned Expansion: If successful, NUC aims to extend SmartClass access to all undergraduate and graduate programs.