Director: João A. Telles, Ph.D.
Modern Languages Department
Situated on the beautiful green campus of UNESP - São Paulo State University at Assis, in Building I of the Faculty of Sciences and Letters, next to the Department of Modern Languages, ERIC-Assis is a self-access and resource centre which is open to both the academic and the community in general.
Basically, a self-acess centre is a study place where users can refer to its study resources and manage their learning in an independent, autonomous way.
The centre activities are aimed at:
strengthening technical, scientific and cultural relations between Brazil and the United Kingdom
promoting and stymulating the pedagogical and scientific development of both countries
fostering the qualification of human resources at the university in an effort to develop their educational performance by offering opportunities to expand their potential and skills
improving the English language proficiency among the university community members and members of the general community in Assis
offering counseling services to those interested in studying in the UK and in regards to foreign language teaching materials
Resources
Library
The centre reference library has 300 volumes on several areas of language teaching (reading, writing, listening comprehension, oral production, grammar and phonetics), Applied Linguistics and resource books for teachers.
Audio and video library
In addition, there is a selection of audio and video tapes of British and American movies, various types of dictionaries and books on British and American literature.
Users can listen to audio tapes in listening booths, watch cable TV (Sky), and see video tapes on TV.
Information resources
The centre has information materials and catalogues about British higher education institutions, English language courses and exchange programmes in the UK and North America. For people who are interested in pursuing their graduate studies in British educational institutions, in addition to several information materials, the centre has the Prospects Postgraduate Directory 2000-2001, a three volume catalogue containing updated information about graduate courses (MA and Ph.D.) in several areas in British universities.
Web self-study activities
By the end of 2000, a number of self-access exercises on grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening comprehension will be available on-line through the UNESP-Assis site www.assis.unesp.br.
What we do
From 2000 onwards, the centre will be offering counseling and pedagogical sessions together with the English Language and Literature Chair of the Department of Modern Languages. There is a number of activities including:
consulting (for private and state school educational systems),
continuing education courses (cursos de extensão),
lectures and pedagogical workshops for pre-service and in-service teachers of English from private and public educational institutions of Assis and vicinities,
movies sessions followed by discussions in English,
workshops on preparation of classroom pedagogical materials,
theatre improvisation workshops (in English)
drama production in English language
English conversation groups (basic, intermediate, and advanced)
writing workshops
talk shows (with international and domestic guests)
workshops for teachers of English (private and state institutions) given by specialists from The Language Centre - University of Leeds, United Kingdom
speech contest
choir
All of the above activities are subjected to a limited number of registrations. Continuing education courses are subjected to the university requirements and rules. The workshops will b coordinated by the ERIC assistants (selected undergrad students with high proficiency in the English language).
Please, refer to the centre activity calendar for dates and registration periods.
Using the centre
ERIC Assistants
ERIC - Assis has student assistants who have been selected for their level of proficiency in English and whose main tasks are to assist centre users and coordinate the activities during centre hours. Users should direct their queries to the assistant in charge. All of the assistants are undergrad students pursuing their degrees in EFL teaching.
Who can use ERIC-Assis?
The centre is open to all students and members of the academic community of UNESP, teachers, students from Assis and vicinities who are interested in the languages and cultures of the English speaking countries. Through the centre learning and social activities, we aim at offering a meeting place for students, teachers, and pedagogical coordinators of private and public language institutues who study and work in the field of EFL.
ERIC resources are for reference only. We lend neither books nor pedagogical materials to be taken home. However, ERIC users can copy parts of books and of materials once they present their national identity card and fill out a user information form. ERIC assistants retain users' ID while they take books or materials to the university copy shop. Both UNESP and ERIC-Assis respect copyright laws and do not allow books to be entirely copied.
PAY US A VISIT AND LET US KNOW YOU!!!
ERIC-Assis
UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL PAULISTA - Assis
Avenida Dom Antonio, 2100
19800-000 Assis, SP, Brazil
Phone: (18) 322-2933 (extension 312)