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English co-teaching programs between native speakers and local teachers have been established in schools in a number of countries in East Asia with the aim of improving standards of teaching and students’ English proficiency. Despite the large investment of resources, there is little clear evidence in the literature that the objectives have been achieved, and research has identified a number of challenges such programs face in an East Asian context. This study first examines different co-teaching programs in East Asia where it finds cultural friction, role confusion, differing concepts of professionalism and unrealistic goals are the main factors undermining the effectiveness of such programs. It then looks at the Fulbright Taiwan English Teaching Program which seems to have been able to overcome many of these obstacles.

As people in the UK continue to live longer, the concept of healthy ageing has become increasingly important. Regular exercise that is appropriate for the ability of each individual can have several benefits for older people, such as slowing the loss of muscle mass, increasing aerobic capacity, maintaining cognitive function and improving health-related quality of life. This article explores the benefits of various forms of exercise and physical activity in older people, and offers practical advice that can assist nurses in supporting a person-centred approach to this aspect of care. [Abstract copyright: © 2022 RCN Publishing Company Ltd. All rights reserved. Not to be copied, transmitted or recorded in any way, in whole or part, without prior permission of the publishers.]

Increased basal low-grade inflammation is observed with advancing age, which is augmented by physical inactivity. However, data regarding the influence of lifelong exercise training and particularly high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on inflammatory mediators in older men are scarce. Therefore, we examined effects of 6weeks of aerobic preconditioning followed by 6weeks of HIIT on inflammatory mediators [interleukin (IL)-6, homocysteine, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)] in previously sedentary older men (SED) and masters athletes (LEX). Further, we investigated whether SED exhibited greater basal inflammatory biomarkers compared to LEX. Twenty-two men (aged 62±2years) participated in the SED group, while 17 age-matched LEX men (aged 60±5years) also participated as a positive comparison group. In SED, preconditioning (P=0.030, d=0.34) and HIIT (P=0.030, d=0.48) caused a reduction in IL-6 compared to enrollment. SED homocysteine did not change throughout (P>0.57; d<0.26), while the decrease in hsCRP after preconditioning (P=0.486, d=0.25) and after HIIT (P=0.781, d=0.23) compared to enrollment was small. HIIT did not influence IL-6 or hsCRP in LEX (all P>0.42; d<0.3). Homocysteine increased from enrollment to post-HIIT in LEX (P=0.144, d=0.83), but all other perturbations were trivial. IL-6 and hsCRP were greater in SED than LEX throughout the investigation (all P<0.029; d>0.72), but homocysteine was not different (all P >0.131; d<0.41). Results of this study suggest moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and HIIT lowers IL-6 (and possible hsCRP) in previously sedentary older men. Moreover, lifelong exercise is associated with reduced concentrations of some inflammatory biomarkers in older males, and therefore, physical activity, rather than age per se, is implicated in chronic low-grade inflammation. Moreover, physical inactivity-induced inflammation may be partly salvaged by short-term exercise training.

Long-term implications of acutely increased cardiorespiratory fitness following short-term exercise interventions in older adults are unknown. In this study, we examined peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) four 'free-living' after a high intensity interval training (HIIT) intervention. Seventeen lifelong exercisers (LEX) and 17 previously sedentary (SED) males (55-74 years of age in 2012) were tested four years (phase D) after our previous experiment which included 6-weeks of aerobic moderate intensity exercise (phase B), followed by 6-weeks of HIIT (phase C). At all stages, a standard incremental exercise protocol on a cycle ergometer was completed to determine VO2peak. SED (P = 1.000, Cohen's d = 0.01) and LEX (P = 1.000, Cohen's d = 0.11) VO2peak at phase D was not different from phase A (enrolment). SED experienced a large decrease in VO2peak from phase C to phase D (32 ± 6 ml·kg·min-1 to 27 ± 6 ml·kg·min-1 [P 2peak from phase C to phase D (42 ± 7 ml·kg·min-1 to 39 ± 9 ml·kg·min-1 [P 2peak than SED (P 2peak over the four years from 39 ± 7 ml·kg·min-1 to 36 ± 9 ml·kg·min-1 (N = 25, P 2peak from 30 ± 7 ml·kg·min-1 to 25 ± 9 ml·kg·min-1 (N = 9, P = 0.003, Cohen's d = 0.62). Four years after completing a brief period of aerobic exercise and HIIT, older males demonstrated a preservation of VO2peak, irrespective of training status (LEX or SED). However, LEX exhibited greater VO2peak than SED after 4-years of unsupervised 'free-living'. Finally, those who discontinued exercising experienced a greater reduction in VO2peak. These findings infer that to maintain aerobic capacity, 6 weeks of HIIT every four year may be sufficient, but to attenuate the decline, exercise should be maintained.

The aim of the present investigation was to investigate whether 6 weeks' high intensity interval training (HIIT; 6 x 30 s sprints at 40% peak power, once every five days) preceded by 6 weeks' aerobic preconditioning would affect fasting insulin, glucose, and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA1-IR) in older men. A secondary aim was to establish whether lifelong exercisers (LEX) exhibited improved fasting insulin, glucose, and HOMA1-IR, compared to sedentary older males (SED). Twenty-two males (62 ± 2 years) comprised the SED group and 17 males (60 ± 5 years) were enrolled as LEX. Participants were tested at phase A (baseline), B (after preconditioning), and C (post-HIIT). There was no effect of time (P=0.116) or interaction (P=0.727) on insulin. However, there was an effect of group (P<0.001). In terms of magnitude, HIIT induced a small decrease in SED insulin compared to baseline (15.8 ± 8.1 uIU·ml-1 at baseline and 14.0 ± 7.8 uIU·ml-1 post-HIIT; Cohen’s d=0.23) and compared to post-preconditioning (17.5 ± 9.7 uIU·ml-1; Cohen’s d=0.40). LEX insulin was unchanged throughout (all differences were trivial). Insulin was lower in LEX than SED at phase A (P<0.001, Cohen’s d=1.31), B (P=0.023, Cohen’s d=0.78), and C (P=0.004, Cohen’s d=1.01). There was no effect of time (P=0.290), group (P=0.166), or interaction (P=0.153) for glucose. In terms of magnitude, HIIT produced a small reduction in SED glucose compared to baseline (5.7 ± 1.3 mmol·l-1 at baseline and 5.3 ± 0.9 mmol·l-1 post-HIIT; Cohen’s d=0.36), and compared to phase B (5.6 ± 0.8 mmol·l-1; Cohen’s d=0.35). LEX glucose was unchanged throughout (all changes were trivial). SED had moderately higher blood glucose than LEX at phase A (Cohen’s d=0.49), and B (Cohen’s d=0.63), but only a trivial difference existed at phase C (Cohen’s d=0.15). There was no effect of time (P=0.110), or interaction (P=0.569) on HOMA1-IR. However, there was an effect of group (P=0.002). In terms of magnitude, SED H