A survey of English-medium instruction in Italian higher education

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanna Broggini ◽  
Francesca Costa
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Local Data ◽  
National Policies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The North ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
English Medium Instruction ◽  
Widespread Phenomenon

English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) has rapidly become a widespread phenomenon in Europe, especially in many Italian institutions. The growth of EMI is currently exponential as well as non-regimented; it is therefore very important to obtain updated, local data regarding this phenomenon, which could be of use in developing future national policies. This study describes the data gathered in a 2015 survey of English-Medium Instruction (EMI) which included all Italian universities. The survey concentrated on three areas, the lecturers and students involved and the overall organisation of the courses in both private and public institutions in the North, Centre and South of Italy. The paper updates information on the same topic gathered from a previous questionnaire (Costa & Coleman, 2012), reflecting on what has changed during the intervening three years.

English Medium Instruction and Human Linguistic Rights: Academic, Psychological and Cultural Suffering

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Taghreed Masri
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Linguistic Rights ◽  
Critical Methodology ◽  
Arab Students ◽  
English Medium Instruction

In higher education in the UAE, English is used as the medium of instruction, while academic Arabic is relegated to few electives that can be also taken in English. Policy makers perceive the transition from Arabic medium instruction (ami) schools to English medium instruction (emi) universities as normal and automatic. This study aims to explore how students see this transition, and whether they find it automatic and smooth, or embroiled in hardship and difficulties. It is based on a critical theoretical framework and is approached using exploratory critical methodology. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty undergraduate Arab students in three English-medium universities. Results showed that students faced psychological, academic, social and cultural difficulties associated with the transition from Arabic schools to English-medium instruction universities.

The necessity of teaching Intercultural Communication in higher education

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 506-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bassmah B. AlTaher
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Cultural Communication ◽  
Intercultural Communications ◽  
Intercultural Skills ◽  
Great Confidence ◽  
Private And Public

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze how Intercultural Communication is a necessary course for students to learn how to communicate in a healthy, tolerant and respectful manner when pursuing higher education, for miscommunication can result from ethnocentric behavior when dealing with people from various cultural backgrounds. Design/methodology/approach A survey method of research was adopted and questionnaires were administered to two sets of students: those who have taken Intercultural Communications and those who have not. A total of 192 valid responses from students were received from the School of Basic Sciences and Humanities, German Jordanian University. The first survey falls under the nominal analysis of a dichotomous questionnaire, and the results were measured with Cronbach’s α to test the reliability of the its consistency. The second questionnaire’s items were uni-dimensional, and so the Guttman chart was used to conduct students’ comprehension of global communication. Findings The results of this study have shown that the first questionnaire has a strong consistency (0.86); students have successfully understood the dynamics of cross-cultural communication, and used that knowledge to aid and prepare them for future careers. As for students who have not taken IC, they have answered the second questionnaire with great confidence in the first category of personal expectations, but fluctuated in their answers when answering the category of self-development and cultural appreciation. ZPD1 and ZPD2 have proven that students need their teacher to learn new knowledge and insights which they can gain from an IC course. Research limitations/implications Apart from the valuable contributions of the study, this study is performed at one public university, and the students, despite their diverse cultural backgrounds and majors, restrict the findings of this research from generalizing the results. Hence, future studies in this area are deeply encouraged, especially when comparing between private and public universities, and how IC is interrelated to other courses in the humanities; moreover, IC as an academic course can bridge the gap between student–teacher relationships. Originality/value The scarcity of a diverse course that teaches intercultural skills in communication has become a growing necessity in this day and age, especially in the Middle East and particularly in Jordan. Due to globalization and informatization, Jordanian students are constantly exposed to cultural and religious differences, and to have them engage in a healthy, well-respected conversation is the core aim of this paper, for tolerance and understanding are constantly on high demand. Students learn these skills in IC, and this course reflects how essential a course like this can play a great role in a student’s development.

The positioning of English-medium of instruction

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-27
Author(s):  
John Trent
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
English Language ◽  
Positioning Theory ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
English Medium Instruction ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
English Medium Of Instruction ◽  
The University

Abstract The proliferation of English-medium instruction (EMI) in higher education institutions (HEIs) across non-English-speaking Europe has been recently documented in several large-scale surveys. The opportunities and challenges of designing and implementing EMI policies are also widely recognized. However, our understanding of the use of EMI in Russian HEIs is limited. This study responds to this research need by exploring the experiences and perspectives of instructors teaching business-related subjects using the English language in two different Russian HEIs. A contribution of the study is to investigate these perspectives and experiences using the analytic lens of positioning theory. Results reveal the ways in which instructors are positioned by the university, as well how they position themselves, within an EMI environment. Acknowledging the potential antagonism that might result between different EMI stakeholders because of this positioning and repositioning, suggestions are then made as how this outcome could be avoided. Implications for future research are also considered.

Cross-institutional collaboration for transfer student success

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-268
Author(s):  
Kaela Casey ◽  
Linda Kennedy ◽  
Janet Pinkley ◽  
Laura Worden
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
General Education ◽  
Transfer Students ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Transfer Success ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Teaching Faculty

Purpose Each of Ventura County’s four public institutions of higher education list information literacy (IL) as either an institutional outcome or general education outcome for their students. Despite this, communication between the four campuses on this topic was limited. Librarians from these institutions applied to be part of the grant-funded Project ALAS Faculty Fellows Program to find ways to collaborate with each other and with teaching faculty to support the development of IL skills in transfer students. Design/methodology/approach Librarians from Ventura County’s four public institutions of higher education, with funding from the Project ALAS Faculty Fellows Program, held a one-day IL summit to bring librarians and teaching faculty together to unify objectives and create a seamless IL transition for transfer students. Findings Creating an opportunity for librarians and teaching faculty to discuss the definition and potential applications of IL in courses and assignments led to positive outcomes. Teaching faculty learned about library resources and took steps to begin collaborating with their campus librarian(s). Librarians also learned about different academic expectations in various disciplines, made new connections and made plans for future IL-focused collaborations. Originality/value Studies have demonstrated that IL is a key component to student transfer success. However, this is not an element in education that can be achieved by one department alone. The collaborative effort described in this paper can serve as a model for other librarians hoping to foster dialogue and cooperation amongst their regional institutions.

scholarly journals Challenges and Strategies of University Students in English-medium Instruction (EMI) Classes: A case study

2021 ◽  
pp. 9-25
Author(s):  
Kamran Akhtar Siddiqui ◽  
Hassan Syed ◽  
Zafarullah Sahito
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
English Language ◽  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
National Language ◽  
School Level ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
English Medium Instruction ◽  
Continuous Use

English language has grown to be a lingua franca of the present day world. Therefore, even non- English European and Asian countries have adopted English as a medium of instruction. English has continuously been the medium of instruction in the higher education of Pakistan in spite of having a great linguistic diversity and national language Urdu as the medium of instruction at school level. This study aims to explore the perceptions of undergraduates about EMI, challenges they face in EMI classrooms and solutions they suggest for mitigation of their issues. The qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews reveals that students perceive EMI to be beneficial for higher education, employment and progressive thought. However, they face challenges related to teachers’ English proficiency, code-switching, vocabulary and receptive as well as productive skills. They suggest that English-proficient instructors, continuous use of English, language support from university can help them overcome these challenges effectively.

scholarly journals Constructing English-medium instruction indicators in the shipping courses of Taiwan’s higher education

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Po-Hsing Tseng ◽  
Kendall Richards ◽  
Nick Pilcher
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Fuzzy Theory ◽  
Evaluation Model ◽  
Material Design ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Related Field ◽  
Teaching Resources ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Content Type ◽  
English Medium Instruction

Purpose This paper aims to use an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and combine this with the fuzzy theory to identify key indicators influencing English-medium instruction (EMI) in the shipping courses of Taiwan’s higher education. Design/methodology/approach Based on a literature review and expert interviews, an evaluation model with 4 indicators and 13 sub-indicators was developed. Questionnaire samples included university English teachers (eight), university shipping teachers (nine) and shipping practitioners (eight). Findings Using 25 effective samples, the results found that “teachers’ characteristics” is the most important indicator, followed by “syllabus design”, “university resources” and “students’ characteristics”. Such a finding could provide valuable teaching and managerial strategies for EMI design in both university and industry sectors. Research limitations/implications Expert questionnaire targets have focused on university English teachers, university shipping teachers and shipping practitioners. Other related field experts could be further surveyed and compared in the future studies. Practical implications The findings of EMI indicators in the shipping courses could be used for course and material design by shipping companies, shipping authorities and universities. It is expected that these indicators could inform the provision of reasonable teaching resources allocation. Social implications This paper provides important guidance for designing EMI in shipping courses. Related stakeholders will be able to understand important concepts regarding designing EMI courses. Originality/value First, EMI indicators in the shipping courses have seldom been studied in the past. They are, however, important for both shipping industries and education intuitions. Second, as its method, this paper adopts decision analysis quantitative tool to complement previous qualitative studies regarding EMI studies.

Unleashing a quantitative approach to manage admissions in engineering: a case of the North Indian state

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bikram Jit Singh ◽  
Harsimran Singh Sodhi ◽  
Rippin
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The North ◽  
Survey Form ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
Indian State ◽  
New Students ◽  
Unique Approach

PurposeThe growth and prosperity of a nation depends upon its ability to innovate technologically and engineering has erupted as a fundamental chauffer of this essence, since last couple of eras. But recent decline in engineering admissions triggers the downfall in skilled labor, which can cause recession in industries or can ultimately lead to economic crisis. This study tries to illustrate the present status of engineering-related education, particularly in India and tends to skim the various parameters that affect the enrollment of students among higher education institutes, directly or indirectly.Design/methodology/approachA unique approach had been unleashed to tackle the nuisance of low admission among Indian engineering colleges or universities. Factors reviewed from the literature were further prioritized quantitatively after distributing suitable questionnaires among a relevant set of engineering aspirants. The “survey form” used was tactically designed on the basis of response surface methodology (RSM), which analyzed the data captured in Minitab statistical software and deducted logical inferences to optimize the “critical-to-admission” (CTA) factors, applicably.FindingsA case study was successfully executed in a North Indian state to prove the efficacy of proposed methodology as far as downtrend in admission was concerned. This study was a rare blend of questionnaire-based work, where design of experiments principles had been utilized exclusively. It provided significant findings on how to earmark different admission-decisive factors along with their required prioritization.Practical implicationsIt can further help the universities and higher education institutes to draft their indispensable professional policies and vision–mission statements, appropriately.Originality/valueQuantitative studies in the service sector (like higher education) are quite rare to see. The present work is not only providing a roadmap for engineering institutions to boost their admissions in upcoming challenging times but it also acts as a light house for new students as it provides necessary guidelines for shortlisting colleges or universities while seeking admission for higher studies.

scholarly journals Measuring the effectiveness of English Medium Instruction Shipping courses

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 351-371
Author(s):  
Po-Hsing Tseng ◽  
Nick Pilcher ◽  
Kendall Richards
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Related Field ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Field Samples ◽  
English Medium Instruction ◽  
And Cluster Analysis ◽  
Electronic Teaching

Purpose Shipping courses contain much technical and specialist knowledge and present particular challenges for English medium instruction (EMI). This paper aims to investigate both student perceptions of the importance and satisfaction level of EMI in shipping courses in higher education in Taiwan and the perceptions of expert stakeholders through qualitative interviews. Design/methodology/approach Importance-performance analysis (IPA) is used to gather data on participants’ perceptions of what is (un)important and (un)satisfactory. Based on past studies, four dimensions with 20 items were developed and 121 effective questionnaires were collected. Further, qualitative interviews with expert stakeholders (n = 9) are undertaken to gather data to contextualize and complement the quantitative student data. Findings Findings show students attributed high importance but low satisfaction to items such as course learning objectives and students’ English level, and low importance and high satisfaction to items such as electronic teaching platform and relevance of subject to practice. Factor analysis and cluster analysis were used to divide samples into three groups. Qualitative interview results confirm many of the quantitative findings but also show where some quantitative findings require more attention or investment when delivering EMI programmes. Research limitations/implications Questionnaire samples focus on university students. Other related field samples (e.g. EMI teachers, shipping teachers, English teachers, etc.) could be surveyed and compared in future studies. Qualitative interviews could also be expanded to other stakeholders such as government policymakers. Practical implications The findings of IPA in the shipping courses and the qualitative interviews can be used for both teaching design and implementation in related courses by university lecturers and other stakeholders (e.g. policy and decision-makers). Such approaches can enhance students’ learning motivation and teaching performance. Social implications This paper provides important guidance and diagnosis for how to introduce English teaching in shipping courses. Related courses can be further applied in higher education to popularize and promote EMI teaching in shipping and related fields. Originality/value EMI has seldom been studied in the context of shipping courses in the past. This paper adopts IPA method and qualitative interviews to complement previous studies and address gaps in recent research. It is expected that the research findings could be adapted and applied in other fields.

English as a medium of instruction in Chinese higher education: looking back and looking forward

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangwei Hu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Chinese Higher Education ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Chinese Context ◽  
English Medium Instruction ◽  
Looking Back

Abstract This paper takes a look at English medium instruction (EMI) in Chinese higher education, offers comments on the five articles included in this special issue, identifies challenges and conundrums in EMI, and invites further research on the processes and products of EMI in the Chinese context.

PERCEPTIONS OF UNDERGRADUATES OF ENGLISH MEDIUM INSTRUCTION: EXPLORATION OF CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS

2021 ◽  
pp. 47-54
Author(s):  
Kamran Akhtar SIDDIQUI ◽  
Hassan SYED
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
English Language ◽  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Urban Centers ◽  
Small Cities ◽  
English Medium Instruction ◽  
Continuous Use

The English language has grown to be a lingua franca of the present day world. Therefore, even non-English European and Asian countries have adopted English as a medium of instruction. Despite having a great linguistic diversity in the country and varied medium of instructions at different educational levels, English has continuously been the medium of instruction in the higher education of Pakistan. Although the attitudes of undergraduates have been studied in urban centers in the country on a smaller scale, very little attention has been paid to exploring specifically the challenges undergraduates face in universities located in small cities. Therefore, this study aims to explore undergraduates’ perceptions about EMI, particularly the challenges they face in EMI classrooms and solutions they suggest for mitigation of their issues. The qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews reveal that students perceive EMI to be beneficial for higher education, employment and progressive thought. However, they face challenges related to teachers’ English proficiency, code-switching, vocabulary and receptive as well as productive skills. They suggest that English-proficient instructors, continuous use of English, language support from university can help them overcome these challenges effectively. The study offers recommendations for further exploration of the research area in the context of Pakistan.

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