Evolving Agendas in European English-Medium Higher Education


Book Description

English medium-of-instruction (EMI) is transforming modern-day universities across the globe, creating increasingly complex linguistic and intercultural realities which lecturers, students and decision-makers must negotiate. Teaching subject matter at higher-education level through the medium of English, in countries where English is neither an official nor national language (e.g. the Netherlands, Germany), is a highly complex phenomenon fraught with challenges and benefits. EMI programmes are capable of transforming domestic degree programmes into platforms of intercultural teaching and learning by infusing them with greater numbers of international faculty and students. Equally however, EMI programmes pose a socio-linguistic, -cultural and -economic challenge by institutionalising English at higher-education level within a country and displacing somewhat national and minority languages. This book, the first of its kind, provides an up-to-date and empirically-informed exploration of these salient themes in Europe, based on significant empirical data gathered and analysed on the German EMI context.




Teacher Training for English-Medium Instruction in Higher Education


Book Description

English-medium instruction (EMI) has become a pervasive teaching model in recent higher education. The implementation of EMI programs requires changes in university teaching methods since most lecturers need to adapt their contents and the way they teach them to successfully work in foreign language environments. The rapid proliferation of such programs has resulted in concern among teaching staff, who have felt pushed towards teaching their subject content through a non-native language with little or no previous training. As a result, many recent studies have highlighted the importance and urgency to train teaching staff in terms of language proficiency and the appropriate teaching methods, techniques, and strategies to be applied in EMI lessons. Teacher Training for English-Medium Instruction in Higher Education is an academic research publication that provides comprehensive research on effective approaches and experiences in teacher training for EMI at universities both in terms of language skills and teaching methodologies and that analyzes the design and development of comprehensive teacher training programs that successfully engage these EMI programs. It has profound implications for the development of the international profile of higher education institutions as it provides information on how to train highly-qualified lecturers to successfully teach students from different nationalities. Featuring a wide range of topics such as assessment, curriculum design, and learning styles, this book is ideal for pre- and in-service teachers, language specialists, content specialists, administrators, deans, higher education faculty, researchers, practitioners, curriculum designers, policymakers, academicians, and students.




Internationalising Learning in Higher Education


Book Description

This edited book examines the use of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) in a variety of international higher education contexts. The internationalization of education – indicated by increasing mobility of students, staff and ideas, as well as by policies and programmes put in place to facilitate educational exchange - has led to increasing adoption of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) for educational purposes. In this book, the authors present the results of empirical research into the implementation, assessment, development and use of EMI programmes in different settings, presenting the case for more structured training of teachers and staff. It will be of interest to second/foreign language teaching and administrative staff, as well as anyone else involved in teaching in English at higher education level.




English as the Medium of Instruction in Turkish Higher Education


Book Description

This book examines the phenomenon of English Medium Instruction (EMI) in Turkish higher education, using research-based findings and review-based discussions with a critical focus on diverse aspects of EMI. Particularly, it addresses issues under four major themes: EMI policy and the macro level context, teaching practices in EMI, learning experiences in EMI and future directions for EMI in Turkey. English as the Medium of Instruction in Turkish Higher Education: Policy, Practice in Action and Future Directions comprehensively examines the EMI phenomenon by taking Turkey as a case study and it exclusively explores existing issues against different conceptual frameworks and theoretical foundations. It also explores novel issues around EMI, such as EMI assessment, EMI classroom interaction, and technology-enhanced EMI teacher training. Written by established experts in the field, this volume will be of particular interest to scholars of English for Academic Purposes, English Medium Instruction and Applied Linguistics as well as postgraduate students of Applied Linguistics, English as a Lingua Franca, English for Academic Purposes, and language and education policy. The book might also appeal to policy makers both in Turkey and in international education seeking blueprints to align their avowed principles and ground realities for purposes of effective practices.




Cultural Interactions of English-Medium Instruction at Vietnamese Universities


Book Description

This book presents a case study of English-Medium Instruction (EMI) implemented by universities in Vietnam, making valuable theoretical, empirical, and methodological contributions to the research in EMI which is currently a popular theme in the field of Higher Education. The importance of internationalization of higher education has been widely recognized by many countries all over the world. The spread of English as an international language has resulted in its crucial role in teaching and learning any disciplines. Globally, higher education in many non-English speaking countries has witnessed rapid expansion of (EMI) which was initiated in Europe, then to Asia and other continents which are featured with “Cultural Circles” spread in the world. Although there are many publications with the same theme available today, this monograph is unique because it is the first time to examine EMI classroom interaction from the cultural perspective specifically rather than from linguistic or pedagogical perspectives. It is a pioneering attempt to discuss in depth about cultural issues relating to EMI, namely (1) the social-cultural context of EMI classes in higher education; (2) the cultural backgrounds of EMI teachers and learners; and (3) culture interactions between teachers and learners in EMI classrooms. In addition, both quantitative and qualitative methods are employed to collect data from teachers and learners. Finally, a context-based model of EMI is proposed based on findings of this research. As a country within the Confucius Heritage Cultural Circle, Vietnam has been selected for this study because few studies to date are carried out in how EMI is culturally integrated to teaching and learning in the Vietnamese universities. This book is a joint effort by international academics, prepared for established scholars, researchers, educators, and research higher degree students who are interested in higher education, second and foreign language education and EMI teacher training.




English-Medium Instruction in Higher Education in the Middle East and North Africa


Book Description

English-Medium Instruction (EMI) is a rapidly growing global phenomenon in countries where English is a second or foreign language. This book focuses on empirical research studies conducted on this growing trend in the Middle East and North Africa, an under-researched area with regards to the effects and challenges of the implementation of EMI in higher education. The contributors are researchers with first-hand experience in countries in the region, including Iran, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Turkey. Each chapter follows a consistent structure, allowing comparisons to be drawn between policies and practices in different countries. Topics covered include investigating perceptions and attitudes of both students and lecturers, opportunities and challenges afforded by EMI, as well as the evolution of EMI practices. By exploring these issues, through the lens of a decolonial critical approach, this volume informs theory underlying research into the phenomenon of EMI in the region.




Teacher Professional Development for the Integration of Content and Language in Higher Education


Book Description

This book addresses heated issues in Integrated Content and Language in Higher Education (ICLHE) teacher training with specific emphasis on case studies that will contribute to inform future ICLHE teacher training research and practice. One of the most significant phenomena concerning language in higher education in modern time has been the rise of content subjects taught in an additional language, English being the chosen language in most of the cases. The implementation and teaching of Integrated Content and Language in Higher Education (ICLHE) or English as Medium of Instruction (EMI) is a multifaceted, dynamic process that cannot be considered in isolation. Indeed, there are a multitude of interrelated factors that pivot on situating the learner in the centre of the learning process and which directly shape ICLHE teacher training. This is why training lecturers to teach learners in an additional language in Higher Education has been considered a challenge for the profession as numerous publications demonstrate. This book brings together the innovative work of different researchers around the world on how universities, researchers and practitioners are facing and developing Integrating Content and Language in Higher Education (ICHLE) teacher training. All in all, the different contributions reflect different issues that play a fundamental role in the design of effective ICLHE professional development and provide data and reflections that will hopefully contribute to inform future ICLHE teacher training programmes. Teacher Professional Development for the Integration of Content and Language in Higher Education will be an important resource for academics, researchers, and advanced students of Education and Teacher Training Research and Practice. The chapters included in this book were originally published as a special issue of Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching.




Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Foreign Language Education


Book Description

Greater student mobility, increasing demand for access to tertiary education, as well as policy changes have spurred rapid expansion of the global higher education sector. However, with increased demand comes considerable variation in the quality of the supply. As higher education is an expensive endeavor for all stakeholders – governments, funders, employers, and families – there are also increasing expectations for accountability and demonstrations of quality. English as a foreign language (EFL) programs, in particular, are under considerable pressure to substantiate their value, resulting in a significant rise in interest around their quality. This volume is the outcome of a May 2018 international conference on quality and specialized accreditation, held in Turkey. The book’s three sections take the reader from the global to the program level, examining trends and best practices in quality assurance and accreditation in EFL programs. The book’s geographic focus is primarily the Middle East and Turkey, yet the issues discussed herein a quite global in nature. This volume will be of interest to educational administrators at the institutional or program level, educational leadership programs focusing on higher education, language teacher preparation programs, and administrators in centralized education systems or accrediting organizations.




Internationalization in Higher Education and Research


Book Description

This book examines the pros and cons of the internationalization of higher education institutions, which is an important feature of modern universities. It makes a significant contribution to our understanding of universities and an important input to the assessment of the internationalization of higher education institutions both for regulators and for the universities themselves. The book’s three parts focus on a number of issues associated with internationalization. The first part – Perspectives on Internationalization – provides critical reflections on internationalization, on the globally distributed European-American university and on the impact of rankings. The second part – The Obstacles to Internationalization – deals with the significance of language, challenges of mobility and environment concerns. The third part – Alternative Modes of Internationalization – discusses internationalization at home, international distance education and the establishment of international branch campuses.




Contemporary Perspectives on English as a Medium of Instruction


Book Description

English Medium Instruction (EMI) is the use of English to teach academic content in countries where English is not the first language. There continues to be a rapid growth in EMI around the globe and there is often official government support for EMI programs or curriculum. The goal of this volume is to explore current perspectives on EMI from empirical data to theoretical considerations in order to identify strengths and shortcomings of EMI programs and/or curricula, defining ideologies, and dominant methodologies in diverse contexts and offer evidence-based implications for classroom practice, policy, and future research. The chapters reflect the voices of diverse groups of people (e.g., content instructors, classroom teachers, college students, parents, teacher educators, etc.) who experience EMI in their current educational environments in different countries.




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