The Secret Life of English-Medium Instruction in Higher Education: Examining Microphenomena in Context

This volume explores the inner workings of English-medium instruction (EMI) in higher education (HE) at two universities in Catalonia, examining the choice of medium of instruction, students' ambivalence, resistance, and lecturers' roles. It is a useful resource for scholars and practitioners interested in EMI in HE, particularly language policy, curriculum issues, and language teaching practice.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 138 pages
Publication date: 20 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive volume delves into the intricacies of English-medium instruction (EMI) in higher education (HE) at two universities in Catalonia. After an introductory chapter that establishes the context and provides a foundational background, the book comprises four empirically grounded chapters, drawing on data collected from a diverse range of sources at these two universities. This includes interviews, audio/video recordings of classes, audio logs created by both lecturers and students, policy documents, students' written work, and student presentation evaluation rubrics. These chapters explore various aspects of EMI, including:
1. The choice of English or Catalan as the medium of instruction by students and lecturers.
2. The ambivalence and lack of enthusiasm exhibited by students towards EMI, as well as their ironic distance from education.
3. The strategies employed by students to resist EMI, such as contravening its English monolingual norm by using their native languages (L1s) in the classroom.
4. Occasional instances where EMI lecturers act as English language teachers despite their claims to the contrary.

The book concludes with a concluding chapter that brings together all the threads and highlights key themes. This book is intended for scholars with a keen interest in EMI in HE, as well as EMI practitioners who have adopted a reflective approach to their professional practice and seek to gain deeper insights into the complexities of EMI in HE from multiple perspectives. It serves as a valuable resource for MA and PhD students enrolled in applied linguistics programs, particularly those focused on the roles and uses of English in HE worldwide. Additionally, this book will be of relevance to courses or modules that address language policy, curriculum issues more broadly, and language teaching practice in general.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367610623