Exploring the Role of English in EMI: Challenges and Adaptations

Exploring the Role of English in EMI: Challenges and Adaptations

In the world of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI), English isn't taught as a subject on its own but is used to teach other subjects. EMI practitioners use English as a tool for teaching their subjects effectively. However, this change in how they teach comes with some difficulties for teachers.

One challenge is how good they are at using English and how comfortable they feel teaching their subject in English, especially if it's not their native language. They also need to figure out how to make their subject easy to understand for students who speak different languages. Sometimes, teachers have to use special strategies, like switching to a student's native language, where this is possible. But in classrooms with students from many different language backgrounds, this might not work. So, teachers have to find ways to explain things, give feedback, and decide if the feedback should focus on what the students are learning or on improving their English.

These challenges go beyond just teaching in the classroom; they also affect how teachers see themselves as professionals. When they teach in their native language, they often feel confident. But when they teach in a foreign language like English, it can make them feel unsure of themselves. They might need to work on their professional identity to show that they are still experts, even though they are teaching in a different language. In this changing situation, in this course, we'll look at the different challenges that EMI teachers face and suggest ways to handle them effectively.