Internationalisation, Higher Education and the Growing Demand for English: An Investigation into the English Medium of Instruction (EMI) Movement in China and Japan

The globalisation of English has seen an increase in English education and education through English. Universities around the globe, including those in non-anglophone contexts, are part of this trend, offering programmes in English, despite having a ‘non-native’ (note that in this report, the terms ‘native’ and ‘non-native’ are placed in inverted commas to acknowledge the problematic nature of these terms) English-speaking staff and student body. English as a medium of instruction (EMI) – the use of English to teach subjects in countries where English is not the official language – has become a growing global trend. This has implications for the use of English as a lingua franca (ELF) in the academic domain and for teaching practice. The study reported here aims to explore the EMI phenomenon in higher education in Japan and China. Questionnaires, interviews and focus groups with staff and students provide insights into the differing approaches to, driving forces behind, and attitudes towards EMI. It responds to Dearden’s (2014: 2) call for a ‘research-driven approach which consults key stakeholders at a national and international level’ by providing insights on staff and student perceptions. The empirical and critical examination of the rapid expansion of EMI in Japan and China provides initial insights to act as a platform for further research and also staff training. The study also raises questions as to whether approaching EMI monolingually is the best way forward. The report concludes with a range of practical suggestions for different stakeholders, including staff, students, materials writers and policymakers