Sear Anirbid Sircar,

It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore  the rapidly growing , global phenomenon of English medium instruction (EMI)  throughout the world. The concept refers to the use of  English language for teaching  academic subjects in countries in which  the first

language (L1) of learners at the tertiary level is not English. Policy makers in higher education have realized the significance of  socio-political aspects of language planning programs in light of EMI. However, critical research concerning the pedagogical utility of EMI  has revealed that perceptions and practices related to the implementation of the policy has not always favorable. For one thing, in the vast majority of educational settings, the subject teachers are not bilingual teachers and they speak the majority language. Another thing is that the professors who speak English are not well-trained for teaching content courses in English. Unless these shortcomings are  taken care of,  it seems that the use of vernacular is more cost effective.

Best regards,

R. Biria

I think that Reza Biria's answer states the primary problems very well.  These problems are compounded by the general lack of teaching qualifications possessed by academics who are not working in the discipline of education.  English speaking teachers (as a first language) who are not trained to teach students who have english as a second, or third, language may have additional difficulties comprehending the feedback from their students.  This includes both conscious (answers to questions in class, written work) and unconscious (cultural, and non-verbal) elements of communication.  For example, a female native english speaker attempting to teach industrial design psychology, in english, to a class composed of male Algerian engineering students for whom english is their second language, has many more factors to address than simply the relative english competency of her class.  If she is also a pure academic with no teacher training this will make the task even more difficult.

It all depends on the established outcome goals of the academic program.  If ability to function professionally in English is not a requirement, then there is no need for EMI.

Good point, Michael, I was making the assumption that the educational programme was targeted at people who would be required to use english in their future career - I hadn't considered this other option.

No need for EMI in such a case, but I would like that students - future managers, are familiar with business English. It makes life so mich easier.

Thank you Mirna.

Hi,

I personally prefer to use standard British English.

English

Thanks to all the contributors for sharing views.

Thank you Jasna.

Thank you Osama.

Taking a truncated stand on the choice of language as the medium of instruction in higher institutions would be disastrous. Speaking from the cultural anthropology perspective, I have seen that students excel, are more active and more psychologically receptive to academic instruction when their local/native language is used as the mode of instruction. On the other hand,  the use of a foreign language often scares, students and it psychologically intimidates them and aggravates their fears that they would not be successful in the academic training.

That being said, international relations in terms of further studies, collaborations in research, business and other many important future relations require that students are engrossed in the English language which is the widest international language spoken. As a result, I would advocate a synergy of the two languages with the native language intensified and the English language gradually intersperse it. At very high levels of training, the English language could be used more than the native language.

We must reckon that language is an integral part of the culture of a people and must be promoted in our educational systems, yet, cultural diversity improves our general livelihood and thus calls for the learning of other languages. Best regards

Dickson Adom

As long as English is the language of communication it is necessary that it be adopted in discourse

Thank you

Medium of study can be national language need not be English. There are large number of persons who received higher education in hindi in India are doing well in science. In local or national language understanding is better. Anyway if someone has interest he will learn other foreign languages. 

Nice view Munish

native language must be medium of instruction in any class room. 

Thank you Mohd Imran khan

if all the students and the lecturers are from the same country, I think it's better to use L1. From my experience, it's hard for them to use L2 because both lecturers and students find it more efficient and comfortable to express ideas with each other in L1. However, in a higher education context where students and lecturers do not share a common language background, it's better to use English as a medium of instruction. 

Thank you Dr Duc

I think it is better to use the English language.

This is a very good question posed by Sircar for discussion.  

The medium of instruction in any level of education should be the language in which the teacher and the student have very good command, be it the mother tongue, or any other language.

The process of teaching involves the following two steps (a) Flow of knowledge from teacher to student (b) Receiving the knowledge and assimilating the same by the student. Obviously, for this whole process a suitable medium is required and that is what we term as the medium of instruction, that is, a suitable language. The suitable language is the one in which the teacher can freely express himself/herself and transfer his/her knowledge to the student in a seamless way. From student's perspective the suitable language is one in which the student can receive the knowledge and assimilate the same in a smooth way. Hence, the basic requirement is the existence of a common language between the teacher and the student. Both are required to have very good/good command over the same.