Research Article

Perception on EMI amidst medical university students: A bane or a boon?

Chahrazed Hamzaoui 1 *
More Detail
1 University of Ain-Temouchent, ALGERIA* Corresponding Author
Mediterranean Journal of Social & Behavioral Research, 9(1), February 2025, 3-7, https://doi.org/10.30935/mjosbr/15888
Submitted: 04 May 2024, Published Online: 28 January 2025, Published: 01 February 2025
OPEN ACCESS   40 Views   19 Downloads
Download Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Recently, the Algerian government has been struggling to refine higher education outcomes and to enhance scientific research crop. A key-measure to reaching this objective is showing interest to foreign languages notably English. This paper investigates medical students’ perception towards a conceivable implementation of English as a medium of instruction rather than French at Tlemcen University after a governmental decision accompanied with concrete measures in other scientific and technical streams. By using an online qualitative survey with 150 participants, the findings revealed that the learners confess the significance of English alongside its utility. However, they are still reluctant on the adoption of English as a medium of instruction and prefer to continue their studies in French. Some reasons behind this proclivity cover lack of sources in English, lack of ill-trained teachers and fear of academic failure. Another interesting result is the students’ discontent with the way the initiative has been implemented, for they are ill-trained for such a sudden linguistic swap. In the aftermath, the paper ends with some implications.
Keywords: Algeria, higher education, English as a medium of instruction, medical students, perception

CITATION (APA)

Hamzaoui, C. (2025). Perception on EMI amidst medical university students: A bane or a boon?. Mediterranean Journal of Social & Behavioral Research, 9(1), 3-7. https://doi.org/10.30935/mjosbr/15888

REFERENCES

  1. Airey, J. (2016). EAP, EMI or CLIL? In K. Hyland, & P. Shaw (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of English for academic purposes (pp. 95–107). Routledge.
  2. Al Zumor, A. Q. (2019). Challenges of using EMI in teaching and learning of university scientific disciplines: Student voice. International Journal of Language Education, 3(1), 74–90.
  3. Atik, E. (2010). Perceptions of students towards English medium instruction at tertiary level: The case of a Turkish private university [Master’s thesis, Middle East Technical University]. https://open.metu.edu.tr/handle/11511/19555
  4. Badwan, K. (2019). Exploring the potential of English as a medium of instruction in higher education in Tunisia. The British Council.
  5. Belmihoub, K. (2018). Language attitudes in Algeria. Language Problems and Language Planning, 42(2), 144–172. https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.00017.bel
  6. Benassou, K., & Bourenane, D. (2022). Investigating teachers’ and students’ attitudes towards the use of English as the medium of instruction in the scientific fields: The case of second students and teachers of biology, University of 08 Mai 1945, Guelma [Master’s thesis, University of 08 Mai 1945]. http://dspace.univ-guelma.dz/jspui/handle/123456789/13233
  7. Doiz, A., & Lasagabaster, D. (2018). Teachers’ and students’ L2 motivational self system in English-medium instruction: A qualitative approach. TESOL Quarterly, 52(3), 657–679. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.452
  8. Hamzaoui, C. (2021). The necessity of learning English in multilingual Algeria: Belhadj Bouchaib University as a case study. Global Journal of Foreign Language Teaching, 11(3), 185–194. https://doi.org/10.18844/gjflt.v11i3.5586
  9. Lei, J., & Hu, G. (2022). Research on English-medium instruction in the Asia Pacific: Trends, foci, challenges, and strategies. In W. O. Lee, P. Brown, A. L. Goodwin, & A. Green (Eds.), International handbook on education development in Asia-Pacific (pp. 1–23). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-2327-1_23-1
  10. Orfan S. N., & Seraj M. Y. (2022). English medium instruction in Higher Education of Afghanistan: Students’ perspective. Language Learning in Higher Education, 12, 291–308. https://doi.org/10.1515/cercles-2022-2041
  11. Ouarniki, O. (2023). Exploring teachers’ perspectives on the implementation of English as a medium of instruction (EMI) in Algerian higher education institutions: Challenges and opportunities. Afak for Sciences Journal, 8(3), 176–192.
  12. Pecorari, D., & Malmström, H. (2018). At the crossroads of TESOL and English medium instruction. TESOL Quarterly, 52(3), 497–515. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.470
  13. Tanjung, M. R., Azwandi, A., & Sufiyandi, S. (2021). Students’ perceptions on the use of English as medium of instruction (EMI) at the international class of the development study program of the faculty of economic & business of University of Bengkulu. Journal of English Education and Teaching, 5(4), 489–503. https://doi.org/10.33369/jeet.5.4.489-503
  14. Yang, M., O’Sullivan, P. S., Irby, D.M., Chen, Z., Lin, C., & Lin, C. (2019). Challenges and adaptations in implementing an English-medium medical program: A case study in China. BMC Medical Education, 19(1), Article 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-018-1452-3