EMI-related support for Korean engineering students and professors

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the current states of English-medium instruction (EMI) in Korean science and engineering universities (KSEU) and suggest effective supportive measures for KSEU students and professors. KSEU have actively implemented EMI since the mid-2000s, following the Korean government’s strong drive for EMI. In order to attain the research goals, analysis of various documents and literature, including university documents and webpages and newspaper and journal articles on EMI in KSEU, were collected and analyzed. Moreover, questionnaire surveys and interviews were conducted among students and professors at three most reputable KSEU to investigate their attitudes toward EMI. The study results show that many professors and students felt that they had inadequate English ability for EMI. Nonetheless, the majority of them believed that EMI should be maintained but with more supportive measures in place. This study concludes that ILCHE (Integrated Language and Content in Higher Education) should be provided along with EMI classes in order to help students with insufficient English ability. ILCHE refers to programs that have “explicit and integrated content and language learning aims” (Unterberger & Wilhelmer 2011:95). The study will discuss the actual steps that have been taken at a KSEU in adopting ILCHE classes. It will also discuss a variety of supportive measures for KSEU faculty who feel that they are in need of strengthening their language ability and instructional quality in offering EMI. Microteaching and workshops and training sessions that include pronunciation help, classroom idioms, and student-centered instructional methods are suggested.