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English Medium Instruction Ideology, Management and Practices: a Case Study of Bangladeshi Private University

  • Mohammad Mosiur RahmanEmail author
  • Manjet Kaur Mehar Singh
  • Monabbir Johan
  • Zohur Ahmed
Original Paper
First Online:

Abstract

In an increasingly globalized world, English medium instruction (EMI) in higher education has now become a common phenomenon. Recent research, however, has shown that EMI is not without its problems. This article reports a case study of a private university from Bangladesh. Employing Spolsky’s language policy framework, the study made a critical analysis of the institutional policy statements and website content of the university, and also carried out interviews with policymakers, faculty members and students to uncover the ideology, management and practices of languages in the university. The findings reveal a mismatch between intentions of EMI policy based on the language ideologies of the stakeholders, and the actual language practices in the university. The findings raise serious concerns regarding the adaptation of EMI policy in private universities in Bangladesh. More importantly, the quality and consequences of implementing such EMI policies need further investigation.

Keywords

English medium instruction Higher education Bangladesh Language ideology Language practice Language management 

以英語為教學媒介語之意識型態、管理和實踐: 孟加拉私立大學之個案研究

摘要

在日益全球化的世界中,高等教育中以英語為教學媒介語(EMI)的實施已成為一種普遍現象。然而,最近的研究顯示採用英語為教學媒介語並非完全沒有疑慮。本研究基以孟加拉的一所私立大學進行了個案研究。本研究採用Spolsky的語言政策框架,對該大學的政策聲明和網站內容進行了批判性分析,並對政策制定者、教師和學生進行了訪談,以揭示該大學語言相關的意識形態、管理和實踐。結果顯示,基以利益相關者的語言意識形態,其對於以英語為教學媒介語政策的意圖與大學實際上的語言實踐並不相符。這些結果使作者對於孟加拉私立大學以英語為教學媒介語的政策提出強烈的疑慮。更重要的是,我們仍需要更多的研究來探究實施如此政策的品質和後果。

關鍵詞

以英語為教學媒介語 高等教育 孟加拉 語言意識形態 語言實踐 語言管理 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

The first author acknowledges the support of Ikuya Aizawa from Department of Education, University of Oxford. He was kind enough to share the book of Professor Ernesto Macaro on English medium instruction as well as his valuable understanding on the matter.

Funding Information

The first author acknowledges the support of Institute of Postgraduate Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia for the Vice-Chancellor Award 2019.

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© National Taiwan Normal University 2019

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.School of Languages Literacies and TranslationUniversiti Sains MalaysiaGelugorMalaysia

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