Ideology, practice and challenges of English medium of instruction in private universities of Bangladesh

Abstract

n countries where English is taught as a second or foreign language there English Medium Instruction (EMI) is a common phenomenon in higher education (HE). Bangladesh has recently turned its attention on EMI in higher education due to the value attached with the language. Despite the fact that English plays a significant role in tertiary education, there have been limited research on EMI from a Bangladeshi perspective. The study is guided by Spolsky's (2009) language management theory to investigate the language ideology of lecturers and students regarding the benefits of EMI, their perception regarding the language practice of EMI and achieving compatibility for adopting it in the classrooms of private universities in Bangladesh. This study particularly designed to investigate teachers' and students' perceptions of EMI's potential and actual situation in a specific scenario. The findings of the study is done by conducting a semi-structured interview with ten students and four lectures of a renowned private university. The study's findings suggested that EMI does not observe full-fledged practice in the classrooms, as lecturers and students struggle to impart and receive knowledge due to their limited English language proficiency, though they did not deny EMI's benefit in producing globally efficient workforces empowered with English language proficiency. The goal of the study is to inform policymakers on the existing situation at the university in terms of EMI policy implementation in the classroom by actors such as teachers and students.