Page 22 - ELG2307 Jul Issue 485

SPECIAL FEATURE .

Is EME beneficial to students?

IMAGE COPYWRITE MAT WRIGHT

nglish-medium education (EME): the problem for many, rather than a resource to Students, meanwhile, can fail to fully
use of the English language to teach support their learning. understand lecture content and materials and
and study academic content in places For countries that do move to EME at any stage struggle with academic reading and writing,
Ewhere English is not the primary in BE, such systemic change needs very careful issues that can lead to students failing courses
language of communication of the majority planning and communication, with a focus on or dropping out altogether.
of the population. EME can be found in initial teacher training, continuing professional Universities often struggle to recruit
both basic (primary & secondary) and higher development, language improvement, and the lecturers who can teach their academic subject
education. development of organisational and pedagogical through English, and where professional
In basic education (BE), the perception of guidelines to support effective teaching development for lecturers is available, it tends
governments, parents and learners is often and learning. Too often, though, these vital to focus on improving their language skills and
that learning subjects through English is components are not properly developed as part not on the pedagogic skills they need to teach
advantageous for educational and career of a move to EME in BE. in an EME context.
success, but there is little (if any) evidence In higher education, EME is here to stay, Given these issues, language in education
to support this view. At primary level, in and it will continue to have a profound impact policies need to be carefully considered and
particular, a move away from mother-tongue- on the shape of international education, as sensitively managed to be successful, while
based education to EME can impair learning the number of students enrolled on a course being aware of potential unintended impacts.
and prove a barrier to inclusive and equitable outside their home country continues to grow Decision makers need to be cognisant of the
quality education. Research shows that by around 5% a year. linguistic, cognitive, affective and academic
students need six to eight years of studying There are many perceived advantages to EME factors affecting learners and educators
an additional language as a subject in order to in HE, including economic growth, university when planning EME programmes. Critically,
develop the cognitive and academic language prestige, access to intercultural learning, increased the interplay of local or mother tongue
proficiency necessary to study other subjects student revenue and increased competency in language(s) with English must be assessed to
in that language. Despite this, over a third English, However, again, evidence to support ensure appropriate inclusivity to support the
of children around the world begin their most of these benefits is limited or lacking, partly achievement of learning outcomes.
education in a language they cannot speak or due to a lack of monitoring and evaluation of
understand. EME programmes.
Parental demand for EME can drive political There are many challenges to EME in
decisions to introduce it at primary level, but HE, with lecturers, often lacking in relevant Ann Veitch is the British
the widespread and uncritical adoption of pedagogical training, sometimes having to Council lead for English in
EME at primary level in some parts of the simplify lesson content as both they and a Multilingual World.
Global South is forcing children to “sink or their students may lack the language skills to
swim,” with English becoming a significant understand or articulate complex concepts.
22 July 2023