Abstract
With the introduction of English medium instruction (EMI) as one strategy for the internationalization of universities, more and more lecturers in Brazil choose the option of running their courses in EMI, while higher education courses are normally taught in Portuguese, the official language. In this study, we aim to explore the discourses and ideologies underlying the introduction and choice of EMI in two Brazilian higher education institutions. We conducted interviews with lecturers and focus group discussions with lecturers and students at two state universities in Paraná, Brazil. The results show a tendency to see English as “the natural language of science” which is underpinned by various ideological positions in relation to the role of English in academia, such as monolingual, correctness and native speakerism ideologies. At the same time, the data shows resistance to English from a linguistic justice perspective, and portrays university lecturers as engaging in a balancing act to facilitate inclusion and still offer international opportunities to students in Brazil.
Resumo
Com a introdução do Inglês como Meio de Instrução (EMI) como uma estratégia para a internacionalização das universidades, muitos professores no Brasil escolhem a opção de ministrarem seus cursos em língua inglesa, haja vista que os cursos do ensino superior são geralmente ensinados em português, a língua oficial deste contexto. Este trabalho objetiva explorar os discursos e as ideologias subjacentes à introdução e escolha do EMI em duas instituições de ensino superior brasileiras. Foram realizadas entrevistas com professores e grupos focais com professores e alunos em duas universidades estaduais no Paraná, Brasil. Os resultados evidenciam uma tendência em ver o o inglês como “a língua natural da ciência”, a qual é sustentada por várias posições ideológicas em relação ao papel do inglês na academia, tais como as ideologias do monolinguismo, correção e falante nativo. Ao mesmo tempo, os dados demonstram resistência ao inglês sob o ponto de vista de justiça linguística, e retratam esses profissionais engajados em equilibrar-se entre facilitar inclusão e ao mesmo tempo oferecer oportunidades internacionais à(o)s estudantes brasileiro(a)s.
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© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Introduction
- Introduction
- Articles
- Linguistic justice in English-medium instruction contexts: a theoretical argument
- The (in)justice of EMI: a critical discourse analysis of two key stakeholders’ views on the Polytechnic University of Milan court case
- “English is the natural language of science”: discourses and ideologies concerning EMI in two Brazilian universities
- English Medium Instruction or Exploitative Models of Income? International students’ experiences of EMI by default at an Australian university
- Our gateway is your gatekeeper: benefits and constraints of EMI for different participants in Japanese ELF contexts
- Enhancing equity in South Korean EMI higher education through translanguaging
- Impact of English proficiency and self-efficacy on EMI content learning: a longitudinal study in Taiwan
- EMI programmes in Vietnamese higher education: a case study of translanguaging practices for inclusive education
- Book Reviews
- Cogo, Alessia, Graham Crookes and Sávio Siqueira: English for a Critical Mind: Language Pedagogy for Social Justice
- Mocanu, Vasilica: Language Learning in Study Abroad: Social, Cultural, and Identity-Related Factors
- Alves, Ubiratã Kickhöfel & Jeniffer Imaregna Alcantara de Albuquerque: Second language pronunciation: Different approaches to teaching and training (Studies on Language Acquisition 64)
- Corrigendum
- Corrigendum to: Self-presentation as an ELF user in social media: an analysis of Japanese young adults’ online language practices
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Introduction
- Introduction
- Articles
- Linguistic justice in English-medium instruction contexts: a theoretical argument
- The (in)justice of EMI: a critical discourse analysis of two key stakeholders’ views on the Polytechnic University of Milan court case
- “English is the natural language of science”: discourses and ideologies concerning EMI in two Brazilian universities
- English Medium Instruction or Exploitative Models of Income? International students’ experiences of EMI by default at an Australian university
- Our gateway is your gatekeeper: benefits and constraints of EMI for different participants in Japanese ELF contexts
- Enhancing equity in South Korean EMI higher education through translanguaging
- Impact of English proficiency and self-efficacy on EMI content learning: a longitudinal study in Taiwan
- EMI programmes in Vietnamese higher education: a case study of translanguaging practices for inclusive education
- Book Reviews
- Cogo, Alessia, Graham Crookes and Sávio Siqueira: English for a Critical Mind: Language Pedagogy for Social Justice
- Mocanu, Vasilica: Language Learning in Study Abroad: Social, Cultural, and Identity-Related Factors
- Alves, Ubiratã Kickhöfel & Jeniffer Imaregna Alcantara de Albuquerque: Second language pronunciation: Different approaches to teaching and training (Studies on Language Acquisition 64)
- Corrigendum
- Corrigendum to: Self-presentation as an ELF user in social media: an analysis of Japanese young adults’ online language practices