English Medium Instruction at a National University: Students’, Teachers’ and Administrators’ Views

Abstract

The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan is implementing ambitious reforms which are aimed at the modernization and internationalization of higher education in the country. One of the main aims of these reforms is the introduction of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) at higher educational institutions (HEI) which involves teaching more subjects through the medium of English. Despite the ambitious plans of the government towards internationalization, it must be noted that the introduction of the initiative does not guarantee its successful implementation. Since the vast majority of Kazakhstani people are either Kazakh-or-Russian- speaking, the English language as medium of instruction in Kazakhstani education may be challenging, as it is a foreign language for almost everyone. (Mehisto, Kambatyrova & Nurseitova, 2014). As the experiences of different stakeholders are crucial for the successful implementation of any initiative, this study explored the views and experiences of university administrators, teachers and students with EMI at a national university, where several content disciplines are delivered in English. This study looked at the benefits and challenges students experience from EMI courses, and their motivating drivers for this choice of language of instruction. Moreover, it investigated whether teachers conducting courses in EMI receive any support from the university administration, and how the selection of staff and students takes place. The study used a single exploratory case study. The findings showed that, in general terms, participants hold positive views towards EMI as it is associated with better career and study opportunities for students, funding and promotion opportunities for teachers, and a preparation of more competent graduates for administrators. Some recommendations might include introducing benchmark tests to examine students’ language levels and monitoring their performances.