English Medium Instruction Experiences of Lecturers: Evidence from Tertiary Education in Türkiye

Year 2025, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 157 - 174

Arzu Ekoç Özçelik , Suzan Kavanoz , Selahattin Yılmaz

https://doi.org/10.17275/per.25.9.12.1

Abstract

The integration of English into the education domain continues to expand steadily. Language policies in educational institutions are shaped according to the English requirements of respective countries. With the recognition of English as a lingua franca, it has taken on a significant role as the medium of instruction (EMI) in Turkish universities, with an increasing number of programs now being offered in English. For higher education institutions aiming to improve their rankings, establish a strong reputation, and enhance visibility, English is a critical factor. As a result, many opt to provide undergraduate programs in English. This study aims to determine the attitudes of lecturers toward full EMI programs. A qualitative research design was employed, with data gathered through semi-structured interviews with lecturers and classroom observations. The sample was selected using purposive sampling to ensure that participants had substantial experience with EMI. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data, identifying key themes and patterns. Despite the inherent challenges of EMI, the findings revealed that lecturers hold positive attitudes towards EMI. Additionally, they emphasized the need for short-term, context-specific professional development opportunities focused on both language proficiency and pedagogical skills for EMI. These findings offer valuable insights for improving the overall quality of EMI and for guiding university policies to better meet the evolving needs of EMI programs.

Keywords

English as a medium of instruction, foreign language education, tertiary education, undergraduate education, lecturers

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval was obtained from Yildiz Technical University with the issue number 01/2022 on 25.01.2022.

Supporting Institution

This work has been supported by Yildiz Technical University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit under project number SBA-2022-5029.

Project Number

SBA-2022-5029

Thanks

We would like to thank the lecturers who participated in our study.

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