English As A Medium Of Instruction: From Academic Staff’s Perspective

Abstract

This study reveals Turkish academic staff’s opinions about English as a medium of instruction at the university level. A survey was given to 30 participants whose titles ranged from research assistants to associate professors working at different universities. In the study, the academic staff’s opinions about the benefits of EMI from global aspects, its effects on learning and teaching processes, its impact on the national identity, language, and development, and also the discrepancy between the language of instruction and work-life were examined. Additionally, the study reveals the differences in the academic staff’s opinions depending on gender, title, medium of instruction in education, and working in private or public institutions. The data were analyzed by quantitative methods. The findings showed a) a difference between male and female participants in their opinions regarding the effect of EMI on national concepts such as national language, identity; b) that the participants educated in EMI were more positive about the benefits of EMI for its global aspects and its effects on learning and teaching processes; c) that the participants’opinons differed from each other in national concepts as well as learning and teaching processes when the titles were analyzed; d) that the participants agreed on the possibility of a mismatch between the workplace and school due to the language of instruction e) and finally a difference between academic staff working in state institutions and private institutions revealing the academic staff in state institutions were more positive about the impact of EMI on learning and teaching processes.