A Study of Taiwanese Students’ Experiences in English as A Medium of Instruction(EMI) Courses

• Main Authors: CHANG, YU-TAI, 張瑜玳
• Other Authors: CHEN, FEI-CHUAN
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2019
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/vgeutc

碩士 === 國立雲林科技大學 === 技術及職業教育研究所 === 107 === Internationalization of Taiwan's higher education goes with the new southbound policy, these international students from Southeast face the same challenges as Taiwanese students do which is that English is not their native language nor their first language. Therefore, English is their main language to communicate with each other. In non- English speaking countries, there are increasing number of English as a medium of instruction(EMI)courses. It’s becoming more common in higher education to use English to instruct courses to recruit international students and also to let them engage in the classrooms. However, there are more studies investigating the participants focus more on international students instead of Taiwanese students, yet its more worthy of attention from Taiwanese students since they don’t have a language advantage, and have to overcome culture shock. This paper aimed to explore Taiwanese students’ overall learning experience of taking EMI for content courses. Research methods used to collect data was semi-structured interview with six students in the qualitative research. The participants of this study consisted three students of master degree and three students of doctoral degree. The major findings of the study are as follows: Firstly, The difficulties in language and content learning are: 1. Frustration caused by insufficient English proficiency, for example: afraid of personal oral report. 2. The understanding of professional content is affected by language barriers, so the harvest is not as ideal as they expect. 3. English pronunciation problem causing communication obstacles. 4. Simultaneous translations both in English and Mandarin offered by instructors affects the quality of courses. 5. difficulty on self-expression engaging in the classroom. 6. The pressure to assist foreign students in translation in the classroom. 7. Ridiculed by instructors while helping translate for foreign students. 8. Instructors more concern international students. Secondly. The solutions which students have when overcome difficulties: 1. Taking notes, looking up online dictionaries to know more new vocabularies. 2. Using online translation sites as well as the sites of modifying grammar and word usage. 3. when in the need to submit international jounals, using paid translation service in the market. 4. Looking for help from friends, relatives or professors who are with good English abilities. 5. looking up the information online, self-learning after class. Thirdly, the possible learning outcome: 1. Friendly environment boosts self-confidence. 2. The practicality of English provides an opportunity for English to speak in real life. 3. Compared to oral English abilities, English listening and vocabularies are more obvious language progress. 4. Making foreign friends broadens international horizons. 5. The harvest of professional knowledge. Key word: English as a Medium of Instruction, Learning Experience, Taiwanese students