Multilingual practice and multilingual selves: A mixed-method study of EMI international students in Japan

Abstract

The utilization of English-medium Instruction (EMI) has become increasingly prevalent in Japanese higher education as a means of promoting internationalisation. International students who come to study in Japan are likely to encounter unforeseen multilingual situations where they are forced to learn the local language. This study employed a mixed-methods investigation comprising both quantitative and qualitative elements to examine the relationship between EMI international students and the local language they have acquired, as well as the multilingual selves they have constructed through this process. A questionnaire-based quantitative survey completed by 178 participants investigated the acquisition and use of the Japanese language by EMI international students and to identify any barriers they encountered during this process. In the second phase, a multi-case qualitative study was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the multilingual selves of international students. Four participants took part in in-depth semi-structured interviews. The findings of this study indicate that EMI international students do not possess a holistic understanding of a certain language, but they could achieve holistic communication with all the linguistic resources they possess. Policy recommendations for language education and language support in EMI settings have been proposed for practitioners and stakeholders in the academic community to ensure that language proficiency is optimized to enhance effective teaching and learning outcomes.