Taiwanese Students’ Experiences and Attitudes towards English-Medium Courses in Tertiary Education

Abstract

The recent trend of university internationalization has seen a rapid increase of English as medium of instruction (EMI) courses in Taiwanese tertiary education. Yet, few large-scale studies have been conducted to investigate student learning in EMI courses. This study surveyed 476 students from 25 EMI courses at six universities in Taiwan to probe their learning experiences and general attitudes towards EMI courses. Results revealed that the instructor exerted an important influence on students’ course selection, while seeking English improvement was the second highest-rated reason for enrolling in EMI courses. Students generally reported their learning in EMI courses as satisfactory, though some of them attributed their learning difficulties to their own insufficient English competence. To compensate for comprehension problems, students tended to adopt cognitive learning strategies such as concentrating and taking notes in class. Finally, the survey of student attitudes towards EMI suggested that students generally agreed with its broadly touted benefits, such as boosting English ability, facilitating students’ employability and further studies, and enhancing the competitive edge of Taiwan. Analysis into students’ affective responses also indicated their fairly positive attitudes towards EMI courses. Three implications are drawn based on the findings.