English as a Medium of Instruction in non-English Subject; Exploring the Students’ Language Proficiency
Abstract
In facing the current era of globalization, it is necessary to implement an application that supports students to improve their English proficiency. The research problems are how is the implementation of EMI in non English subject and how is the students’ class language proficiency situation during joining the EMI-based class? The writers used the descriptive qualitative case study method. The subject of the research were students at Maahad Tahfiz Al-Qur'an Darul Falah Selangor, Malaysia. The instruments were field observation, interviews, questionnaires. The research findings and discussion are highlight the dual role of EMI in improving English language proficiency while facilitating content mastery, despite challenges such as code-switching and students' varying levels of self-confidence. EMI improved language skills; its effectiveness depends on strategies tailored to support students' diverse needs. The conclusion are EMI improved language skills; its effectiveness depends on strategies tailored to support students' diverse needs. These insights contribute to optimizing EMI practices and advancing education policies that align with global academic demands. The integration of language and subject knowledge through EMI  prepares students for academic success and equips them with the linguistic and cognitive skills. The recommendation are further researchin the other scope of EMI is needed to explore the long-term impact of EMI on students' academic performance and language proficiency, particularly in diverse educational contexts to serve as a valuable tool for promoting inclusive and  effective educational    environment.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Alhamami, M. (2021). English as a medium of instruction (EMI) in computing undergraduate programs. Education and Information Technologies, 26(5), 6549–6562.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10637-6
Belhiah, H., & Elhami, M. (2015). English as a medium of instruction in the Gulf: When students and teachers speak. Language Policy, 14(1), 3–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10993-014-9336-9
Blaj-Ward, L. (2017). Language Learning and Use in English-Medium Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan.
Briggs, J. G., Dearden, J., & Macaro, E. (2018). English medium instruction: Comparing teacher beliefs in secondary and tertiary education. Studies in second language learning and teaching, 8(3), 673-696. https://doi.org/10.14746/ssllt.2018.8.3.7
Carrió-Pastor, M. L., & Bellés-Fortuño, B. (2020). Teaching language and content in multicultural and multilingual classrooms. Palgrave Macmillan.
Dearden, J. (2016). English medium instruction: A growing global phenomenon. British Council. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.12079.94888
Delalić, N. (2020). English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) at the University of Klagenfurt. A study on the attitudes and language proficiency of students and teaching staff.
In Colloquium: New Philologies, 5(1), 107–134. https://doi.org/10.23963/cnp.2020.5.1.6
Doiz, A., Lasagabaster, D., & Sierra, J. M. (2014). CLIL and motivation: The effect of individual and contextual variables. Language Learning Journal, 42(2), 209–224. https://doi.org/10.1080/09571736.2014.889508
Doody, O., & Noonan, M. (2013). Preparing and conducting interviews to collect data. Nurse Researcher, 20(5), 28-32. https://doi.org/10.7748/nr2013.05.20.5.28.e327
Evans, S., & Morrison, B. (2011). Meeting the challenges of English-medium higher education: The first-year experience in Hong Kong. English for Specific Purposes, 30 (3), 198-208.
Fadhili, M., Yahaya, B., Bin, M. A., Noor, M., Azman, A., Mokhtar, B., Binti, R., Rawian, M., Othman, M. Bin, & Jusoff, K. (2009). Teaching of mathematics and science in English: The teachers’ voices. English Language Teaching, 2, 141–147.
Firmayanto, R., Heliawati, L., & Rubini, B. (2020). Learning chemistry in English: The relationship between language skills and learning outcomes. Tadris: Jurnal Keguruan Dan Ilmu Tarbiyah, 5(2), 253–64 https://doi.org/10.24042/tadris.v5i2.6455
Ismail, W. R., Mustafa, Z., Muda, M., Abidin, N. Z., Is, Z., Zakaria, A. M., and others. (2011). Students’ inclination towards English language as medium of instruction in the teaching of science and mathematics, Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 18, 353–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.05.050
John-Steiner, V., & Mahn, H. (1996). Sociocultural approaches to learning and development: A Vygotskian framework. Educational Psychologist, 31(3–4), 191–206. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.1996.9653266
Kirkgöz, Y. (2009). Students and lecturers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of foreign language instruction in an English-medium university in Turkey. Teaching in Higher Education, 14(1), 81-93.
Kohnke, L., & Jarvis, A. (2023). Addressing language and study skills challenges in online undergraduate EMI courses. Education Sciences, 13(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13090958
Krippendorff, K. (2019). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology (4th Ed.). https://doi.org/10.4135/9781071878781
Kyeyune, R. (2003). Challenges of using English as a medium of instruction in multilingual contexts: A view from Ugandan classrooms. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 16(2), 173-184. DOI: 10.1080/07908310308666666
Lau, W. W. F., & Yuen, A. H. K. (2011). The impact of the medium of instruction: The case of teaching and learning of computer programming. Education and Information Technologies, 16(2), 183–201 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-009-9118-8
Li, L. (2020). Student perceptions of the teaching of principles of management using English-medium instruction. Journal of Education for Business, 95(2), 115–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/08832323.2019.1604484
Macaro, E., Curle, S., Pun, J., An, J., & Dearden, J. (2017). A systematic review of English medium instruction in higher education. Cambridge University Press.
Mandiri, I. C. P., Gunawan, M. H., & Suharno, S. (2022). EFL student’s difficulties in extensive listening activities: A thematic content analysis. English Review: Journal of English Education, 10(2), 393–400. https://doi.org/10.25134/erjee.v10i2.6240
Pun, J., & Tai, K. W. H. (2021). Doing science through translanguaging: A study of translanguaging practices in secondary English as a medium of instruction science laboratory sessions. International Journal of Science Education, 43(7), 1112-1139. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2021.1902015
Rose, H., Samantha, C., Ikuya, A., & Gene, T. (2019). What drives success in English medium taught courses? The interplay between language proficiency, academic skills, and motivation. Studies in Higher Education, 45(11), 2149-2161. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1590690.
Syakira, S. (2020). English as medium of instruction at physics international class program: A study of students’ perception. Indonesian TESOL Journal, 2(1), 15–28. https://doi.org/10.24256/itj.v2i1.1068
Thompson, G., Aizawa, I., Curle, S., & Rose, H. (2022). Exploring the role of self-efficacy beliefs and learner success in English medium instruction. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 25(1), 196–209. https://doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2019.1651819
Vaismoradi, M., Hannele, T., & Terese, B. (2013). Content analysis and thematic analysis: Implications for conducting a qualitative descriptive study. Nursing and Health Sciences, 15(3), 398-405. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12048
Xie, W., & Curle, S. (2022). Success in English medium instruction in China: Significant indicators and implications. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 25(2), 585–597. https://doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2019.1703898
Yuksel, D., Soruç, A., Horzum, B., & McKinley, J. (2023). Examining the role of English language proficiency, language learning anxiety, and self-regulation skills in EMI students’ academic success. Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching, 13(2), 399–426. https://doi.org/10.14746/ssllt.38280
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26877/allure.v5i1.21149
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2025 Khodijah Asshofiah

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
ALLURE Journal by English Education Study Program, Universitas PGRI Semarang is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.