Language Policy And The Internationalization Of Universities

Many universities around the world are actively engaged in the process of the internationalization of their higher education systems, trying to become more competitive in all possible respects, especially in the areas of research and teaching. Language, naturally, plays a central role in this process, but this is not always explicitly recognized as such. As a result, key sociolinguistic challenges emerge for both individuals and groups of people. Most prominently, the question of whether English constitutes an opportunity or a threat to other national languages in academic domains is a controversial one and remains unresolved. The analysis featured in this book aims at addressing this question by looking at language policy developments in the context of Estonian higher education. Adopting a discourse approach, the book emphasises the centrality of language not only as a site of struggle, but as a tool and a resource that agents in a give field utilize to orient themselves in certain positions. The book will be of interest to language policy scholars, linguistic anthropologists, and critical sociolinguists. Education scholars interested in discourse studies will also find it useful.

Many universities around the world are actively engaged in the process of the internationalization of their higher education systems, trying to become more competitive in all possible respects, especially in the areas of research and teaching. Language, naturally, plays a central role in this process, but this is not always explicitly recognized as such. As a result, key sociolinguistic challenges emerge for both individuals and groups of people. Most prominently, the question of whether English constitutes an opportunity or a threat to other national languages in academic domains is a controversial one and remains unresolved. The analysis featured in this book aims at addressing this question by looking at language policy developments in the context of Estonian higher education. Adopting a discourse approach, the book emphasises the centrality of language not only as a site of struggle, but as a tool and a resource that agents in a give field utilize to orient themselves in certain positions. The book will be of interest to language policy scholars, linguistic anthropologists, and critical sociolinguists. Education scholars interested in discourse studies will also find it useful.

This book offers new understanding of the implications of pluralism and of transnational movements to higher education and the construct of a “native speaker” within contemporary globalization processes. Theoretically, it calls for a revisioned English as an International Language (EIL) pedagogy and a wider acceptance of EIL and of World Englishes. It challenges the postsecondary education sector to change the discourse around language proficiency to one that engages the “pluralism of English.” As for the applied significance, the book contributes to the work on neo-racism which means racism goes beyond color to stereotypic foreign cultures, nationalities, and exotic accents based on cultural distinctions instead of merely skin differences. The book contributes to higher education policy and practice, pushing a revisioning of ESL in conceptual and pedagogical ways, such as designing more culturally oriented curriculum, implementing culturally responsive pedagogy, and valuing the teaching proficiency more than the language proficiency.

Volume 9 takes up the questions -- national, sociolinguistic, strategic, economic and educational -- which arise in relation to the increasing use of English alongside national or vernacular languages, focusing on its use as the language of instruction in Danish Universities. Inevitably, this also makes globalisation a theme of this issue. The dilemmas of the universities, however, have a special character within this wider issue, partly because they are in the frontline of globalisation processes, and partly because they are regarded as having new and enhanced social significance in the post-industrial society. In addition to the academic articles in this issue there is a series of 'position statements' written by some of the major participants in the Danish debate on language policy in the universities. They were invited to state in about 500 words their essential views on the theme. Their contributions give some of the flavour of the argument that has been going on with increasing intensity in Denmark for the past ten years.

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are increasingly affected by globalization and internationalization, with implications for language use, teaching and learning in their academic communities. As a consequence, HEIs may change their approach to multilingualism on campus, taking into account language needs as well as opportunities and challenges associated with language diversity. The book aims at discussing aspects for the design of language policies, which could support internationalization and promote multilingualism and participation of different stakeholders. By presenting a language policy model, the book provides an alternative for those engaged in language diversity in HEIs.

This edited book examines English-Medium Instruction (EMI) language policy and practice in higher education around the world, highlighting how English language usage affects the internationalization of universities, the way that disciplines are taught and learned, and questioning whether internationalization through EMI achieves the values of global citizenship and inclusivity/diversity to which it aspires. Written by experts in the field, the book includes data-based research from universities around the globe, with three chapters on Asia and the Far East (Malaysia, Japan and China), four on Europe (Denmark, the Netherlands and Italy) and one each on Africa (Ethiopia) and Central America (Mexico). Sources include policy documents, questionnaire surveys, focus groups and semi-structured interviews involving university policymakers, lecturers, students, and administrative staff. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of language and education policy, internationalization and applied linguistics, particularly English-Medium Instruction (EMI), academic English and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF).

This book investigates the sociolinguistic dimension of the internationalisation of higher education, examining the linguistic tensions and ambiguities experienced by universities around the world, particularly in non-anglophone contexts. Joining current debates within discursive and ethnographic approaches to language policy, the authors analyse the narrative emerging from university language policy documents, and then trace the stance-taking processes of different stakeholders at a small university in Catalonia. They pay particular attention to how teachers, administrative staff, and exchange students position themselves in connection to the role of Catalan and its coexistence with other languages at the university. This book will be of interest to language policy scholars and practitioners, as well as graduate students in sociolinguistics and applied linguistics