Integrating intercultural competence in ESP and EMI: From theory to practice
As internationalisation policies like English - medium Instruction (EMI) are increasingly implemented in European higher education, EMI and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) classrooms become small international spaces where local students’ intercultural skil ls can be developed. I suggest that th...
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| Format: | article |
| Publication Date: | 2018 |
| Country: | España |
| Institution: | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Repository: | UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC |
| Language: | English |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/125706 |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/2117/125706 https://dx.doi.org/10.18485/esptoday.2018.6.1.2 |
| Access Level: | Open access |
| Keyword: | English language Language and languages--Study and teaching Intercultural competence English for specific purposes English-medium instruction Internationalisation at home Anglès Llenguatge i llengües--Ensenyament Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Ensenyament i aprenentatge::Aprenentatge de llengües Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Ensenyament i aprenentatge::Ensenyament universitari::Espai Europeu d'Educació Superior Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Ensenyament i aprenentatge::Metodologies docents |
| Summary: | As internationalisation policies like English - medium Instruction (EMI) are increasingly implemented in European higher education, EMI and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) classrooms become small international spaces where local students’ intercultural skil ls can be developed. I suggest that the internationalised higher education poses challenges also to non - mobile students, who find themselves in culturally diverse classrooms where English is used as the medium of instruction. The aim of this study is twofo ld. It first attempts to provide a research - based framework that accounts for the reasons why Intercultural Competence (IC) should become a learning outcome in ESP and EMI courses, with an emphasis on ESP. Second, it explores two ways in which this integra tion could take place drawing on Holmes & O’Neill ’s ethnographic model ( 2012). The seminar genre is proposed to showcase IC integration, as participation helps students practice their English skills and provides them with opportunities to develop disciplin ary knowledge while debating on a specific topic. In brief, this study suggests that both ESP and EMI courses have the potential of preparing students for a future professional career in a globalised world and that ESP lecturers, in particular, emerge as t he best prepared professionals for teaching intercultural skills. |
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