From English as a Foreign Language to English as a Medium of Instruction: Developing “Authorial Voice”

Abstract

This chapter describes a study of the efficacy of a program designed to improve English writing in EMI programs at the University of Iceland. The study is part of an ongoing longitudinal effort to collect data from multiple sources to reveal students’ progress and what students consider significant and meaningful in the development of their writing. Pre-intervention surveys revealed that extensive prior traditional EFL instruction had developed students’ familiarity with the principles of academic writing, but they failed to apply these principles when writing. The study focused on the success of the program’s aim to transform conceptual knowledge about writing to self-regulated writing skills. The data source for this study is multilingual students’ reflections at the end of their writing course. The results showed increased awareness of the components of academic writing and enhanced self-regulation.

Keywords: English as a Medium of Instruction, Academic English, Multilingualism, Discipline based text.