The Expansion of English-medium Instruction in the Nordic Countries.Can Top-Down University Language Polices Encourage Bottom-up Disciplinary Literacy Goals?

Artikkel

Abstract Recently, in the wake of the Bologna Declaration and similar international
initiatives, there has been a rapid increase in the number of university courses and programmes
taught through the medium of English. Surveys have consistently shown the
Nordic countries to be at the forefront of this trend towards English-medium instruction
(EMI). In this paper, we discuss the introduction of EMI in four Nordic countries (Denmark,
Finland, Norway and Sweden). We present the educational setting and the EMI
debate in each of these countries and summarize relevant research findings. We then make
some tentative suggestions for the introduction of EMI in higher education in other
countries. In particular, we are interested in university language policies and their relevance
for the day-to-day work of faculty. We problematize one-size-fits-all university
language policies, suggesting that in order for policies to be seen as relevant they need to
be flexible enough to take into account disciplinary differences. In this respect, we make
some specific suggestions about the content of university language policies and EMI course
syllabuses. Here we recommend that university language policies should encourage the
discussion of disciplinary literacy goals and require course syllabuses to detail disciplinaryspecific
language-learning outcomes.