English as a Lingua Franca, Translanguaging, and EMI in Asian Higher Education: Implications for Pedagogy

This chapter explores the links between ELF (English as a lingua franca), translanguaging, and EMI (English medium instruction) research in HE (higher education). The “E” in EMI is conceptualized as ELF, rather than any single variety of English, and furthermore, this is embedded in multilingual contexts with other languages also present. Due to the multilingual nature of EMI, translanguaging and the related ideas of transmodality and transcultural communication are highly relevant. A number of current approaches to EMI that are commensurable with ELF and translanguaging are discussed including the more holistic term EME (English medium education). There is also a focus on how language is conceptualized in EMI research in Asia. The implications for classroom practices in EMI programs in HE are then considered. Pedagogic proposals from ELF, translanguaging and EMI/EME perspectives are presented which center on greater awareness of the multilingual and multicultural nature of EMI/EME and accompanying classroom practices which value students’ and teachers’ full linguistic and sociocultural repertories.