English-Medium Instruction and Intercultural Sensitivity A Korean Case Study

• Published in: Journal of studies in international education Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 467 - 482
• Main Authors: Kim, Jeongyeon, Choi, Jinsook, Tatar, Bradley
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.11.2017
• Subjects: Case Studies; College Students; Content Analysis; Cultural Awareness; Culturally Relevant Education; Englisch; English (Second Language); Foreign Countries; Foreign Students; Global Approach; Inclusion; Interkulturelle Kompetenz; Internationale Hochschule; Internationaler Studiengang; Interviews; Korea, Republik; Language of Instruction; Language Planning; Likert Scales; Mixed Methods Research; Official Languages; Questionnaires; Scores; Student Attitudes; Student Diversity; South Korea; intercultural sensitivity; English as a lingua franca; English-medium instruction; internationalization of higher education; international students
• ISSN: 1552-7808; 1028-3153; 1552-7808
• DOI: 10.1177/1028315317720767

This case study examined the reactions of local students to the diversity in student population. Specifically, it investigated how the local students' intercultural sensitivity to the international students is interrelated with their perception of the English-medium instruction (EMI) policy. The quantitative and qualitative analyses of the questionnaire responses of 213 college students and the subsequent interviews with 15 students revealed a lack of intercultural sensitivity which was correlated with their perception of EMI. The findings indicated that the local students' different perceptions of the policy interplayed, directly and indirectly, with their sensitivity to the cultures of international students. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of cultivating intercultural sensitivity in an English as a lingua franca context. (HoF/text adopted).