Talk by Professor Yasemin Bayyurt

Integrating English as a Lingua Franca and Disciplinary Literacies in Higher Education: Insights from English as a Medium of Instruction

@KCL Waterloo Campus, Waterloo Bridge Wing (WBW) Room 3/7 on 5^th December, 6-8pm. This is an in-person event at KCL (WBW), you will need to register to access the building. Please register here: https://forms.office.com/e/jLsxsSTZbp

Over the past two to three decades, English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) have become key areas of research in global higher education contexts. Examining the
interplay between EMI and ELF reveals that EMI serves as evidence of ELF’s presence in academic contexts. Therefore, it is essential to recognize that the role of EMI instructors extends beyond facilitating content knowledge; they are also responsible for effectively communicating subject matter in linguistically diverse classrooms. Understanding the link between ELF and Disciplinary Literacies (DL) in EMI settings highlights the critical role of language in generating and exchanging knowledge. This study, using a disciplinary literacies framework, investigates the strategies educators employ to cultivate discipline-specific language and literacy skills for multilingual students in inclusive learning environments. It highlights the necessity for students to acquire subject-specific language, regardless of their linguistic background, aligning with ELF principles. By focusing on language use in EMI classrooms, the study demonstrates its significance in shaping both disciplinary discourse and comprehension. The practical recommendations stemming from this research provide valuable insights for educators, administrators, and policymakers navigating the complex relationship between ELF and DL. Embracing linguistic diversity, fostering cross-cultural communication, and equipping stakeholders with effective pedagogical tools can enhance the inclusivity and success of EMI.

Keywords: English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI), English as a Lingua Franca (ELF), Disciplinary Literacies (DLs), language proficiency, linguistic diversity.
Please register for this event here: https://forms.office.com/e/jLsxsSTZbp

Bio:
Yasemin BAYYURT is professor of Applied Linguistics at Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Türkiye, and one of the leading researchers in pedagogy of ELF and ELF-awareness within English Language Teaching (ELT). Her current research projects focus on English as medium of instruction (EMI) in higher education and ELF connection – one of them is supported by Boğaziçi University Research Fund and the other is supported by Turkish Scientific and Technological Association (TÜBITAK); and she is also part of the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action Project entitled “CLIL Network for Languages in Education Towards bi- and multilingual disciplinary literacies: CLILNetLE (CA21114)”.

Prof. Yasemin Bayyurt has extensively researched WE-/ELF-awareness in ELT; ELF-aware teacher education, multilingualism and linguistic landscape. Her publications include articles in various indexed journals (e.g., Language Culture and Curriculum, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development,…); edited books and book chapters published by national/international publishers. She currently edited “Bloomsbury World Englishes Volume 3: Pedagogies”, published by Bloomsbury, 2021; and co-edited “English as a Lingua Franca in the Language Classroom: Applying Theory to ELT Practice” published by Routledge, 2024.