Integrating intercultural competence in ESP and EMI: From theory to practice

As internationalisation policies like English - medium Instruction (EMI) are increasingly implemented in European higher education, EMI and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) classrooms become small international spaces where local students’ intercultural skil ls can be developed. I suggest that th...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Aguilar Pérez, Marta|||0000-0001-7116-502X
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/125706
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/125706
https://dx.doi.org/10.18485/esptoday.2018.6.1.2
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:English language
Language and languages--Study and teaching
Intercultural competence
English for specific purposes
English-medium instruction
Internationalisation at home
Anglès
Llenguatge i llengües--Ensenyament
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Ensenyament i aprenentatge::Aprenentatge de llengües
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Ensenyament i aprenentatge::Ensenyament universitari::Espai Europeu d'Educació Superior
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Ensenyament i aprenentatge::Metodologies docents
Descripción
Sumario:As internationalisation policies like English - medium Instruction (EMI) are increasingly implemented in European higher education, EMI and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) classrooms become small international spaces where local students’ intercultural skil ls can be developed. I suggest that the internationalised higher education poses challenges also to non - mobile students, who find themselves in culturally diverse classrooms where English is used as the medium of instruction. The aim of this study is twofo ld. It first attempts to provide a research - based framework that accounts for the reasons why Intercultural Competence (IC) should become a learning outcome in ESP and EMI courses, with an emphasis on ESP. Second, it explores two ways in which this integra tion could take place drawing on Holmes & O’Neill ’s ethnographic model ( 2012). The seminar genre is proposed to showcase IC integration, as participation helps students practice their English skills and provides them with opportunities to develop disciplin ary knowledge while debating on a specific topic. In brief, this study suggests that both ESP and EMI courses have the potential of preparing students for a future professional career in a globalised world and that ESP lecturers, in particular, emerge as t he best prepared professionals for teaching intercultural skills.