“English is the natural language of science”: discourses and ideologies concerning EMI in two Brazilian universities

IF 0.8 0 LANGUAGE & LINGUISTICS

Journal of English as a Lingua Franca Pub Date : 2024-08-06 DOI:10.1515/jelf-2024-2007

Alessia Cogo, Telma Gimenez, Luciana Cabrini Calvo, Michele El Kadri

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Abstract

With the introduction of English medium instruction (EMI) as one strategy for the internationalization of universities, more and more lecturers in Brazil choose the option of running their courses in EMI, while higher education courses are normally taught in Portuguese, the official language. In this study, we aim to explore the discourses and ideologies underlying the introduction and choice of EMI in two Brazilian higher education institutions. We conducted interviews with lecturers and focus group discussions with lecturers and students at two state universities in Paraná, Brazil. The results show a tendency to see English as “the natural language of science” which is underpinned by various ideological positions in relation to the role of English in academia, such as monolingual, correctness and native speakerism ideologies. At the same time, the data shows resistance to English from a linguistic justice perspective, and portrays university lecturers as engaging in a balancing act to facilitate inclusion and still offer international opportunities to students in Brazil.

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"英语是科学的自然语言"：巴西两所大学中有关 EMI 的论述和意识形态

随着英语教学（EMI）作为大学国际化战略之一的引入，巴西越来越多的讲师选择用 EMI 开课，而高等教育课程通常是用官方语言葡萄牙语讲授的。在本研究中，我们旨在探讨巴西两所高等教育机构引入和选择 EMI 所依据的话语和意识形态。我们对巴西巴拉那州两所大学的讲师进行了访谈，并与讲师和学生进行了焦点小组讨论。结果表明，人们倾向于将英语视为 "科学的自然语言"，这种倾向的基础是与英语在学术界的作用相关的各种意识形态立场，如单语、正确性和母语主义等意识形态。同时，数据还显示了从语言公正的角度对英语的抵制，并描绘了大学讲师在促进包容性和为巴西学生提供国际机会之间的平衡。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of English as a Lingua Franca Multiple-

CiteScore

1.70

自引率

12.50%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Journal of English as a Lingua Franca (JELF) is the first journal to be devoted to the rapidly-growing phenomenon of English as a Lingua Franca. The articles and other features explore this global phenomenon from a wide number of perspectives, including linguistic, sociolinguistic, socio-psychological, and political, in a diverse range of settings where English is the common language of choice.