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9 - Effects of EMI on Learners’ Linguistic Development

A Corpus-Based Analysis

from Part II - Empirical Chapters (Case Studies)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 December 2024

By
Peng Bi  and
Yujun Liu
Edited by
Samantha M. Curle  and
Jack Pun
Samantha M. Curle
Affiliation:
University of Bath
Jack Pun
Affiliation:
City University of Hong Kong
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Summary

The effect of English Medium Instruction (EMI) on language learning has been a classic and extensively discussed topic in EMI research, with various methods used to address it. One reliable method is corpus-based analysis, which provides quantitative evidence about the development of learners’ linguistic competence within an EMI context. This paper chapter aims to introduce the application of corpus-based analysis in EMI research through three tasks. Firstly, it summarizes relevant literature exploring the effects of EMI on English learning. Secondly, it elaborates on how to use corpus-based analysis to conduct relevant studies, including corpus construction, linguistic analysis instruments, and statistical analyses. Lastly, it presents an example study that demonstrates the value of corpus-based analysis in EMI research. The study examines learners’ longitudinal development of phraseological competences within an EMI course and explores the effect of textbook input on language learning. The data for the study consisted of learners’ written productions at three data collection times in the course. Learners’ phraseological competence was measured by eight measures targeting bi-grams’ and tri-grams’ complexity. The study found noticeable growth in learners’ phraseological competence with EMI education’s progression and similarities between high-frequency bi-grams and tri-grams in textbook input and learners’ written productions, proving the effect of the input on language learning.

Keywords

benefits of English Medium Instructioncorpus-based analysislinguistic developmenttextbook input
Type
Chapter
Information
Researching English Medium Instruction
Quantitative Methods for Students and Researchers
 , pp. 150 - 167
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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