Effects of English medium instruction on students’ learning experiences in Oman

Speaker: Dr Sawsan Al Bakri This study critically explores the perceptions of students on the implementation of the English as a medium of instruction (EMI) policy at a public higher education institution in Oman and its effect on the quality of their learning experiences and academic performance. A critical exploratory methodology was adopted where in-depth qualitative data were collected through a two-phase sequential mixed methods approach that consisted of a questionnaire distributed among 328 students studying in seven different faculties, 14 classroom observations and 14 students’ interviews. The findings suggest that the majority of participants either supported or accepted the EMI policy for pragmatic reasons although they faced great difficulties in their study. The participants also acknowledged that Arabic as a medium of instruction (AMI) would lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter and would most probably lead to better academic performance. Few participants found that EMI negatively influenced their ability to use Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and marginalised the role of Arabic in their society. Overall, the implementation of EMI had a disempowering effect on students with low English language proficiency and had a negative psychological impact on them. Based on the findings, the EMI policy has been contested and implications for policy makers are drawn. Finally, this study makes several recommendations that are expected to improve the learning conditions of students studying at tertiary level through EMI.