Korean graduate students' self-perceptions of English skills and needs in an English-medium instruction context

Abstract

Universities in East Asia are increasingly adopting English-medium instruction (EMI) to enhance their global competitiveness. Yet little research has been conducted on the impact of English on graduate students in this context, as past research has mostly examined undergraduates. This survey study investigates graduate students at a major university in Korea where EMI is increasingly common, specifically probing their self-perceptions for academic English skills, preferred language learning strategies, and intrinsic motivation to learn and use English. The results indicate correlations between strategy use, efficacy, and intrinsic motivation. They also show limitations in the graduate students' academic English skills, and shortcomings in their training for English-related tasks. The results show how English and EMI affect graduate students, and also raise some questions about EMI at the graduate school level. Limitations need to be addressed for these students, who will enter academic and professional careers in the global marketplace that demand greater English expertise.