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Rasprave Instituta za hrvatski jezik, Vol. 51 No. 1, 2025.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.31724/rihjj.51.1.11

EMI Students’ Progress in English Language Proficiency: A Pre-Post Study

Kornelija Čakarun ; Ekonomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci
Branka Drljača Margić orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-7617-6606 ; Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci

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Abstract

Improved English language proficiency is considered to be one of the greatest strengths of English-medium instruction (EMI). However, only a limited number of studies have empirically investigated this topic. The aim of this pre-post study was to examine EMI students’ English language proficiency at the beginning and the end of their undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Economics and Business in Rijeka, and compare their language proficiency and progress with those of non-EMI students. The research involved 256 first-year students (FYS) and 141 third-year students (TYS). Research instruments comprised a questionnaire examining students’ previous English language learning and self-assessment of English language skills, the Oxford Quick Placement test, a C-test and a business English test. These were followed by interviews with students to discuss their expectations (fulfilment) regarding their English language progress due to EMI and regarding the usefulness of English for specific purposes (ESP) courses. The test results were analysed with the help of independent t-tests to determine the statistical significance of the differences between EMI and non-EMI FYS and TYS.
The findings show that EMI students’ English language proficiency is greater than that of non-EMI students both at the beginning and the end of their undergraduate studies. EMI and non-EMI students make similar progress in general English, while EMI students progress better in business English. The majority of EMI students ascribe their (business) English language progress to EMI, but they also acknowledge the importance of ESP courses offered during their course of study, where an explicit focus is given to language and which therefore serve as scaffolding for content courses.

Keywords

English-medium instruction; English for specific purposes; English language progress; English language proficiency; students

Hrčak ID:

340250

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/340250

Publication date:

30.12.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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