Unveiling engineering students’ challenges and coping strategies in English-medium instruction: a Q methodology study
Abstract English-medium instruction (EMI) is gaining popularity in higher education (HE) worldwide, with the aim of enhancing students’ English proficiency and professional abilities. However, many students still struggle with learning various subjects in English. While the challenges in EMI are wid...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40862-024-00307-8 |
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| author | Vararin Charoenpornsook Athip Thumvichit |
| author_facet | Vararin Charoenpornsook Athip Thumvichit |
| author_sort | Vararin Charoenpornsook |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract English-medium instruction (EMI) is gaining popularity in higher education (HE) worldwide, with the aim of enhancing students’ English proficiency and professional abilities. However, many students still struggle with learning various subjects in English. While the challenges in EMI are widely discussed in many studies, it is necessary to look into the specific coping strategies students employ. Using Q methodology, this study examines the challenges in EMI and corresponding coping strategies among engineering students. The participants included 47 current and former undergraduate engineering students at a Thai university. To investigate the students’ subjective perspectives, Q sorting tasks with 40 statements were administered, followed by interviews. The data were analyzed using Brown centroid factor analysis with varimax rotation to determine similar patterns across Q sorts. The findings revealed that different group of engineering students have various perspectives on EMI challenges and coping strategies, focusing on cultural, linguistics, structural and institutional challenges. Both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies have been found crucial in addressing these difficulties. The study highlights the need of student orientations, customized teaching methods, and course content that is appropriate for students’ background and language proficiency. Enhancing interactions between Thai and international students is recommended to promote a supportive learning environment. The findings offer valuable insights for the development of EMI engineering programs that cater to the unique needs of students. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4190606c8471436cad3585b819b3db29 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2363-5169 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-4190606c8471436cad3585b819b3db292025-01-26T12:18:01ZengSpringerOpenAsian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education2363-51692025-01-0110112510.1186/s40862-024-00307-8Unveiling engineering students’ challenges and coping strategies in English-medium instruction: a Q methodology studyVararin Charoenpornsook0Athip Thumvichit1Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol UniversityResearch Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol UniversityAbstract English-medium instruction (EMI) is gaining popularity in higher education (HE) worldwide, with the aim of enhancing students’ English proficiency and professional abilities. However, many students still struggle with learning various subjects in English. While the challenges in EMI are widely discussed in many studies, it is necessary to look into the specific coping strategies students employ. Using Q methodology, this study examines the challenges in EMI and corresponding coping strategies among engineering students. The participants included 47 current and former undergraduate engineering students at a Thai university. To investigate the students’ subjective perspectives, Q sorting tasks with 40 statements were administered, followed by interviews. The data were analyzed using Brown centroid factor analysis with varimax rotation to determine similar patterns across Q sorts. The findings revealed that different group of engineering students have various perspectives on EMI challenges and coping strategies, focusing on cultural, linguistics, structural and institutional challenges. Both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies have been found crucial in addressing these difficulties. The study highlights the need of student orientations, customized teaching methods, and course content that is appropriate for students’ background and language proficiency. Enhancing interactions between Thai and international students is recommended to promote a supportive learning environment. The findings offer valuable insights for the development of EMI engineering programs that cater to the unique needs of students.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40862-024-00307-8English-medium instructionEngineering educationChallengesCoping strategiesQ methodologySubjectivity |
| spellingShingle | Vararin Charoenpornsook Athip Thumvichit Unveiling engineering students’ challenges and coping strategies in English-medium instruction: a Q methodology study Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education English-medium instruction Engineering education Challenges Coping strategies Q methodology Subjectivity |
| title | Unveiling engineering students’ challenges and coping strategies in English-medium instruction: a Q methodology study |
| title_full | Unveiling engineering students’ challenges and coping strategies in English-medium instruction: a Q methodology study |
| title_fullStr | Unveiling engineering students’ challenges and coping strategies in English-medium instruction: a Q methodology study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unveiling engineering students’ challenges and coping strategies in English-medium instruction: a Q methodology study |
| title_short | Unveiling engineering students’ challenges and coping strategies in English-medium instruction: a Q methodology study |
| title_sort | unveiling engineering students challenges and coping strategies in english medium instruction a q methodology study |
| topic | English-medium instruction Engineering education Challenges Coping strategies Q methodology Subjectivity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40862-024-00307-8 |
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