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Crossing the Borders of English Medium of Instruction (EMI): The Triumphs and Challenges of Graduate Students in Kazakhstan

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Title: Crossing the Borders of English Medium of Instruction (EMI): The Triumphs and Challenges of Graduate Students in Kazakhstan
Language: English
Authors: Mir Afzal Tajik (ORCID 0000-0003-2951-266X), Adina-Camelia Arvatu (ORCID 0000-0002-4327-3768), Maganat Shegebayev (ORCID 0000-0002-9041-9096), Gulnara Namyssova (ORCID 0000-0001-8077-1283)
Source: Language Learning in Higher Education. 2026 16(1):331-351.
Availability: De Gruyter Mouton. Available from: Walter de Gruyter, Inc. 121 High Street, Third Floor, Boston, MA 02110. Tel: 857-284-7073; Fax: 857-284-7358; e-mail: service@degruyter.com; Web site: http://www.degruyter.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 21
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Language of Instruction, English (Second Language), College Students, Student Adjustment, Language Usage, Barriers, Student Attitudes, College Faculty, Student Experience, Student Diversity, Coping, Program Effectiveness
Geographic Terms: Kazakhstan
DOI: 10.1515/cercles-2025-0040
ISSN: 2191-611X
2191-6128
Abstract: The Higher Education system of Kazakhstan has moved from depending on the Soviet legacies toward internationalization, adopting a trilingual education policy, joining the Bologna Process, aligning with the European Higher Education Area, strengthening collaborations with international universities, and fostering academic mobility. As a result, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of English Medium Instruction (EMI) programs offered by Kazakhstani universities. However, despite the growing popularity of EMI, there is very little empirical evidence on university students' transition experiences from non-EMI backgrounds to EMI studies. Using a qualitative research design, this study investigated university students' experiences of EMI studies, particularly their transition from L1 to EMI studies at Kazakhstani universities. Specifically, the study looked at the students' language practices, challenges, beliefs, and management strategies. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus-group discussions with students and instructors from eight purposefully selected EMI universities across five main cities. The findings revealed a divergence in the experiences of students transitioning from non-EMI to EMI contexts. The role of pre-immersion exposure to English, the impact of diverse educational backgrounds, students' coping strategies, and the perceived benefits and opportunities of EMI studies emerged as key findings of this study. Understanding the students' experiences of transition to EMI and associated challenges may help policymakers revisit EMI policies to address the tensions between macro-level EMI policies and the micro-level student struggles, calling to align policy aspirations with on-the-ground realities.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1508849
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Crossing the Borders of English Medium of Instruction (EMI): The Triumphs and Challenges of Graduate Students in Kazakhstan
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mir+Afzal+Tajik%22">Mir Afzal Tajik</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2951-266X">0000-0003-2951-266X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Adina-Camelia+Arvatu%22">Adina-Camelia Arvatu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4327-3768">0000-0002-4327-3768</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maganat+Shegebayev%22">Maganat Shegebayev</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9041-9096">0000-0002-9041-9096</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gulnara+Namyssova%22">Gulnara Namyssova</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8077-1283">0000-0001-8077-1283</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Language+Learning+in+Higher+Education%22"><i>Language Learning in Higher Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 16(1):331-351.
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  Data: De Gruyter Mouton. Available from: Walter de Gruyter, Inc. 121 High Street, Third Floor, Boston, MA 02110. Tel: 857-284-7073; Fax: 857-284-7358; e-mail: service@degruyter.com; Web site: http://www.degruyter.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 21
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+of+Instruction%22">Language of Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+%28Second+Language%29%22">English (Second Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Adjustment%22">Student Adjustment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Usage%22">Language Usage</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Faculty%22">College Faculty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Experience%22">Student Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Diversity%22">Student Diversity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Coping%22">Coping</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kazakhstan%22">Kazakhstan</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1515/cercles-2025-0040
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
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  Data: 2191-611X<br />2191-6128
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The Higher Education system of Kazakhstan has moved from depending on the Soviet legacies toward internationalization, adopting a trilingual education policy, joining the Bologna Process, aligning with the European Higher Education Area, strengthening collaborations with international universities, and fostering academic mobility. As a result, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of English Medium Instruction (EMI) programs offered by Kazakhstani universities. However, despite the growing popularity of EMI, there is very little empirical evidence on university students' transition experiences from non-EMI backgrounds to EMI studies. Using a qualitative research design, this study investigated university students' experiences of EMI studies, particularly their transition from L1 to EMI studies at Kazakhstani universities. Specifically, the study looked at the students' language practices, challenges, beliefs, and management strategies. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus-group discussions with students and instructors from eight purposefully selected EMI universities across five main cities. The findings revealed a divergence in the experiences of students transitioning from non-EMI to EMI contexts. The role of pre-immersion exposure to English, the impact of diverse educational backgrounds, students' coping strategies, and the perceived benefits and opportunities of EMI studies emerged as key findings of this study. Understanding the students' experiences of transition to EMI and associated challenges may help policymakers revisit EMI policies to address the tensions between macro-level EMI policies and the micro-level student struggles, calling to align policy aspirations with on-the-ground realities.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1508849
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        Value: 10.1515/cercles-2025-0040
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 331
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language of Instruction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English (Second Language)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
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      – SubjectFull: Student Adjustment
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      – SubjectFull: Language Usage
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      – SubjectFull: Barriers
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      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: College Faculty
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Experience
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      – SubjectFull: Student Diversity
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      – SubjectFull: Coping
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      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
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      – SubjectFull: Kazakhstan
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Crossing the Borders of English Medium of Instruction (EMI): The Triumphs and Challenges of Graduate Students in Kazakhstan
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