David Nunan English Centre The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong email: dcnunan@hku.hk The Role of an English Centre in a Tertiary EMI Environment

In this presentation, I will look at the role of specialized English language support units within tertiary English medium of instruction environments. Using the English Centre at the University of Hong Kong as a case, I will suggest that that there are organizational and conceptual issues that constantly challenge the status, and, indeed the very existence of service units with a tertiary environment.

The major organizational dilemma has to do with where the language unit fits organizationally. Traditionally, in both EMI institutions and in non-EMI institutions, English language instruction was delivered by small, loosely organized units within the faculties. In many universities, it was not until the 1980s that these were amalgamated into larger entities and either attached to a faculty or established as independent bodies outside of the faculty structure. Both options have advantages and disadvantages, and these will be discussed during the presentation.

Conceptual issues have to do with perceptions about the nature language, the relationship between language and content, and border conflicts over who owns what. Faculties typically perceive the role of language centres as that of
improving general language proficiency rather than targeting content related performance goals. This, and the low to non-existent status of language teaching as a form of disciplined inquiry creates tensions within the academy that make effective collaboration all but impossible.

David Nunan is Chair Professor of Applied Linguistics and Director of the English Centre at the University of Hong Kong, a position he has held since 1994.