Integrated content and language courses at a Korean science and engineering school

Abstract

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), one of the most reputable institutions in Korea, introduced a full-scale English-medium instruction (EMI) policy in 2006. It was the first with such a policy among Korean universities. Currently 83% of the undergraduate classes and 61% of the graduate classes are conducted in EMI. The university has strived to strengthen students' English abilities by offering an intensive EFL curriculum. However, some students and professors have complained that the English skills that students are trained to develop in EFL classes are not directly related to English skills required by major courses. EFL Program has recently introduced integrated and content language (ICL) classes for both undergraduate and graduate students. In ICL classes, content learning is enhanced through language instruction and vice versa, with its dual-focused approach (Smit & Dafouz, 2012). This study investigates how the ICL courses began at the university, how the individual courses were conducted, what the results of the courses have been, and what improvements should be made. Moreover, it discusses the problems and issues in implementing ICL classes and provides suggestions for their future directions.