Review article    |    Open Access
International Journal of Excellent Leadership 2025, Vol. 5(1) 48-56

Lecturers’ Anxiety in English Medium Instruction Tertiary Contexts: A Review

Mehmet Birgün

pp. 48 - 56

Publish Date: June 30, 2025  |   Single/Total View: 0/0   |   Single/Total Download: 0/0


Abstract

English-Medium Instruction (EMI) is now a common approach in higher education, however, teaching subject content entirely in English can cause significant anxiety on university lecturers while conducting their profession. This study probes tertiary EMI contexts to uncover the main causes of such anxiety by reviewing recent research on certain databases through a range of key words on anxiety and EMI. As a result of the review, 24 research studies found relevant for the scope of the present study, and they were analyzed through content analysis paying attention to general terms and themes. The results indicate that anxiety often results from the expectations of delivering the subject knowledge in a qualified way while teaching it in English, managing culturally diverse classrooms, meeting institutional standards of performance, and managing role conflict between staying an expert in the subject content and being a language facilitator. The research admittedly highlights practical suggestions for reducing anxiety, for instance, tailored professional development activities, diminishing and redistributing workloads, and setting more exact role definitions of EMI lecturers. Finally, the research suggests longitudinal studies such as phenomenological ones. All in all, the research could be significant in highlighting anxiety individually with an aim to guide stakeholders, ultimately enabling EMI lecturers to deliver quality education with confidence.

Keywords: English medium instruction, EMI, anxiety, professional anxiety


How to Cite this Article?

APA 7th edition
Birgun, M. (2025). Lecturers’ Anxiety in English Medium Instruction Tertiary Contexts: A Review. International Journal of Excellent Leadership, 5(1), 48-56.

Harvard
Birgun, M. (2025). Lecturers’ Anxiety in English Medium Instruction Tertiary Contexts: A Review. International Journal of Excellent Leadership, 5(1), pp. 48-56.

Chicago 16th edition
Birgun, Mehmet (2025). "Lecturers’ Anxiety in English Medium Instruction Tertiary Contexts: A Review". International Journal of Excellent Leadership 5 (1):48-56.

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