English-Medium Instruction for the Internationalization of the Curriculum: Teachers’ Motives and Expectations

Abstract

This research article presents the results of a research that aimed to analyze the motives and expectations of teachers from a public university in northwestern Mexico when participating in the internationalization of the curriculum through Englishmedium instruction (EMI). The analysis is based on the variables such as discipline, seniority, type of contract and frequency of teaching in English. A mixed methodology was employed to analyze quantitative and qualitative data, collected through a digital instrument addressed to a total of 42 teachers who were accredited to teach subjects in English, and 36 complete questionnaires were answered. The results allow us to conclude that most professors from all disciplines agree that their main reason for participating in internationalization through EMI is “to support institutional initiatives”; in contrast, “receiving economic incentives from institutional programs” was a reason for participation with marked differences according to discipline and type of contract. The qualitative analysis concludes the existence of positive conceptions around this type of education, as it is favorable for the university and a possible source of economic remuneration. Although teachers express an intrinsic motivation towards training and teaching in English, the lack of equal economic incentives could be a cause of limited teacher participation.