Innovation in Language Learning

This paper analyses the implementation of Bilingual Programmes at university level by reporting on two studies carried out at the University of Oviedo, an institution of higher education in northern Spain that offers subjects taught entirely in English in several study plans. As many Spanish institutions, the University of Oviedo started a so-called ‘Bilingual Programme’ after adapting to the Europeah Higher Education Area, offering degrees and courses taught through English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI). Leaving aside the possible implication of the use of English as the lingua franca in education, universities pursue three main objectives by implementing bilingual programmes: attracting foreign students and faculty, promoting the international visibility of the institution, and improving in international university rankings [6].

This research focuses on the implementation (and the results) of the Bilingual Programme in an institution without tradition as regards bilingualism (Asturian is spoken in the Principality of Asturias but it is not a co-official language). In particular, this study analyses two main elements: on the one hand, it assesses teacher satisfaction as regards the implementation of the programme. The 74 lecturers of the university being engaged in the Bilingual Programme answered a questionnaire where they were asked about their level of satisfaction and their perception with the experience of teaching non-language subjects through the medium of English. On the other hand, a second questionnaire was designed and submitted to the 220 first students who finished a degree taking the Bilingual Programme offered by the university: the main aim of this second survey was to assess the overall level of satisfaction and the performance of students in courses taught through English.

The research relies on quantitative and descriptive methodology and establishes the strengths and weaknesses of this approach based on the experiences of lecturers and students participating in the survey.

The conclusions of the study provide lines of optimization and propose improvements for the implementation of bilingual programmes in similar contexts.