School of Languages at XJTLU Conference 2024

This study investigates the academic writing challenges faced by Chinese undergraduate students in English Medium Instruction (EMI) settings, identifying a dual hurdle: mastering academic presentation of subject matter and employing precise, effective English. Highlighting recognized challenges, where EMI instructors often have limited English proficiency and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) instructors may lack subject expertise, this research adopts in-depth interviews to outline these issues and potential mitigation strategies. It advocates for collaboration between EMI and EAP instructors as a key solution, suggesting that interdisciplinary partnerships can significantly address these challenges. Furthermore, the research proposes integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into EMI environments. AI models, trained in both EMI and EAP contexts, could act as invaluable teaching assistants, offering support to both educators and students to improve writing outcomes. The findings emphasize the importance of leveraging AI and collaborative approaches to enhance academic writing instruction, presenting key insights for educators and institutions aiming to refine EMI strategies in the AI era.