Standards of English in Higher Education
Issues, Challenges and Strategies

A frank and critical appraisal of English language proficiency as a key issue in higher education today.

Neil Murray (Author)

9781108436434, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 October 2017

313 pages, 2 b/w illus.
23 x 15.3 x 1.6 cm, 0.46 kg

'This timely book will be an invaluable resource for those in English-medium universities [who are] grappling with the multiple challenges involved in addressing the English language needs of their diverse student bodies.' John Read, University of Auckland

The student demographic of universities today has changed quite dramatically from even a decade ago. As universities seek to internationalise, widen participation and derive attendant reputational and financial benefits, along with greater opportunities for research collaborations and industry links, they also face a growing challenge associated with what Neil Murray terms 'the English language question'. In particular, as the proportion of students of non-English speaking backgrounds entering universities increases, there is growing concern over levels of language proficiency and what this can mean for educational standards, the student experience and, ultimately, institutional standing. Standards of English in Higher Education unpacks a number of key and interrelated issues - for example, the assessment of proficiency and the structure and nature of provision - that bear on the question of English language standards, and in doing so offers a frank and critical appraisal of English language in higher education today.

1. The 'English language question' in the context of the changing face of higher education
2. English language: the need for and impact of policy and regulation
3. Seeking definitional clarity: what is 'English language proficiency'?
4. Pre-enrolment language assessment and English language conditions of entry
5. Post-enrolment language assessment: challenges and opportunities
6. From assessment to provision
7. Innovation in English language provision: driving and navigating institutional change
8. Innovation in English language provision in higher education: an Australian case study.

Subject Areas: Education [JN], Language teaching theory & methods [CJA], Language teaching & learning [other than ELT CJ], Sociolinguistics [CFB], Linguistics [CF], Language [C]