Courses
English as Medium of Instruction - EMI

English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) “refers to the use of the English language to teach academic subjects (other than English itself) in countries where the first language of the majority of the population is not English” (Macaro et al., 2018, p. 37). This practice has implications for the quality of the teaching and learning processes; it impacts not only on the content delivery of academic subjects, but also on the didactic teaching/learning effectiveness. This course responds to the need to improve the skills of lecturers in using English as the language of course instruction.

Specifically, it addresses the challenges of designing and teaching course content using a language that is not the lecturer’s native tongue. EMI goes beyond translation of course materials into English, and focuses on the various didactical aspects, particularly in relation to oral skills and oral production that impact on the quality of the course delivery. In the long term, this program is intended to support the internationalization process at higher education institutions by ensuring that lecturers are competent in using English as a medium of course instruction.

At the end of the program, the course participants should be able to:

• increase their English communicative competency
• improve their EMI skills
• immediately apply the skills they learned to their teaching practices
• reflect on their teaching skills and practices
• particularly in terms of content delivery and the context of
  their class (i.e. characteristics of the students)
• engage in a supportive environment to build confidence
• foster intercultural communication skills through English to navigate diverse environments
• conduct peer observation
• provide constructive feedback.

This course focuses on the following topics:

Module 1: Tools for English as a Medium of Instruction

• Introduction
• Digital Tools
• Pronunciation and prosody
• English for the classroom
• Academic and English for Specific Purposesz

Module 2: Introduction to EMI practice

• Multimodal communication in the classroom
• Teaching methodology and planning
• Practice teaching through mini-lectures

Module 3: EMI practice teaching

• Course design including objectives, outcomes, and assessment
• Peer observation
• Practice teaching including individual peer feedback

METHODS:
Pair/group works, interactive lectures, reflective exercises, and online tasks. Participants are expected to be actively engaged and to put the learned strategies into practice. The course is in English.

COMPLETION:
Certificate of participation will be awarded after the successful completion of each module. Each module is awarded with 2 ECTS.

For PMU staff and PMU-Uniklinikum staff: provided that the full EMI course is successfully completed, two ECTS can be credited towards the didactic training requirements for habilitation.

LECTURER:
Dr. Carolyn Westbrook, British Council Test Development Researcher for productive skills, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Authority (UK), and freelance EMI trainer.

COURSE SCHEDULE 2025:

his is a 3-module virtual course taught over a year. Schedule for hybrid classes (virtual and face-to-face) is indicated as such.

Module 1:

20.01.2025, Mon. – 18:30 – 20:00 (2 UE), online 

27.01.2025, Mon. – 18:30 – 20:00 (2 UE), online 

07.02.2025, Fri. – 16:00 – 17:30 (2 UE), hybrid 

08.02.2025, Sat. – 09:00 – 10:30, 10:45 – 12:15, 13:00 – 14:30 (6 UE), hybrid 

10.02.2025, Mon. – 18:30 – 20:00 (2 UE), online

Module 2:

17.03.2025, Mon. - 18.30-20.00 (2 UE), online 

24.03.2025, Mon. - 18.30-20.00 (2 UE), online 

31.03.2025, Mon. - 18.30-20.00 (2 UE), online 

07.04.2025, Mon. - 18.30-20.00 (2 UE), online 

14.04.2025, Mon. - 18.30-20.00 (2 UE), online 

25.04.2025, Fri.  - 17.00-18.30  (2 UE), hybrid 

26.04.2025, Sat. 09.00-10.30; 10.45-12.15; 13.00-14.30 (6 UE), hybrid 

28.04.2025, Mon. - 18.30-20.00 (2 UE), online 

Module 3:

15.09.2025, Mon. - 18.30-20.00 (2 UE), online 

22.09.2025, Mon. - 18.30-20.00 (2 UE), online 

29.09.2025, Mon. - 18.30-20.00 (2 UE), online 

06.10.2025, Mon. - 18.30-20.00 (2 UE), online 

13.10.2025, Mon. - 18.30-20.00 (2 UE), online 

24.10.2025, Fri.  - 17.00-18.30  (2 UE), hybrid 

25.10.2025, Sat. 09.00-10.30; 10.45-12.15; 13.00-14.30 (6 UE), hybrid 

27.10.2025, Mon. - 18.30-20.00 (2 UE), online 

INDIVIDUAL WORKLOAD

In addition to the online and hybrid classes, participants are expected to spend approx. 110 hours for self-study and/or online independent and collaborative work for the duration of the course.

REGISTRATION:

Deadline for binding registration is 15 January 2025 via https://forms.pmu.ac.at/243014162532848 

Applications will be ranked according to date of registration.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:

Participants must have English language skills at minimum B2 / ideally C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Official test score is not required.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:
Max: 10 participants
Min: 8 participants

COSTS:

• Eur 600,00 per module for external participants
• Eur 550,00 per module for applicants associated to PMU
• Eur 500,00 per module for internal applicants

10% discount applies if all three modules are booked and paid for at once:

• Eur 1,620.00 for external participants
• Eur 1,485.00 for applicants associated to PMU
• Eur 1,350.00 for internal applicants

Notes:

• External applicants are applicants that are not associated or affiliated with the PMU and its partner organizations.
• Applicants associated to PMU are students and staff of PMU partner institutions, PMU teaching hospitals, SHK and ÖPUK members and teaching staff of higher education institutions in Austria.
• Internal applicants are students and staff of the PMU and the PMU University Hospital (PMU-Uniklinikum Salzburg and Nuremberg). Further education budget from the applicant’s respective department/institution can be used to pay for the course. For more information, applicants should contact directly his/her/its immediate supervisor or line manager.
• 2 scholarship places are available to applicants from the Ukraine who hold an official displaced status.

ORGANIZATION:
International Office, in collaboration with the degree program PhD in Medical Science.