Abstract:
The objective of the present study is to examine the students’ attitudes and preferences towards
sole English medium instruction (EMI) in Social Sciences. The nexus of University education
to employment is crucial. It is a direct cause for the surge of unemployment and
underemployment mainly among the graduates in the Arts stream (Kottahachchi, 1992). In
Social Sciences the authorities have made EMI optional, those who wish to learn their subjects
in English medium continue their education in English medium. Yet, the undergraduates who
chose the vernacular face a major crisis in their future career. The study is based on mixed
method, both qualitative and quantitative data. For this retrospective study, primary data was
collected through interviews and questionnaires selecting Sabaragamuwa University.
Interviews were conducted with 8 selected members of the academia and questionnaires were
given to 100 undergraduates from Sinhala and English mediums. Data was analyzed by thematic
analysis. The findings suggested that the students are indeed generally in favor of using English
exclusively in this setting, and their preference is positively related to their own English
proficiency. Although some students came up with certain issues, most of them expressed their
high interest and preference towards sole EMI. Indeed the effect of EMI on the learning of
subject content remains unclear; most of the students surveyed agreed that English instruction
will help them improve their English language proficiency. The results also revealed that Core
English courses ought to concentrate on providing English for Academic Purposes rather than
general purposes. Finally through this study it was observed that there is a possibility for sole
English medium instruction in Social Sciences. And through such a transformation it will
positively affect the undergraduates’ future career.
