ABSTRACT
Despite controversies around EMI, English has been a medium to bridge the gap between people of different social strata in developing countries. As a good command of English is deemed essential for higher studies and professional success, many universities in Bangladesh offer fundamental English language courses to develop students’ basic language skills. The chapter reports on the effectiveness of these courses offered to the undergraduate students in the English Department at the University of Dhaka. The study investigates the outcomes these courses are designed to achieve and the extent to which these students are benefitted from the skills and exposure gained from EMI in their lives. Following a mixed-method design, the study collected quantitative data from 40 students and 7 teachers from the English Department, Dhaka University and 17 graduates of the Department involved in various professions, using convenient and snowball sampling. A focused-group discussion with the current students was also conducted to collect qualitative data. The findings suggested several prospects of EMI for underprivileged students, particularly in terms of gaining social recognition and unveiling new opportunities in their personal and professional life. The study further drew several implications useful for both teachers and course designers.
