English as a Medium of Instruction in Brazil: Evidence from UFES

Abstract

The study reflects on the role of additional languages (L2) in the process of internationalization of higher education by analyzing the role of L2 in general and English in particular in the process of internationalization of a federal university in Brazil (UFES). More specifically, the study seeks evidence of the role of L2 and English in the process of internationalization at UFES by analyzing its offer of courses reported in the Guide EMI 2018-2019 in contrast with data from the self-declared L2 proficiency of professors linked to postgraduate programs (PPGs) in that institution. The literature review includes studies on the role of L2 in the process of internationalization in Brazil and at UFES. The methodology is mixed, triangulating quantitative and qualitative data of the offer of L2 courses at UFES with the reported proficiency levels of professors. The analysis of the data suggests that English has a hegemonic role in the internationalization process in general and at UFES in particular. Since other L2 possibilities have been found in that institution, the study suggests alternative language policies to stimulate the use of other L2 apart from English to foster a more multilingual internationalization process in that context.