Managing Group Discussions in EMI

Group discussions are a central feature of learner-centered pedagogy, particularly in postgraduate education where critical thinking, collaboration, and academic communication are essential for knowledge construction. In English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) contexts, however, managing these discussions becomes more complex. Students must not only engage cognitively with the content but also express ideas in a language that may not be their dominant academic channel. Therefore, teachers must carefully facilitate interaction to ensure meaningful participation and knowledge exchange.

Research indicates that problem-based learning (PBL) methodologies encourage active communication among students, strengthening their engagement and contribution during discussions (Lee, 2023). In EMI contexts, students benefit from structured opportunities to interact, as these activities support both content learning and language development.

Teacher support plays a crucial role in enabling effective group discussions. In EMI environments, teachers serve as facilitators of interaction, helping students navigate language barriers and adapt to academic expectations (Moorhouse & Wan, 2023). Scaffolding techniques such as guiding questions, vocabulary prompts, and paraphrasing can help students articulate complex ideas more confidently.

Additionally, research highlights the importance of building students’ oral communication skills and familiarity with academic discourse conventions to support successful group participation (Zhai & Razali, 2022). A supportive classroom environment that encourages risk-taking and values communicative effort significantly influences students’ willingness to contribute, leading to improved academic performance (Chou, 2023).

Overall, integrating structured pedagogical strategies, sustained teacher facilitation, and targeted communication skill development can enhance the quality of group discussions in EMI settings. Such practices not only strengthen content understanding but also promote equitable participation and deeper engagement with disciplinary knowledge.

The Purpose of Group Discussions in EMI

Group discussions support knowledge co-construction by allowing students to express interpretations, challenge assumptions, apply concepts, and collaboratively solve problems. In EMI classrooms, discussions also provide opportunities for academic language development, helping students internalize discipline-specific terminology, argumentation structures, and discourse conventions.

Language Considerations and Scaffolding

Students often hesitate to speak due to concerns about language accuracy, fear of negative evaluation, or lack of confidence. To foster inclusive participation, teachers can scaffold language use through strategies such as:

• Providing sentence stems for expressing agreement, disagreement, and clarification
• Encouraging translanguaging as a meaning-making bridge
• Focusing feedback on meaning and clarity rather than grammatical perfection
• Modeling academic discussion moves (e.g., “I would like to build on your point …”)

Structuring Group Discussions Effectively

Well-managed discussions begin with clear purpose and structure. Teachers should define the discussion task, expected outcomes, and evaluation criteria. Small-group discussions tend to provide safer spaces for participation than large plenary discussions.

To sustain interaction, instructors may rotate roles within each group, such as:

• Facilitator: Ensures balanced turn-taking
• Timekeeper: Manages pacing
• Synthesizer: Summarizes key points
• Language Monitor: Encourages clarity and vocabulary support

Managing Challenges

Common challenges include uneven participation, dominance by more proficient speakers, off-task talk, and silence. Addressing these issues involves:

• Setting norms for respectful and supportive communication
• Assigning rotating roles to equalize participation
• Using guiding questions to maintain focus
• Inviting contributions from quieter members gently and constructively