Introduction: Qualitative research methods in English-medium instruction for emerging researchers

The rapid trend towards globalisation has led to the expansion of English as Medium of Instruction (EMI) in secondary and tertiary education. According to a large systematic review of EMI studies (Macaro et al., 2018), approximately 74.5% of research studies have taken a qualitative research approach to exploring EMI issues. Such an expansive scope of studies shows that many EMI researchers prefer using qualitative research to examine topics, such as teachers’ or students’ perceptions on their EMI experiences, learners’ language challenges, the factors that affect the success of EMI implementation, and stakeholder’s (such as university administrators and curriculum coordinators) views on EMI policy. Other qualitative studies have explored the nature of EMI classroom interactions, teacher’s talks, code-switching behaviours, and students’ motivations for learning through English.