Language use in an English-medium instruction university in Lebanon

Abstract English-medium instruction (EMI) universities in non-English-dominant contexts often use internationally available tests of English (e.g., TOEFL) and/or locally developed to assess the academic English-language proficiency applicants prior admission. However, little research has been conducted establish extent which either type test reflects real-world classroom discourse, and associated communicative demands, within these multilingual educational contexts. In this paper, we report on one part a larger study designed address gap particular EMI environment – American University Beirut (AUB) Lebanon. We collected analysed samples language at AUB through non-participant ethnographic observations video recordings eight undergraduate classes across disciplines. Findings indicated that were varied nature, shifted between registers levels interaction, involved range translanguaging as Lingua Franca-oriented phenomena, included meta-commentary about use. argue speaking listening constructs admissions used ideally need be localised or best match unique characteristics settings.