Systematic Review of EMI

an investigation of the brazilian context

Abstract

This study presents a systematic literature review on English Medium Instruction (EMI) in Brazil, covering academic production from the last decade. The objective was to map national publications on the topic, analyzing both the contributions and the challenges of its implementation in the Brazilian context, particularly within higher education institutions. For this purpose, searches were carried out in the Web of Science and Google Scholar databases, resulting in 28 articles that were organized into categories and subcategories. The findings reveal that most studies emphasize challenging aspects, such as the low English proficiency of professors and students, the absence of regulation and institutional support, and the lack of specific training programs for lecturers. Additional barriers include limited interest from certain academic fields and insufficient policies to guide the adoption of EMI across the country. Nevertheless, the literature highlights important benefits of this instructional approach, such as the improvement of linguistic skills, the increased international visibility of universities, the preparation of students for a globalized labour market, and its greater accessibility when compared to academic mobility. The study concludes that, although still recent in the Brazilian context, EMI holds significant potential to strengthen internationalization at home. However, it requires more consistent institutional strategies and a stronger research focus to deepen understanding of its effectiveness and application in the national setting.