scholarly journals The Right Tools for the Job: Discipline-Specific Language-Learning for First-Year International Engineering Students

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Pringle ◽  
Gabriel Potvin
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
First Year ◽  
Specific Language ◽  
Language Courses ◽  
The Right ◽  
Error Types

Vantage College at UBC offers specialized first-year programs for international students that integrate core disciplinary courses with complementary language education to allow students to develop their communication skills before joining their direct-entry counterparts for the remainder of their studies. This paper builds on the partnership between two first year engineering chemistry courses and their adjunct language courses, in which the instructors work closely together to accomplish mutual learning objectives. As a measure of the effectiveness of this integrated approach on the development of discipline-specific communication skills, the frequency of specific language error types are tracked in student’s lab reports, across two terms, and students report through a survey their perception of how this integrated approach helped them develop their technical communication skills. Overall, as indicated by both significant reductions in the frequency of several error types, as well as the responses provided by students, this integrated approach is effective, and the data suggests key areas of focus for further improvement.

scholarly journals Self-assessment based on language learning outcomes: a study with first year engineering students

2010 ◽  
pp. 133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Durán Escribano ◽  
Joana Pierce McMahon
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Bologna Process ◽  
First Year ◽  
Assessment Practices ◽  
Assessment Practice ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Language Courses ◽  
The Bologna Process

As the Bologna Process moves forward, changes in European systems of higher education are expected. The introduction of the ECTS focussing on the students’ achievements described in terms of the learning outcomes and competences acquired is one of the innovations. This process, encouraged by Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, signifies a change in teaching focus, from an input model to an output one, which promotes self-assessment in a flexible curriculum, in this case adapted to student’s language profile. To illustrate this new approach in language learning, a pilot experience with Technical English mining engineering students is discussed, with special attention to learner reflection and self-assessment practices. Students’ progress in self-assessment, based on the introduction of learning outcomes in specific language courses, is analysed to conclude that personal engagement and clear purpose -specified in terms of learning outcomes- seem to have become relevant components to student's self-assessment practice.

scholarly journals LANGUAGE AS AN ENGINEERING LEARNING TOOL: INTEGRATION OF LANGUAGE AND ENGINEERING EDUCATION FOR FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS TO IMPROVE BOTH TECHNICAL LEARNING OUTCOMES AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Murphy ◽  
Gabriel Potvin
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
First Year ◽  
Language Training ◽  
Tool Integration ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Core Content ◽  
Technical Content

Vantage College (VC) at UBC offers innovative specialized first-year programs for international students that integrate core content courses with complementary language education to allow participants to hone their communication skills while meeting their regular academic requirements. In the Applied Science stream of VC, each engineering course is linked to a complementary language course and the instructors collaborate closely. In this paper, three examples of writing tasks are presented that deal with the intersection of language training and technical engineering content, all in the context of writing lab reports for two engineering chemistry courses. A description of each task is provided, and the benefits to students both in terms of improved communication skills and enhanced understanding of technical content is provided from the perspective of language and engineering instructors, as well as from students based on feedback on each activity collected through surveys. The integrated approach was found to be quite effective in improving learning outcomes.

scholarly journals BUILDING BRIDGES: AN APPROACH TO THE INTEGRATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN FIRST-YEAR APPLIED SCIENCE COURSES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Murphy ◽  
Gabriel Potvin
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Applied Science ◽  
First Year ◽  
Training Approach ◽  
Language Courses ◽  
Technical Material ◽  
Effective Development

Vantage College at UBC offers innovative specialized first-year programs for international students that integrate core content courses with complementary language education to allow participants to hone their communication skills while meeting regular academic requirements. In the Applied Science stream of the Vantage program, each first-year engineering course is paired with a language enrichment course, and their respective instructors collaborate, tailoring their content and delivery to improve both the learning of technical material and the effective development of communication skills. This paper outlines the partnership between two physical chemistry courses and their linked language courses. Insights into the nature and logistics of this type of collaboration are presented, and the effectiveness of this training approach is evaluated in relation to the students’ mastery of technical content and improvement of English communication skills. Specific challenges and future improvements of the program are also discussed.

scholarly journals An Investigation into the Benefits of the Intercultural Approach to EFL Learning and Teaching: A Case Study of Taif University, KSA

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir H. Abdalla
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Language Education ◽  
First Year ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Preparatory Year ◽  
Study Participants

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential benefits of using the intercultural approach to teaching English as a foreign language in the preparatory –year programme (male branch), Taif University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The intercultural approach is considered a viable means of foreign language education that seeks to address issues of culture in foreign language learning and teaching and how best to address them. Hence, this study intends to explore the attitudes of first year EFL Taif university students to the potential benefits of the intercultural approach to EFL. A sample of 200 EFL students participated in the study. Participants’ views on the topic of the study are collected via a questionnaire the researcher designed and administered to the participants. In addition, the views of 50 EFL instructors teaching in the preparatory programme were gathered by a questionnaire regarding the topic researched. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the collected data.

scholarly journals First-Year Students’ EFL Reading Difficulties at a Greek Merchant Marine Academy: An Activity Theory Perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 378
Author(s):  
Emmanouela Seiradakis
Keyword(s):  
Activity Theory ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Division Of Labour ◽  
First Year ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Merchant Marine ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Marine Engineering

This paper explores how the transition from secondary to tertiary education influences Greek marine engineering students’ EFL reading behaviors and strategies from an activity-theory perspective. Data were gathered through individual semi-structured interviews with four first-year students who struggled with reading texts in English. Findings suggest that these students experience difficulties in reading lengthy discipline-specific texts such as technical manuals due to the fact they still use the same EFL reading strategies and have the same expectations they had before entering tertiary education. From an activity theory perspective, these students’ difficulties are associated with two distinct EFL reading activity systems which have diverse goals, tools, values, and division of labour. The first system is placed within the wider Greek foreign language education context these students belonged in high school. The second, involves the system that emerged after they entered the Merchant Marine Academy as tertiary education students. These two EFL reading systems clash and create obstacles in their discipline-specific reading which in turn slows down their disciplinary socialization in the marine engineering community.

scholarly journals Student Responses to a Tough Early Assessment: A Useful “Kick up the Bum”?

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 28-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Wilson ◽  
Kate F Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Students ◽  
Diagnostic Assessment ◽  
First Year ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
High Failure Rate ◽  
Early Assessment ◽  
Student Responses ◽  
First Semester ◽  
The Right ◽  
Depth Interviews

First year is a delicate time for students. Many have little idea what to expect of university, and their sense of identity as tertiary students is fragile. A diagnostic assessment early in first semester may reassure students that they have chosen the right path. However, some academics, particularly in engineering, argue that this early assessment should be very demanding – so tough, in fact, that some students fail - in order to alert students to the hard work required to pass the course. This study uses a mixed methods design (weekly surveys and in-depth interviews) to explore the effects of a purposefully tough early assessment on first year engineering students at an Australian university. We find that, across the cohort, the high failure rate was not associated with a significant slump or spike in motivation. Although some students were initially dismayed by their results, most went on to address their study with resilience, and appreciated the “kick up the bum”, as they described it.

Entrepreneurship Education in Engineering Curriculum

2018 ◽  
pp. 243-261
Author(s):  
Mukta Mani
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Motivating Factors ◽  
Engineering Curriculum ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Career Option ◽  
The Right ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities

Entrepreneurship education programs are commonly offered in business schools, but recently, the educationists have started recognizing the need for such programs in engineering education. This chapter is targeted to empirically explore the suitability of entrepreneurship education in engineering curriculum from the perspective of students. The study attempts to unearth the levels of willingness of engineering students to take entrepreneurial activities and investigate the factors that motivate them and the factors that deter them to go for entrepreneurship. The analysis revealed that the students are highly interested in taking entrepreneurship as a career option because of some intrinsic motivating factors such as being their own boss, chasing their dreams. They consider decision-making skills, risk-taking capacity, creativity, communication skills, and ability to prepare business plan are the most important skills. However, lack of experience and funds deter them. The right kind of entrepreneurship education programs can promote more entrepreneurial activities among the engineering students.

Entrepreneurship Education in Engineering Curriculum

2021 ◽  
pp. 1105-1123
Author(s):  
Mukta Mani
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Motivating Factors ◽  
Engineering Curriculum ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Career Option ◽  
The Right ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities

Entrepreneurship education programs are commonly offered in business schools, but recently, the educationists have started recognizing the need for such programs in engineering education. This chapter is targeted to empirically explore the suitability of entrepreneurship education in engineering curriculum from the perspective of students. The study attempts to unearth the levels of willingness of engineering students to take entrepreneurial activities and investigate the factors that motivate them and the factors that deter them to go for entrepreneurship. The analysis revealed that the students are highly interested in taking entrepreneurship as a career option because of some intrinsic motivating factors such as being their own boss, chasing their dreams. They consider decision-making skills, risk-taking capacity, creativity, communication skills, and ability to prepare business plan are the most important skills. However, lack of experience and funds deter them. The right kind of entrepreneurship education programs can promote more entrepreneurial activities among the engineering students.

СOMMUNICATION COMPETENCE OF A PEDAGOGUE AS A DOMINANT VALUE: POSTMODERN CONTEXT

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44
Author(s):  
N. E. Bulankina ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Teaching Staff

The problem of this article concerns the value of the communication skills and competence that has steadily risen on the Communicative Stock Exchange over the past ten years due to both global challenges of the modernity, and the current status of Russian public education development in terms of introducing culture of communication into everyday lessons. The purpose of this study is to substantiate the need for the required competence of teachers across all subjects at Regional Destination of cross-border characteristics, and to fill in the gap in the management of current professional education of a pedagogue. Scientific exposition and introduction to the problem will set out the theoretical background of technology, pedagogy and knowledge content of culture of communication and the rational for using it not just in language learning, but in all learning that is based on the ideas and principles of regional and axiological approaches to improving the methodology and scientific support of the tutorials intended for in-service teachers and teaching staff of regional consulting centers. The results of this research cover a) the constructs of the regional project the focus of which is on three main areas of supplementary techniques for doing, being and facing daily difficult situations of communication with others within the routine of the Regional Methodology Centers; b) the answer to the question of how to improve language education, both teaching and learning, spoken communication skills, understanding of text, etc; c) the tutorial practice support for the management of which the Institute Departments are responsible. This comprehensive model of the management of the Regional Methodology Centers presents a number of practical pieces of advice which have focused on the creation of the right atmosphere, both on the role of the pedagogue and the role of the most cooperative students/teachers, on the need of careful planning, timing and preparation during lessons using modern techniques (drama, project works, online and offline activities, business games, modern lesson and its criteria, etc ) for improving the presentation of activities in the regional development spaces, etc. In conclusion the article presents some ideas for further research of the possibilities of the Regional Consulting Centers in improving teachers’ presentation activities in terms of languages for special purposes in the communicative professional spaces.

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