scholarly journals Professional Communication Skills in English for Non-native English Speaking Engineers: Challenges and a Proposed Teaching Framework

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2S10) ◽  
pp. 595-599
Keyword(s):  
Communication Skills ◽  
English Language ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
First Language ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Professional Communication ◽  
Undergraduate Engineering ◽  
Written Form ◽  
English Speaking

Communicating effectively in English does not come naturally to undergraduate engineering students in India and presumably everywhere where English is not the first language or the mother tongue. In India, English is used as official language in most of the states. It is also the medium of instruction in most educational institutes. Teaching methods and objectives to be achieved while imparting knowledge of English language mainly focus on ability of students to reproduce the learned facts in written form in the examination. Focus on the oral communication and development of English as a medium to share and express original ideas is not really observed at school or university level. Employers worldwide have acknowledged that the conventional engineering curriculum that is focused on imparting technical knowledge has proved to be inadequate in equipping engineers with the adequate employability skills. The objective of this paper is to present a framework for design, teaching and evaluation of a course on communication skills/professional communication for engineering students. A proposed pedagogical framework has been discussed and illustrated as appendices. Guidelines regarding improving communication skills have been made keeping in mind that rather than emphasizing upon incorporating a course on communication skills in the engineering education, communication should be made an integral part of the curriculum

Needs Analysis for Workplace English Speaking Courses for University Engineering Students in the Kwara State of Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 25-35
Author(s):  
Abdul-Lateef Solihu ◽  
Lilisuriani Abdul Latif
Keyword(s):  
Communication Skills ◽  
English Language ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Needs Analysis ◽  
Workplace Communication ◽  
English Curriculum ◽  
Undergraduate Engineering ◽  
World Markets ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Speaking Skills

The globalization of world markets which has led to the hegemony of English language over other languages requires graduates from different fields of specialization to equip themselves with English communication skills to communicate effectively in local and international workplace contexts. This study was conducted to investigate the English speaking skills needed by engineering students in the Kwara states of Nigeria. A survey was carried out to compare how the respondents’ (undergraduate engineering students and industry workers in the Kwara State of Nigeria) self-rated their speaking interaction and production skills and to observe their perception of the importance of speaking interaction and production sub skills for workplace communication. The study concluded with suggestions for creating a better perception of the importance of English speaking skills among engineering students and creating a better workplace English curriculum so that students’ workplace speaking skills can be improved.

scholarly journals An Eye View of Technical Communication in English Language among Engineering Students in Southern Tamil Nadu (India): An Analysis in the Postmodern Era

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 09-17
Author(s):  
A. Hariharasudan ◽  
S. Robert Gnanamony ◽  
S. Rajaram
Keyword(s):  
Communication Skills ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
English Language ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Jel Classification ◽  
Professional Communication ◽  
Academic English ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Participative Learning ◽  
Major Factors

Objective - The aim of the research is to cheer the Engineering Students of Southern Tamil Nadu, India to do participative learning in English and facilitate them in obtaining English communication skills for their development in Professional and Career Orientation. Methodology/Technique - The study was undertaken in India with the sample of 300 students who are in the Engineering colleges of Southern Tamil Nadu. Data had been collected through questionnaire which was later evaluated using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) and AMOS (Analysis and Moment Structure) software to validate the conceptual framework. Findings - The study has revealed the factors affecting LSRW and satisfaction of students. The major factors that are paved the way for this are Professional Purposes, Academic Developments, Personal Developments, Professional Communication Skills, Academic English and Social Communications. Novelty - This paper will fabricate and determined outline for the development of Engineering Students in Southern Tamil Nadu in the Postmodern Era and encourage them for improving their Professional Communication Skills in English Type of Paper - Empirical Keywords: Professional Purposes; Academic Developments; Personal Developments; Professional Communication Skills; Academic English; Social Communication; LSRW; Postmodern Era; English. JEL Classification: I21, D83.

FIRST AND SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING THROUGH TEXTBOOKS IN ALBANIAN SCHOOLS (COMPARATIVE OVERVIEW OF ALBANIAN AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEXTBOOKS)

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 2319-2324
Author(s):  
Rina Muka ◽  
Irida Hoti
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Second Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
First Language ◽  
Grammatical Knowledge ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
The Third

The language acquired from the childhood is the language spoken in the family and in the place of living. This language is different from one pupil to another, because of their social, economical conditions. By starting the school the pupil faces first the ABC book and then in the second grade Albanian language learning through the Albanian language textbook. By learning Albanian language step by step focused on Reading, Writing, Speaking and Grammar the pupil is able to start learning the second language on the next years of schooling. So, the second language learning in Albanian schools is related to the first language learning (mother tongue), since the early years in primary school. In our schools, the second language (English, Italian) starts in the third grade of the elementary class. On the third grade isn’t taught grammar but the pupil is directed toward the correct usage of the language. The textbooks are structured in developing the pupil’s critical thinking. The textbooks are fully illustrated and with attractive and educative lessons adequate to the age of the pupils. This comparative study will reflect some important aspects of language learning in Albanian schools (focused on Albanian language - first language and English language - second language), grade 3-6. Our point of view in this paper will show not only the diversity of the themes, the lines and the sub-lines but also the level of language knowledge acquired at each level of education. First, the study will focus on some important issues in comparing Albanian and English language texts as well as those which make them different: chronology and topics retaken from one level of education to another, so by conception of linear and chronological order will be shown comparatively two learned languages (mother tongue and second language). By knowing and learning well mother tongue will be easier for the pupil the foreign language learning. The foreign language (as a learning curriculum) aims to provide students with the skills of using foreign language written and spoken to enable the literature to recognize the achievements of advanced world science and technology that are in the interest of developing our technique. Secondly, the study will be based on the extent of grammatical knowledge, their integration with 'Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing' as well as the inclusion of language games and their role in language learning. The first and second language learning in Albanian schools (grade III-VI) is based on similar principles for the linearity and chronology of grammatical knowledge integrated with listening, reading, writing and speaking. The different structure of both books help the pupils integrate and use correctly both languages. In the end of the sixth grade, the pupils have good knowledge of mother tongue and the second language and are able to write and speak well both languages.

Code-Switching and Code Mixing in the Selected Tracks of the Hip Hop Music of Flavour and 9ice

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 55-70
Author(s):  
Balogun Sarah ◽  
Murana Muniru Oladayo
Keyword(s):  
Hip Hop ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
First Language ◽  
Music Industry ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Code Switching ◽  
National Language ◽  
Code Mixing ◽  
Unique Identity

This article attempts a comparative analysis of code-switching and code-mixing in the Nigerian music industry, using the lyrics of Flavour and 9ice as a case study. Although the English language is the national language in Nigeria and the language used by most of the musicians for the composition of their songs, and due to the linguistic plurality of Nigeria, most of these musicians tend to lace their songs chunks of words and phrases from their mother tongue or at least one of the three major languages in Nigeria, which are Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. The Markedness Model by Myers-Scotton (1993) is used as the framework to interrogate the switching and mixing in the codes used by these selected musicians and we find that while most code-switching is done in three languages – English, Nigerian Pidgin and the artist’ first language (mother tongue)  – their mother tongue plays the prominent role. Code-switching or code-mixing in these songs, therefore, becomes a depiction of the Nigerian state with its diverse languages and it provides the links between the literates and the illiterates thereby giving the artiste the popularity desired. The study concludes that the unique identity created by code-switching and code-mixing in the Nigerian music industry has a positive influence on music lovers, helping artists to achieve wide patronage and reflecting the ethnolinguistic diversity of the Nigerian nation.

The problem of teaching communicative tactics in English-language professional discourse

2021 ◽  
pp. 33-41
Author(s):  
Svetlana S. Andreeva
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Civil Engineering ◽  
Professional Communication ◽  
Language Documentation ◽  
Written Discourse ◽  
Professional Discourse ◽  
Professional Field ◽  
The Will

The work discusses the problem of teaching students of civil engineering departments English-language civil engineering discourse, in particular, communicative tactics of this type of discourse. We substantiate the need to form students’ skills in using the communicative tactics applied in civil engineering discourse in professional communication. We give an overview of com-municative tactics of written discourse used by the authors of English-language documentation in civil engineering professional field. The purpose of the study is to determine the level of students’ skills in using communicative tactics in a foreign language professional written speech. Theoretical and practical research showed that in a modern technical university, insufficient attention is paid to teaching students this component of professional discourse. At the same time, the level of students’ skills to use communicative tactics in professional communication is quite low, which led us to the conclusion that it is of paramount importance to include this component in the pro-gram of teaching a foreign language in a professional field. The results of the will serve as the ba-sis for the development of a methodic model of teaching civil engineering students the communic-ative tactics of professional civil engineering discourse.

scholarly journals Students’ Perceptions about the Importance of Communication Skills: A Case Study of EFL Learners at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Muhammad Riaz Khan ◽  
Shehla Riaz Khan ◽  
Saeed Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
English Language ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
First Grade ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Sample Population ◽  
Speaking Skills

The graduates of Jazan University (Saudi Arabia), like anywhere else in EFL or ESL settings, require effective oral communication skills in English language for a highly competitive and expanding market economy of the country, and the worldwide too. The study was taken to evaluate the students’ perceptions about the need of speaking skills and the urgency to participate in language enhancement activities keeping in view the generally unsatisfactory position of the Saudi students in speaking English language. The sample population for this research was taken from three colleges, i.e. the first grade students from Engineering, Business and Computer Science of this university. A survey method technique was adopted in which data was obtained using a structured questionnaire about students’ responses on multiple items indicating their understanding of the importance of speaking skills, their existing level of oral communication and the need to participate in the extra coaching programs offered by the university. The quantitative data were analyzed by using SPSS 17. The data shows the participants’ understanding of the importance of communication skills for social needs, personality development, attaining and survival in the job market, and their needs for attending extra language training sessions other than their normal routine courses.

scholarly journals Scaffolding the Development of English Language and Communication Skills of Engineering Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5A) ◽  
pp. 100-107
Author(s):  
Mimi Nahariah Azwani Mohamed ◽  
Zarina Othman ◽  
Suzilla Jamari ◽  
Nor Fadhilah Ahmad Powzi ◽  
Nurzarina Abd Samad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Communication Skills ◽  
English Language ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Language And Communication

scholarly journals ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF EFFECTIVE ACADEMIC WRITING IN ENGLISH

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 41-43
Author(s):  
Yu.V. Lysanets ◽  
O.M. Bieliaieva ◽  
L.B. Slipchenko ◽  
K.H. Havrylieva ◽  
H.Yu. Morokhovets
Keyword(s):  
Academic Writing ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Professional Communication ◽  
Academic Standards ◽  
Medical Setting ◽  
British Council ◽  
Academic Communication ◽  
English Academic Writing

The article discusses the features of academic writing in English based on the recommendations from the British Council in Ukraine in the framework of the “Researcher Connect” project, aiming to facilitate the transition to academic standards of English and improve the academic discourse produced by non-native language users. The authors outline major tendencies in the modern English language as pertains to written discourse and provide recommendations for rendering academic writing persuasive. It is a well-established fact that academic writing in English possesses unique features, which must be respected and taken into account. Hence, a transfer of academic norms from a person's mother tongue to English can be a challenge, which may impair the quality of academic writing. Presenting the research results without consideration of academic norms, grammar, and lexical features of English academic writing can lead to mistakes and misunderstanding, and result in a written work of poor quality, even if the research findings are valid. The mechanisms of improving the academic writing skills during the study of English for Academic Communication with due account for relevant grammar and lexical peculiarities have been explored. Therefore, the major challenge for researchers is the difficulty in transition to academic standards of a foreign language. The article discusses the surface and the deeper purposes in any academic writing; the significance of understanding one’s audience; the concepts of persuasion, clarity, and conciseness, as well as grammar and lexical means for achieving them. Developing the communication skills of Ukrainian scientists is crucial for successful international communication and cooperation. The study of potential difficulties, which the Ukrainian medical professionals may face in the process of academic writing in English, is important for developing the guidelines to eliminate possible mistakes and avoid misunderstanding in a medical setting. Further study of the peculiarities of academic writing in English will contribute to the optimization of international professional communication, the expansion of inter-institutional dialogue, and the integration of Ukraine into the world community.

scholarly journals The question of questions in Malaysian English

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Radina Mohamad Deli
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Peninsular Malaysia ◽  
British English ◽  
Tag Questions

This paper examined the forms that interrogatives and tag questions can take when used by young Malaysian speakers of English language in oral communication. It offers a description of the features for both question forms as produced by the respondents compared to those of Singapore English (SE) and Standard British English (SBE). The influence of domains and the issue of mother tongue interference in relation to the subjects’ usage of such features will also be investigated. Data were obtained through interviews with 19 Malaysian English (ME) speakers from three major ethnic groups in Peninsular Malaysia and via the recording of six conversations. The results showed various distinctive forms and features of questions in ME used by the speakers. Their usage is found to have a certain link to the domains of conversation. Further analysis revealed that mother tongue interference at the grammatical level, particularly in the case of Malay and Cantonese, plays a major role in determining the structure of ME interrogatives and tag questions as well as the subjects’ unvarying use of the rising intonation as regards the latter. As a result of this interference, ME tag questions used are found to be confined to four forms whilst both the structure of wh- and polar interrogatives experience reduction in the system of tense, auxiliary and operator when used by the subjects.

scholarly journals Placing Migrants in Employment: Recruitment Consultants' Experiences

1970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqui Campbell ◽  
Mingsheng Li
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Competitive Market ◽  
Good Position ◽  
Standard Process ◽  
Positive Experiences ◽  
English Speaking

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the issues that recruitment consultants face when trying to place non-native English speaking professional migrants in employment in New Zealand. Five recruitment consultants participated in two focus groups as part o f a wider study conducted in 2007. The consultants in this study worked in the permanent and temporary markets covering a range of professions. Theirs is a highly competitive market, aiming to match candidates with employers to the satisfaction of both. Essentially, the role is a sales one, volume driven and time pressured. Consultants follow the same standard process for all applicants: assessing skills, including communication skills, and preparing three candidates to present to the employer for interview. The perceived differences between migrants and local candidates include difficulties in oral communication; limited knowledge of New Zealand culture, and lack of experience with behavioural interviews. Consultants adopted an educative role towards some highly prejudiced employers. Employers with previous positive experiences with migrants tended to be more receptive. Consultants considered that migrants needed to be more realistic in their job expectations; be prepared to accept contract positions and accept lower level roles initially. They should familiarise themselves with the New Zealand culture, humour and workplace expectations.  Current labour market shortages place migrants in a very; good position for accessing employment.

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