Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/10397/99141
Title: | Gaps in content-based English enhancement in science and engineering | Authors: | Siu, BWY | Issue Date: | 2021 | Source: | In Morrison, B., Chen, J., Lin, L. & Urmston, A. (Eds.). English Across the Curriculum: Voices from Around the World, p. 35-58. Fort Collins, Colorado: The WAC Clearinghouse, 2021 | Abstract: | In the fields of science and engineering, teaching and assessment habitually makes use of calculations and drawings rather than extended writing or oral presentations. Although the ability to communicate eloquently in the disciplinary context is required of students, the development of language skills is often contracted out to language teaching units. This chapter reports on a project that aimed to devise content-based strategies to enhance students’ English language skills within a technical curriculum. In a baseline survey conducted to understand students’ habits and views about English, respondents self-reported a general confidence in their language use for the purpose of learning their discipline, but noted difficulties in speaking and, to a lesser extent, writing, with the fluency of both affected by deficiencies in grammar and vocabulary. Moreover, it was found that the target students’ motivation for language improvement was highly instrumental, based on obtaining better jobs or better grades. The study reveals some systemic problems, such as the lack of opportunities for more extensive use of language in teaching and assessment in technical disciplines and an overall lack of motivation among students. | Publisher: | The WAC Clearinghouse; University Press of Colorado | ISBN: | 978-1-64215-122-0 (PDF) 978-1-64215-123-7 (ePub) 978-1-64642-222-7 (pbk.) |
DOI: | 10.37514/INT-B.2021.1220.2.02 | Rights: | © 2021 by Bruce Morrison, Julia Chen, Linda Lin, and Alan Urmston. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). The following publicatin Siu, B. (2021). Gaps in content-based English enhancement in science and engineering. English across the curriculum: Voices from around the world, 35-58 is available at https://doi.org/10.37514/INT-B.2021.1220.2.02. |
Appears in Collections: | Book Chapter |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
chapter2.pdf | 899.7 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Page views
82
Citations as of Aug 18, 2024
Downloads
21
Citations as of Aug 18, 2024
![](/image/google_scholar.jpg)
Google ScholarTM
Check
Altmetric
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.