خلاصة:
English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is one of the considerable programs in
the world of English language teaching and research since it pertains to
specific needs of various specialties. Meanwhile, university students‟ ability
to communicate effectively through English language can greatly affect their
career development in the target situation, namely, in their future workplace.
Moreover, ESP instructors play a conspicuous role in flourishing students‟
English achievements, as they need to be equipped with the knowledge and
awareness of their students‟ English needs not only in the academic setting
but also in the workplace environment. Thus, this study intended to
investigate workplace English needs of Electrical Engineering (EE) students
from ESP instructors‟ point of view, together with English requirements of
EE employers in different Electrical companies in Iran. That said, data were
elicited from 97 EE students, 39 EE employers from 15 well-reputed
Electrical companies, and 15 ESP instructors. The results of t-test between
instructors and employers indicated that ESP instructors were not fully aware
of EE students‟ future workplace needs. Therefore, having the rudimentary
knowledge of the technical content in English on the part of ESP instructors
can raise their awareness toward EE workplace needs. Moreover, the findings
of interview revealed that EE employers required their prospective workforce
to be more proficient in speaking skills and to be more skilled in technical
translation. The findings provide implications for ESP instructors and
curriculum developers to be more aware of English needs of EE workforce
ملخص الجهاز:
A Triangulated Study of Workplace English Needs of Electrical Engineering Students Abbas Ali Rezaee Associate Professor, University of Tehran Samira Kazempourian* MA in Applied Linguistics, University of Tehran Abstract English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is one of the considerable programs in the world of English language teaching and research since it pertains to specific needs of various specialties.
Thus, this study intended to investigate workplace English needs of Electrical Engineering (EE) students from ESP instructors‟ point of view, together with English requirements of EE employers in different Electrical companies in Iran.
Therefore, before designing technical English or ESP programs whose main purposes are to prepare students for the challenges and necessities of higher education and workplace, it is highly emphasized to conduct a comprehensive needs analysis of different groups of stakeholders (Dudley Evans & St. John, 1998; Hutchinson & Waters, 1987; Kaewpet, 2009; Long, 2005; Mohammadi & Mousavi, 2013; Pritchard & Nasr, 2004; Schutz & Derwing, 1981).
Finally, one extra item was added to the employers' and ESP instructors' questionnaire versions to ask about their ideas concerning the degree of importance of each specific English language skill and component expected from prospective employees at workplace environment.
Language Skills Electrical Engineering Companies Look for in Their Prospective Employees Moreover, the differences between the English needs of EE workforce from ESP instructors‟ viewpoints and those of employers in each of the four macro skills, namely 'reading', 'writing', 'speaking', and 'listening', as well as 'study skills' are dealt with.