An analysis of English in the workplace: The communication

needs of textile and clothing merchandisers

Instructor: Dr. Pi-Ying Hsu

Presenter: Wei – Ting Chien

Date: November 19, 20091

Citation

So-mui, F. L., & Mead, K. (2000). An analysis of English in the workplace: the communication needs of textile and clothing merchandisers. English for specific purpose, 19, 351-368.

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Contents

I. Introduction

II. Literature Review

III. Methodology

IV. Results & Conclusion

V. Reflection3

Background

• Textile and clothing industry is a major contributor to the Hong Kong economy and the largest employers within the manufacturing sector.

(So-mui & Mead, 2000)

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Background

• There is a highly demand for employers to hire employees who are good at language performance and usage in business context.

(So-mui & Mead, 2000)

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Purposes of the study

• to investigate the workplace English needs of textile and clothing merchandiser

• to analyze the English usage of communication of textile and clothing merchandiser

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Literature Review

• There is a lack of sufficient training for majority of ESP teachers.

(Hutchinson & Waters, 1987)

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Literature Review

• Guidance and practice in the use of English communication in the context of business tend to be very limited.

(Louhiala-Salminen, 1996)

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Subjects of the study

300 Poly U graduates 60 KTTI graduates

28-h units of English andCommunication

2 years of language training

Had been working merchandisers for at least one year

•The buyer who places the order for a consignment of garments•The supplier of fabric, yarn and accessories•The manufacturer involved in producing the garments

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Design of the study

Questionnaire surveys

Telephone interviews

Visit to theworkplace

Authentic workplace texts

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Questionnaire surveys

•36 questions•feedback

300 Poly U

60 KTITComplementaryQuestionnaires

•12 questions

1. Extent of English usage2. Countries with which business is

conducted3. Common channels of communication

4. Preferred channels of communication5. Purpose of writing communication6. Use of abbreviations in written messages

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•Communication profiles•Graduates’ communication needs

18 KTTI graduates Supervisors

Interviewees

•Cantonese•15 semi-structured questions

Telephone interviews

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•Visit to the workplace

•Collection of authentic texts

Analyzing the writing style of authentic texts

Workplace Period Objectives

Hong Kong-based buying office

Half a day • Understanding the operation of company• Observing the merchandisers

Shenzhen factory 2 days • Observing the procedure & communication during the production ofgarments 13

Questionnaire Results

• Extent of English usage

Institutions Distributed Returned Response Rate

Poly 300 130 43%

KTIT 60 20 33%

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Questionnaire Results

• Extent of English usage Over 50% respondents of spoken English

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Questionnaire Results

• Countries with which business is conducted

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Questionnaire Results

• Most common channels of communication

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Questionnaire Results

• Most preferred channels of communication

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Questionnaire Results

• Main purposes of written communication

High frequency Low frequency

Following up on an order Negotiating for better order terms

Advising updated orderstatus

Negotiating for settling a claim

Clarifying order queries Making a claim

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Questionnaire Results

• Use of abbreviations in written messages

Standard abbreviation, am/pm

Use of abbreviation for two or more words

Associated with telexes

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Follow-up telephone interviews

Graduates’ interview Supervisors’ interview

•English is the principle language

•Grammatical accuracy

•Graduates are inadequate in performing complicated tasks in English

•Effective English communicationaffecting promotion

•Negotiating & making a claim

•Correctness of content

•Use of appropriate tones

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Analysis of authentic workplace texts

• Presentation of the message

Quantity of sample Over 100

Form Mostly faxes

Feature Use of uppercase letters

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Analysis of authentic workplace texts

• Paragraphing

• Headings and paragraph numbering

• Abbreviations

Follow recommended paragraph length: four-six lines

Using for improving the appearance of the message

Frequent use of such short forms

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Analysis of authentic workplace texts

• Grammatical accuracy

Grammatical Errors

Incorrect Correct

Noun/adjectiveconfusion

“JAPAN SUPPLIER” “JAPANESE SUPPLIER”

Verb tense“PLS NOTED”“AFTER OUR BUYER SEE”

“PLS NOTE”“AFTER OUR BUTER SAW”

Word order for question

“WHAT WE CAN DO?” “WHAT CAN WE DO?”

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Analysis of authentic workplace texts

• ToneYOU JUST PURCHASE…

YOU MAKE US STAND ON THE EMBERASS POSITION!

YOU MUST ADVISE…ANS MUST DEDUCT…

YOU MUST TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY

• Business jargon

“Herewith”

“Please be informed that…”

“it has been brought to our attention that…”

“Please contact the undersigned.” 25

Analysis of authentic workplace texts

• Connectives Over & inappropriately

used

• Incomplete sentences

A careless attitude &

misunderstanding caused

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Company visits

Places Finding Conclusion

HK based buying office

•company’s Information•technology used•working environment

Language learning activities that closely match the working environment

Shenzhen factory •Mandarin is the lingua franca of the factory

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Conclusion

• Extensive use of English

• Extensive use of tax

• Specific purposes for communicating

• Use of authentic materials

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Reflection

• Some of literature are out-dated.

• No question samples provided .

• No interview protocol provided.

• No interviews with Poly U graduates.

• The findings would be valuable to ESP course designers.

• Merchandises of other industries would have similar needs.

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Thanks for

your attention!30