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ORAL COMMUNICATION NEEDS OF MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN UTM:
AS PERCEIVED BY THE LEARNERS
HANIM BINTI KAMARUDIN
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
ORAL COMMUNICATION NEEDS OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN UTM: AS PERCEIVED BY THE LEARNERS
HANIM BINTI KAMARUDIN
A report submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirement for the award of the degree of
Bachelor of Science with Education (TESL)
Faculty of Education
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
APRIL, 2008
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DEDICATED TO:
My beloved father and mother, Tuan Haji Kamarudin Bin Haji Hassan
& Puan Hajah Zuhila @ Hamidah Binti Ali
My grandmother,
Puan Hajah Zalikha Binti Munib
also My siblings
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Praise to Allah the Almighty who has given me strength to complete this research.
Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor, Puan Yasmin Bt.
Hanafi Zaid who had patiently guided me throughout the process of completing this
dissertation.
Secondly, to my beloved family especially Mak and Abah; Hamidah Ali and
Kamarudin Hassan, thank you for your love, financial, as well as motivational support.
Next, to my Tok Baah, who has prayed a lot for my success in my study. Not forgetting
my younger brother, Haiat who has taken care of my parents during my absence.
My gratitude also goes to the 4th year TESL students 08 especially to the 8
Charmed Ones-Nad, Byby Awer, Jaja, Aida, Wani, Ana, and Pka. Thank you for all
your support and cooperation. The same goes to my dearest roommate, Siti Nur
Rohazrien.
Special thanks to Saifullah Fuad for cheering me up during my gloomy moment.
Thank you also for your warm support and encouragement. Also, to the rest of my
friends. Thank you very much.
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ABSTRACT
At present, English is widely used in Malaysia. The used of the language is
getting more important especially for workplace communication. However, there has
been an issue that many graduates experience problems in communicating in English,
thus leaving them unable to secure jobs despite graduating with excellent results. This
problem arises due to several factors. This research seeks to identify the specific needs of
the learners in learning oral communication skills in English. It investigated the Oral
Communication Needs of Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Students in UTM,
from their own perspectives. The purpose of this research is to report findings on these
students needs in learning oral communication in English, both, for present and future
needs. Apart from that, it also looks at the problematic areas in English oral
communication faced by the students. Questionnaires were used as a means of data
collection. The findings of this study showed that oral presentation is the most important
skill needed by the students at present, due to their aim to graduate from UTM. The skill
concerned with their future workplace communication is in making telephone
conversation and finally more than half of the students felt that they do have problems
with their communication skills in English.
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ABSTRAK
Penggunaan Bahasa Inggeris di Malaysia kini menjadi semakin meluas dan
semakin penting terutamanya dalam dunia pekerjaan. Namun begitu, terdapat masalah di
mana para graduan mempunyai tahap komunikasi Bahasa Inggeris yang lemah dan
sekaligus mengakibatkan mereka gagal mendapatkan pekerjaan walaupun memiliki
kelulusan akademik yang cemerlang. Masalah ini boleh dikaitkan dengan beberapa
faktor. Kajian ini bertujuan mengenalpasti keperluan khusus para pelajar dalam
mempelajari kemahiran berkomunikasi Bahasa Inggeris. Ia mengkaji keperluan
komunikasi lisan dalam Bahasa Inggeris oleh para Pelajar Tahun Akhir Kejuruteraan
Mekanikal (4 SMM) dari perspektif mereka sendiri. Tujuan kajian ini meliputi keperluan
para pelajar berkomunikasi dalam Bahasa Inggeris dalam pembelajaran mereka pada
masa kini dan juga apabila mereka berada di alam pekerjaan. Selain itu, kajian ini juga
menyatakan ciri-ciri permasalahan yang dihadapi oleh para pelajar dalam berbahasa
Inggeris serta kesediaan mereka untuk menggunakan Bahasa Inggeris dalam alam
pekerjaan. Instrumen yang digunakan bagi pengumpulan data adalah melalui borang soal
selidik. Dapatan kajian ini menunjukkan para pelajar mengakui yang mereka mempunyai
masalah untuk berkomunikasi dalam Bahasa Inggeris. alaubagaimanapun, majoriti
daripada golongan pelajar ini merasakan yang mereka juga telah bersedia serta
berkebolehan untuk berbahasa Inggeris dalam dunia pekerjaan mereka kelak.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER TITLE PAGE
ONE
TITLE PAGE
DECLARATION
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
ABSTRAK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
LIST OF APPENDICES
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Purpose of the Study
1.4 Objectives of the Study
1.5 Research Questions
1.6 Significance of the Study
1.7 Scope of the Study
1.8 Definition of Terms
1.9 Conclusion
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TWO
THREE
FOUR
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction
2.1 The Nature of Speaking
2.2 Oral Communication Skills
2.2.1 The Importance of Oral Communication
2.3 Needs Analysis
2.4 An Overview of English for Specific Purposes (ESP)
2.4.1 Benefits of ESP
2.4.2 Teachers Roles in ESP
2.5 Oral Communication Needs
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Research Procedure
3.1.1 Conceptualization Stage
3.1.2 Preliminary Study
3.1.3 Development of Questionnaire
3.2 Pilot Study
3.2.1 Reliability
3.2.2 Validity
3.3 Actual Study
3.4 Research instrument
3.5 Respondents of the Study
3.6 Data Analysis
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
4.0 Introduction
4.1 Respondents Background
4.1.1 Grade of SPM English Paper
4.1.2 MUET Result
4.1.3 Current C.P.A. Points
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FIVE
4.1.4 The Respondents First Language
4.1.5 Frequency of Speaking English at Home
4.1.6 Whom do the Respondents Speak English
With at Home
4.1.7 Frequency of Speaking English With Friends
4.1.8 Where the Respondents First learn to Speak
English
4.1.9 Ways the Respondents Practise their Oral
Communication Skills in English
4.1.10 The Respondents Perception on their
Proficiency in English
4.2 Respondents Present Oral Communication Needs
4.2.1 The Evaluation of the Students Own
Performance Regarding the Activities Done
in their Academic Studies
4.2.2 Preferred Duration of English Classes
4.2.3 The Learning Expectations in English
Classes
4.2.4 Preferred Activities to be Conducted in
English Classes
4.3 Potential Future Oral Communication Needs
4.4 Problematic Areas of Communication
4.4.1 To Whom the Respondents Find Hard to
Communicate With
4.5 Conclusion of the Findings
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.0 Introduction
5.1 Conclusion
5.2 Individual or Educators Efforts
5.2.1 Sounds
5.2.2 Limericks and Tongue Twisters
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5.3 Recommendations
5.3.1 Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
5.3.2 Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
5.3.3 Department of Modern Languages
5.3.4 Students
5.3.5 Recommendations for Further Studies in
Communication Skills
REFERENCES
APPENDIX
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LIST OF TABLES
TABLE NO. TITLE PAGE
2.1
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.10
4.11
4.12
4.13
4.14
4.15
4.16
4.17
Differences Between ESP and EGP
Grade of SPM English Paper
MUET Result
Current C.P.A. Points
The Respondents First Language
Frequency of Speaking English at Home
Whom Do the Respondents Speak English With at Home
Frequency of Speaking English With Friends
Where the Respondents First Learn to Speak English
Ways the Respondents Practices their Oral Communication
Skills in English
The Respondents Perception on their Proficiency in English
Present Oral Communication Needs