Individual Presentation Ii

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An analysis of English in the workplace: The communication needs of textile and clothing merchandisers

Instructor: Dr. Pi-Ying HsuPresenter: Wei – Ting ChienDate: November 19, 2009

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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. Reflection

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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 graduates28-h units of English and

Communication2 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 the workplace

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 merchandisersShenzhen factory 2 days • Observing the procedure &

communication during the production of garments

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Questionnaire Results

• Extent of English usage

Institutions Distributed Returned Response RatePoly 300 130 43%KTIT 60 20 33%

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

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• Countries with which business is conducted

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• Most common channels of communication

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• Most preferred channels of communication

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• Main purposes of written communication

High frequency Low frequencyFollowing up on an order Negotiating for better order

termsAdvising updated order status

Negotiating for settling a claim

Clarifying order queries Making a claim

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• Use of abbreviations in written messages

Standard abbreviation, am/pmUse of abbreviation for two or more wordsAssociated 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 communication affecting 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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• 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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• Grammatical accuracyGrammatical

ErrorsIncorrect Correct

Noun/adjective confusion

“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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• Tone YOU 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.”

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• 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 environmentShenzhen 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!

Individual Presentation Ii

Business

Transcript of Individual Presentation Ii