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

iii

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