English as Medium of Instruction : Problems Faced By UNIMAS Engineering Undergraduates

Mornita, Deri (2008) English as Medium of Instruction : Problems Faced By UNIMAS Engineering Undergraduates. [Final Year Project Report / IMRAD] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The use of English as a medium of instruction in education may impose language problems to ESL learners where English is not their mother tongue. The present study looked at the English language-based problems faced by engineering students in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). The study also intended to shed some lights on how Malaysian students cope with their academic problems when English becomes the medium of instruction at tertiary level. A total of 126 freshmen and 10 senior students studying engineering program in UNIMAS took part in the study. The freshmen and senior student groups represented the engineering students sharing the same study field but differing in terms of course duration in engineering field. Data included responses to questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Results indicated that academic reading and writing are the most difficult skills in engineering studies. It is because academic reading and writing involve sub-skills in which ESL learners may well be inadequately prepared. The study also revealed various coping strategies used by the ESL learners in dealing with language problems. The coping strategies include note-taking, concentration, lecturer/peer help, avoid speaking, practice speaking in English, asking questions in L1, extra reading, dictionary help, plagiarism, and the use of grammar/spelling checker available in computer software

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