PSZ 19 : 16 (Pind. 1/97)

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS TESIS

JUDUL : ORAL PROFICIENCY PROBLEMS OF THE FOURTH YEAR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STUDENTS IN UTM

SESI PENGAJIAN : 2008/2009 Saya NADIAFAZLINA BINTI PAKHARUDIN

(HURUF BESAR)

mengaku membenarkan tesis (PSM/Sarjana/Doktor Falsafah)* ini disimpan di Perpustakaan Universiti Teknologi Malaysia dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut:

1. Tesis adalah hakmilik Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. 2. Perpustakaan Teknologi Malaysia dibenarkan membuat salinan untuk tujuan pengajian sahaja. 3. Perpustakaan dibenarkan membuat salinan tesis ini sebagai bahan pertukaran antara institusi

pengajian tinggi. 4. ** Sila tandakan ( √ )

SULIT

(Mengandungi maklumat yang berdarjah keselamatan atau kepentingan Malaysia seperti yang termaktub di dalam AKTA RAHSIA RASMI 1972)

TERHAD

(Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang telah ditentukan oleh organisasi/badan di mana penyelidikan dijalankan)

TIDAK TERHAD

(TANDATANGAN PENULIS) (TANDATANGAN PENYELIA)

Alamat tetap: KG. BATU SATU, ASSOC. PROF. DR. HADINA BTE HABIL JLN. MALIM NAWAR, NAMA PENYELIA MALIM NAWAR 31700 PERAK DARUL RIDZUAN. Tarikh: 29 APRIL 2009 Tarikh: 29 APRIL 2009

CATATAN: * Potong yang tidak berkenaan. ** Jika tesis ini SULIT atau TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak

berkuasa/organisasi berkenaan dengan menyatakan sekali sebab dan tempoh tesis ini perlu dikelaskan sebagai SULIT atau TERHAD.

Tesis dimaksudkan sebagai tesis bagi Ijazah Doktor Falsafah dan Sarjana secara penyelidikan atau disertasi bagi pengajian sebagai kerja kursus dan penyelidikan atau Laporan Projek Sarjana Muda (PSM).

√

ii

“I hereby declare that I have read this thesis and in my

opinion this thesis is sufficient in terms of scope and quality for

the award of the degree of Bachelor of Science with Education

(TESL)”

Signature :

Name of Supervisor : ASSOC. PROF. DR HADINA

BTE HABIL

Date : 29 APRIL 2009

iii

ORAL PROFICIENCY PROBLEMS OF THE FOURTH YEAR MECHANICAL

ENGINEERING STUDENTS IN UTM

NADIAFAZLINA BINTI PAKHARUDIN

A report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Bachelor Science with Education (TESL)

Faculty of Education Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

2009

iv

I declare that this thesis entitled “Oral Proficiency Problems Of The Fourth Year Mechanical Engineering Students In Utm” is the result of my own research except as cited in the references. The thesis has not been accepted for any degree and is not concurrently submitted in candidature of any other degree.

Signature :

Name : NADIAFAZLINA BINTI PAKHARUDIN

Date : 29 APRIL 2009

v

A Special Dedication

To Papa and Mama, and their patience for a prodigal daughter

And to my other half

vi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Alhamdulillah to the Merciful Most Gracious.

First and foremost, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the person who has

been patience and guiding me all the way - my PSM supervisor Dr Hadina Habil.

I am also grateful to Pn Zanariah Md Saleh for helping me with the abstract while Dr

Hadina performed her umrah.

Also, to all my dear friends for supporting me, and to my other half for his endless

support in helping me finish this research.

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ABSTRACT

This study is undertaken to investigate the oral communication proficiency of

fourth year Mechanical Engineering students from UTM. The objectives of this study

were to find out students’ perception of their English language oral proficiency, to

identify the oral communication needs of the students during Industrial Training and

also to investigate their perception towards the effectiveness of the language proficiency

courses and programs offered in UTM. Fifty fourth year Mechanical Engineering

students who had undergone industrial training took part in this study. The collection of

data in this study was done using two instruments: questionnaire and interviews. The

findings of the study showed that students were not satisfied with their level of English

language proficiency, and were reluctant to make the effort to improve themselves

although they have realized the importance of oral communication skills at the

workplace after they have gone through their industrial training. It was also found that

the students did not gain much benefit from the English language proficiency courses

and English language programs offered in UTM. In conclusion, this study has shown

that oral communication is very important at the workplace and there is a need to equip

students with oral communication skills.

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ABSTRAK

Kajian ini dijalankan untuk menyiasat komunikasi Bahasa Inggeris secara lisan

di kalangan pelajar-pelajar tahun akhir Fakulti Kejuruteraan Mekanikal dari UTM.

Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengenalpasti persepsi pelajar terhadap komunikasi

Bahasa Inggeris secara lisan, mengenalpasti keperluan komunikasi secara lisan semasa

Latihan Industri, dan menyiasat persepsi pelajar terhadap keberkesanan subjek-subjek

dan program Bahasa Inggeris yang ditawarkan di UTM. Lima puluh responden yang

terdiri daripada pelajar-pelajar Kejuruteraan Mekanikal tahun empat yang telah

menjalani Latihan Industri telah terlibat dalam kajian ini. Maklumat dan data bagi kajian

ini dikumpulkan menggunakan dua instrument: borang soal selidik dan temu bual.

Dapatan kajian ini ialah pelajar tidak berpuashati dengan kemahiran komunikasi Bahasa

Inggeris secara lisan, dan tidak berminat untuk berusaha meningkatkan kemahiran

mereka walaupun telah tahu kepentingan kemahiran komunikasi Bahasa Inggeris secara

lisan selepas menjalani latihan industri. Kajian ini juga telah membuktikan pelajar tidak

memanfaatkan subjek-subjek dan program Bahasa Inggeris untuk memperbaiki Bahasa

Inggeris mereka. Kesimpulannya, kajian ini telah menunjukkan bahawa komunikasi

secara lisan amat penting terutamanya di tempat kerja dan perlunya melengkapkan

pelajar dengan kemahiran komunikasi secara lisan.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

DECLARATION iv

DEDICATION v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT vi

ABSTRACT vii

ABSTRAK viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ix

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF DIAGRAMS xiii

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xiv

LIST OF APPENDICES xv

1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Background of Study 2

1.2 Problem Statement 3

1.3 Purposes of Study 4

1.4 Objectives of the Study 4

1.5 Research Questions 5

1.6 Significance of the Study 5

1.7 Scope of the Study 5

1.8 Definitions of Terms 6

1.8.1 Oral Communication Proficiency 6

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2 LITERATURE REVIEW 7

2.0 Introduction 7

2.1 Communication and Engineers 7

2.1.1 Overview of Communication 8

2.1.2 Overview of Mechanical Engineer 9

2.1.3 Engineering Communication 10

2.1.3.1 Written Communication 10

2.1.3.2 Oral Communication 11

2.1.3.3 Graphical Communication 11

2.2 Importance of Oral Communication for Engineer 11

2.3 Issues in Oral Communication 14

2.3.1 Attitude Towards English and Communication 14

2.3.2 Insufficient Course Content 15

2.3.3 Inappropriate Teaching Methodologies 15

2.3.4 Practice Opportunities of English and 16

Communication

2.4 Courses in UTM 17

2.4.1 The English Proficiency Subjects in UTM 17

2.4.1.1 UHB 1412 17

2.4.1.2 UHB 2422 18

2.4.1.3 UHB Electives 18

2.4.2 Industrial Training 20

3 METHODOLOGY 22

3.0 Introduction 22

3.1 Research Instrument 23

3.1.1 Questionnaire 23

3.1.2 Interviews 25

3.2 Respondent of the Study 25

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3.3 Research Procedure 27

3.4 Data Analysis 27

3.5 Pilot Study 27

3.5.1 Findings of the Pilot Study 28

3.5.2 Interviews 29

4 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS 30

4.0 Introduction 30

4.1 Analysis of the Respondents 31

4.1.1 SPM English 1119 and MUET Band 32

4.1.2 Internship Information 33

4.2 Student’s Perception on Their Oral Communication 34

Proficiency in English

4.3 Oral Communication During Industrial Training 37

4.3.1 Job Specifications of Engineers 39

4.3.2 Communication While Doing Internship 42

4.4 The Effectiveness of the Language Proficiency Courses 44

In UTM

4.4.1 Students’ Awareness of Short Courses 47

Offered by CTL

4.4.2 Students’ Awareness About Oral Skills 48

In UHB Courses

4.4.3 Student’s Use of Oral Skills Taught in UHB 49

Courses During Industrial Training

4.5 Students’ Suggestion on Improving Oral 50

Communication Skills

4.6 Conclusion 50

5 SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 52

5.0 Introduction 52

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5.1 Overview of the Study 52

5.2 Restatement of the Objectives 53

5.3 Review of the Findings 53

5.4 Limitations of the Study 54

5.5 Recommendations of the Study 55

5.6 Recommendations for Future Study 56

REFERENCES 57

APPENDICES 59-71

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LIST OF TABLES

TABLE NO. TITLE PAGE

3.1 Sections of the Questionnaire 23

4.2 Respondents’ Perception on Oral Communication 34

Skills

4.3 Respondents’ Industrial Training Experience 37

4.3.1(i) Job Specifications of Engineers in Formal Context 39

4.3.1(ii) Job Specifications of Engineers in Informal Context 40

4.3.2(i) Respondents’ Job Specifications in Formal Context 42

4.3.2(i) Respondents’ Job Specifications in Informal 42

Context

4.4 Respondents’ Perception on Language Proficiency 45

Courses and Programs in UTM

4.4.1 Respondents’ Awareness of Short Courses Offered 47

by CTL

4.4.2 Respondents’ Awareness of Oral Skills Taught in 48

UHB Courses

4.4.3 Students’ Use of Oral Skills Taught in UHB 48

Courses During Industrial Training

xiv

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURES NO. TITLE PAGE

2.1 Aspects of Language Competence 9

2.2 Types of Engineering Communication 10

4.1(i) Respondents’ English 1119 32

4.1(i) Respondents’ MUET Band 32

xv

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

FKM - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

UTM - Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

ASME - American Society of Mechanical Engineering

CEO - Chief Executive Officer

ESP - English for Specific Purposes

MUET - Malaysia University English Test

SPM - Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia

UHB - Course Code for Language Proficiency Courses

SPSS - Statistical Package for Sosial Science

CTL - Centre of Teaching and Learning, UTM

SMM - Course Code for Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Pure)

JKR - Jabatan Kerja Raya

MARDI - Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute

JPA - Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam

AUTO CAD - Computer-Aided Design (Design Software)

FOE - Friends of English

UIAM - University Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

xvi

LIST OF APPENDICES

APPENDIX TITLE PAGE

1 Interview Questions Part 1 59

2 Interview Questions Part 2 60

3 Questionnaire 62

4 Internship Information of Respondents 68

5 Syllabus of Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering 70

Curriculum

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

Malaysia has been regarded as a progressing third world country for

many years. This nation is proud of its development, especially in its industries.

Two world landmarks are built on this land, proving its growing capability to

cope with advancing technology and constructions of first world countries.

Engineering industry is one of the many reasons how Malaysia is developing

rapidly. Engineering fields have helped a lot with the everyday lives of

Malaysian citizen – from inventions of logistic to building constructions. Useful

vehicles until mass production and complex machineries were engineered to ease

the routine and keep the people comfortable in their daily lives.

In order to make known to the world that Malaysia is also one of the

progressing nations in the engineering field, English is heavily needed for the

use of engineers especially in their communication. There are many studies that

have proved how vital English really is to engineers. The ability to

communicate in English is an important skill as this is the yardstick of

professionalism and ability of an engineer.

2

1.1 Background of the Study

The Board of Engineering (BEM), based on the 2007 Accreditation

Manual, has outlined that engineering graduates should attain not only the ability

to apply science and engineering knowledge and technically competence in

engineering discipline, but they should also have the ability to communicate

effectively; not only with fellow engineers, but the community at large.

Engineers use communication skills to explain technical designs, ideas and

processes pertaining to engineering work. Thus the syllabus and programs in the

university should be equipping these students with the much needed

communication skills.

The fourth year mechanical engineering students in the Faculty of

Mechanical Engineering (FKM) in UTM have completed their industrial training

at the beginning of the semester. Most of them had their internship in

multinational and high profile companies, forcing them to actually communicate

in English with people in the company. Thus, the need to be well equipped with

all the necessary knowledge of an engineer as well as the communication skills

is vital. One must possess these skills in order to advance in their career and be

successful.

A personal communication with a sales manager and human resource

executive of a multinational, high profile companies as well as technician and

engineer from a public listed company revealed that communication skills are

extremely important criteria in career; in fact, as had been reported in the

newspapers and studies done, all votes will be going to communication skills as

the most needed skills in employment if surveys were to be done to most

corporate industries.

3

1.2 Problem Statement

English is extremely relevant in today’s workplace situation, and will

stay that way in the future regardless of which field and discipline it is. This is

due to the fact that the profession of engineering has become increasingly

international (Riemer, 2002). They should possess certain standards of

communication skills and soft skills to get them through their career. Based on a

personal communication, only in the fourth year have the mechanical

engineering students realized how crucial English is to their career after they had

gone through their industrial training.

A well developed communication skills help a lot in building a good

image of engineers, especially UTM graduates. Riemer (2002) said that since

English is used in facilitating communication between cultures, the engineering

curriculum is obliged to emphasize on the English language and communication

skills. He also identified three issues in engineering education especially in

training the students in terms of communication skills – students’ attitudes to

communication itself, insufficient course content and deficient or inappropriate

teaching methods.

There is a need to investigate to what extent the university courses and

syllabus is preparing engineering students in their oral communication skills,

especially in English language. Obtaining insights of the student’s attitude

towards English language and communication skills is also very important to

help them to treat communication more seriously.

4

1.3 Purposes of Study

Based on this situation mentioned above, it is time to dig deeper to the

causes of the lack of oral communication skills, which area precisely are they

having trouble with, and consequently to identify how sufficient is language

learning in the university helped them to prepare for the competitive world of

employment.

1.4 Objectives of the Study

The objectives of the study are:

i. to elicit the perception of the students’ English oral

communication proficiency in general.

ii. to identify the usage of oral communication in terms of its context

(example oral presentations, meetings etcetera) during industrial

training.

iii. to gather information on the effectiveness of the language

proficiency courses and programs in the university.

5

1.5 Research Questions

1.5.1 What do they think of their English oral communication proficiency in general?

1.5.2 When and how do they use oral communication skills during their industrial training?

1.5.3 Are the language proficiency courses in UTM sufficient enough to help the students communicate during their industrial training?

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study is addressed to find out the reasons why students of the FKM

are still having problems in their oral communication proficiency despite the

various language programs and courses offered in UTM. The study also

concentrate on the syllabus used in their study that have been designed to fill the

needs of the students while finishing their undergraduate study versus the

language needs of the students when they started their industrial training.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study will be defined by the oral communication problems that

mechanical engineering students faced during their industrial training. Methods

of collecting data will be done by interviews and distribution of questionnaires to

a sample size of 60 students from two classes of the fourth year mechanical