IIUM Repository

English language competency for employment purposes: meeting the needs of the industry

Sarudin, lsarji and Zubairi, Ainol Madziah and Nordin, Mohamad Sahari and Tunku Ahmad, Tunku Badariah (2011) English language competency for employment purposes: meeting the needs of the industry. In: Language studies in the Muslim world. IIUM Press, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, pp. 179-208. ISBN 978-967-0225-23-4

[img]
Preview
PDF
Download (6MB) | Preview

Abstract

The literature on employable graduates indicates that there is a considerable concern regarding the widening gap between the communication skills in English of job applicants and the English language competency required for employment.This paper presents the findings of a study to investigate the industry's perceptions of the importance of graduates' English language competency for employment purposes, the industry's assessment of graduates' English language competency and the industry's initiatives to enhance the English language competency of employees. Data for the study were gathered from 123 respondents from the Financial Services, Manufacturing and Industrial, and Telecommunications, Technology and Media industry sectors using a triangulation of methods comprising a seminar, semi-structured interviews, and a survey questionnaire.The findings of this study indicate that English is the most importont language for employment and consistently assessed in the industry. The industry was also found to be pro-active in enhancing employees' English language competency through in-house training programmes. The paper concludes that due to the competitiveness and volatility of the market environment, there is an urgent need to adequately prepare graduates with skills associated with the English language competency for the 21st century workplace.

Item Type: Book Chapter
Additional Information: 422/4425 - Book call no. P51 L287N 2011
Uncontrolled Keywords: English Language competency, employment, industry
Subjects: P Language and Literature > PE English
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): Centre for Languages and Pre-University Academic Development (CELPAD)
Centre for Languages and Pre-University Academic Development (CELPAD) > English Language Division
Depositing User: Isarji Sarudin
Date Deposited: 13 Sep 2011 16:31
Last Modified: 21 Jun 2021 02:49
URI: http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/4425

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year