A Comparison of Industry English Needs with University Students' Strengths

Abstract

             Working with business is a part of people’s everyday life. The purpose of this research is to examine the English language proficiency needs for people to work in business. It assesses the points of views of business workers (both operational and management levels) and English major students in a faculty of education in order to improve the related courses at a public university in Nakornpathom province, Thailand. This study investigates what English language skills that graduate students or new employees are expected to have. It helps explain the needs from both sides of employees and employers. Moreover, students, or pre-experience learners, have limited comprehension about business through textbooks, teachers, and other written documents. Therefore, there is still a gap between learning and working in a real business environment and studying one in a classroom. This present study used semi-structured interviews to collect data from employers who work in various business industries in order to investigate the needs of Business English from working people in authentic situations. Also, questionnaires were distributed to students of English major who did not have a background in business for the purpose of comparing their levels of English language proficiency with the industry needs. After that, the collected data were analyzed in order to develop a Business English course for the students who will graduate and become regular workers in the international business environment.