An Analysis of English Language Needs: A Reflection from Electrical and Civil Engineering Students of College of Industrial Technology and Management, RUTS

Abstract

This paper reports on the results of a needs analysis on English topics for engineering undergraduate students. The data were collected from 44 electrical and 65 civil engineering students of College of Industrial Technology and Management, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya (RUTS) in the academic year 2019. The study employed a questionnaire for data collection. The data were analyzed by using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation (S.D.) The findings revealed that all English topics for engineering were required by both electrical and civil engineering students at high level. Regarding the needs of English topics for electrical engineering, it was found that writing an engineering project (x¯= 4.57, S.D. = 0.545) was the highest needed and then it was followed by tools, equipment, and machines (x¯= 4.55, S.D.= 0.589) and engineering materials (x¯= 4.52, S.D. = 0.505). In terms of the needs of English topics for civil engineering, it was found that safety at work (x¯= 4.29, S.D.= 0.655) was the highest needed and then it was followed by describing a procedure or process (x¯= 4.29, S.D. = 0.631), engineering materials (x¯= 4.26, S.D.= 0.644), and writing an engineering project (x¯= 4.26, S.D.= 0.644) respectively. Another important result was that the researcher also came up with the realization that contents combined with English for Specific Purpose and online learning formats should be highly considered when developing the instructional materials in teaching English for engineering students.