W-07 Enhancing the global awareness of graduate students through an advanced engineering English course for multi-national students

Abstract

The authors describe how an English for Science and Technology (EST) course at graduate level was offered to enhance the global awareness of engineering students. The EST course covered both strategies and tactics for writing a clear and logical research paper and the language forms of particular use for engineering-related communication. In addition, the course offered collaborative learning activities, such as simulated international conference sessions and in-class discussions. Students from various majors and six different Asian countries took the course. The authors developed a questionnaire to investigate whether the EST course effectively increased students' global awareness in engineering contexts. The questionnaire responses showed that the students had regarded the course as a good practicum for enhancing their communication skills and the awareness necessary to become a global engineer. In addition, they considered that taking the course with students from different backgrounds and various majors helped them develop a multifaceted point of view.