Writing Skills and Communication Competence of Undergraduate Students in an Engineering English Course

Abstract

Engineering graduates are facing problems in technical writing and communication during and after their studies. The professional life requires language proficiency in minimum one foreign language, and effective communication and teamwork skills. Hence, to examine the gap, this case study explores Engineering English undergraduate course in an English-medium of instruction setting with a focus on technical writing skills and communication competence. Following the needs analysis design by Serafini, Lake and Long (2015), the lacks, necessities and wants of the Engineering English course students are identified aligned with the National Qualifications Framework for Higher Education in Turkey. Engineering English writing course needs a syllabus revision that incorporates a variety of tasks and genres, and the instructors need training on how to balance the content and foreign language in their classrooms. Moreover, engineering students need to be exposed to communicative competence building activities in different genres and through different modes of instruction.