Vocational Education Students’ Experiences Towardsthe Need for English Communication Skills in Training Places: A Focus Group Interview
Thamizhiniyan K
Dr. Thamizhiniyan K, Post-Doctoral Fellow Centre for Adult & Continuing Education School of Education, Pondicherry University, India.
Manuscript received on 20 June 2019 | Revised Manuscript received on 11 July 2019 | Manuscript Published on 17 July 2019 | PP: 1169-1172 | Volume-8 Issue-1C2 May 2019 | Retrieval Number: A12070581C219/2019©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Background: English communication skills are the need in higher education and job market. In India Bachelor of Vocational Educational Programmes (B.Voc.) have English communication skills as one of the core subjects. The focus of these programmes often on communication skills in the first semester. The paper explores the need for English communication skills in the students respective training places. Methods: A focus group interview was conducted with six Vocational students from the discipline Bachelor of vocational Education in Operation Theatre of Pondicherry University Community College,Puducherry.The interview explored their experiences of needs for English communication skills in training places and the feedback received from the doctors and other official regarding their English communication skills. Data was transcribed and analysed thematically until agreement was achieved by two persons including the researcher and a faculty of English from higher education institution. Results: There was compulsory need on English communication skills at their respective training hospitals for effective practices including English skills like listening, speaking, reading and writing. Significant influence on understanding the English conversation of doctors and officials there, replying to them, being good at vocabulary and making conversation in English. The students often expected to use English in the hospitals where they take training especially on communication skills related to their profession. Conclusion: The curriculum of Bachelor of Vocational Educational Programme in Operation Theatre identified English skills which help for effective communication at their training or training places. The doctors and officials in the respective private and government hospitals used English as basic communication with the students. Sometimes they were dissatisfied with some students’ communication skills in English. They used to encourage the students to use communication in hospital premises. Future studies should explore the factor of dissatisfaction towards English communication skills and ways and means should be identified to keep the students alive with English communication skills in training places.
Keywords: English Communication Skills, Focus Group Interview, English at Training Place, Communicative Competence, Vocational English.
Scope of the Article: Smart Learning and Innovative Education Systems