Title of article :
Perception of Undergraduates on Their Language Competence Based on English Language National Examination Results
Author/Authors :
Tony Lim Abdullah، Muhammad Ridhuan نويسنده , , Siraj، Saedah نويسنده , , Li Yean، Lim نويسنده ,
Issue Information :
فصلنامه با شماره پیاپی سال 2015
Abstract :
This study aims to investigate the perception of undergraduate students on their language
competence in meeting the requirement to take English for Specific purpose course at tertiary
level. The investigation was conducted using survey questionnaire on 250 undergraduate
students to obtain their perception on their actual language competence based on the national
language examination results as preparatory to register for Professional & Communication
skills course (English for Specific Purpose subject). The findings indicated that despite
obtaining excellent grade in English Language, a majority of them perceived lack in language
competence to sit for the university language course. About 42.3% (n=92) of the respondents
perceived that their results over rated their actual oral skills, while 48.2% (n=105) of the
respondents perceived that their results matched their actual writing skills. The findings could
implicate the reliability of the national examination to be used as benchmarking criteria in
accepting students in universities. The findings could also motivate the Ministry of Education
in improving the method of language assessment to give equivalent weightage to all language
skills to not heavily focusing on reading or writing skills.
Keywords :
undergraduate perceptions , Language Competence , English for specific purposes
Journal title :
Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (JSSH)
Journal title :
Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (JSSH)