English language as a tool for success in engineering

Introduction

                               

 As communication is one of the universal traits of human beings, it is almost impossible for any human beings to survive in this complex world without it. Undoubtedly, communication enables the participants to share their experiences and feelings with each other. Language is the most common means of human communication.

People in different communities with professions use different varieties of languages according to their community, culture and the nature of their profession. Engineering, which has an international link, needs a language that has a global access. In the present day world of globalization, English which serves as a primary/ popular global language can be the only convenient means of professional communication for engineering professionals.  Most of the scientific papers or journals in the world are written in English.

Most of the engineering graphs are also marked in English. Moreover, most engineering professors in various universities are also conducting their lectures in English. Hence, engineering students should at least master the basic English ability to deal with the countless English lectures tutorials, labs, projects and papers.

All-in-all, non-native English engineering students should try hard to improve their English ability, which could help to make their carrier more successful and enjoyable.

English in the Classrooms

                                

English is very commonly used as a medium of instruction in the classroom of almost all the subjects in engineering in Nepal. Whether it is in the class of general subjects like physics, chemistry and mathematics, or in any other engineering subjects, the medium of instruction is English. Teachers deliver a lecture and give notes on their respective subjects in English and the students take down class notes in the same language.

This assesses the level of English proficiency, achievement and satisfaction among engineering students. Start with the technical language you need. You will build the vocabulary and grammar that are common for engineers, giving you the ability to talk about all the parts of your job. You will also develop the communication skills required for anyone in the global economy.

More than just language, you will develop strategies for polite communication. It helps engineering students, how to work with others including working in terms or managing conflict. It is especially important for engineers to learn to communicate with non-technical employees.

English in Libraries

                              

 English is also the language of a library in the context of engineering education in Nepal. The students have to follow catalogues written or printed in English. Almost all the books they find in the library, one of the most important resource centres for them to acquire knowledge about their respective fields by reading books, journals, reports, thesis and internet websites printed in the English language. Almost all the reference books kept in their library are published in the English language.

Those students whose proficiency in English is poor are incapable of acquiring the required information from the textbooks, and reference materials available in their campus/college libraries. Digital libraries are more active these days, which allows the students to create their own accounts, work through tutorials at their own pace, and access their language skills. They also lead students in improving their academic language and approaches to learning, including,

•      Academic English
•      Study methods and exam preparation
•      Effective listening and note-taking
•      Reading strategies
•      Essay, report and thesis writing
•      Writing for research projects
•      Oral communication and presentation.

English in Examinations

                              

 As English is the medium of classroom instruction and the library use, it is obviously the language of examination as well. A majority of the students who join engineering institutes are from the English medium schools and higher secondary institutes, the working knowledge of their English is not so deplorably poor. It is generally tolerable. Even for those students whose medium of classroom instruction was not English during their school and higher secondary level study, the medium of examination is English itself. They cannot opt for other common languages.

We often have both written and oral examinations on all the subjects in engineering. No matter whether it is an internal assessment or the final board examination which is held at the end of every semester, the students are supposed to take both written and oral examinations in the English medium. In all the subjects of 100 full marks, there is an internal assessment of 20 marks accompanied by viva or oral presentation. For both written and oral examinations, the candidates need to use English as it is mandatory for them without any options. Therefore, students must try to develop written and spoken proficiency in English up to the level of working knowledge.

English being the only medium of classroom instruction and examination, it is a must for the students. Those who possess working knowledge and basic proficiency in English feel much ease and comfort during the examination. On the contrary, those who lack English proficiency are compelled to improve the level of English language proficiency in order to improve their performance in both the written and oral examinations.

English for Seeking Jobs

                        

  Even after the completion of their studies, the students of engineering need to have sufficient proficiency in English for getting involved in the process of Job seeking. The vacancies for the jobs are often found announced in English. For understanding the announcements also, they need to possess the capability to perceive what information the vacancy announcements contain.

After being able to understand what the announcement of Job vacancy means what requirements they need to meet for being legible for the vacant post. Furthermore, they have to apply for the post lying vacant in the concerned company. As they prepare themselves for applying for the job, Impact of English on the Career of Engineering Students: A Brief Overview in G(local) Context 187 they need to write a very impressive letter of job application.

At this moment also, the quality and standard of their English language that they have used in their letter of job applications matter much. After the submission of the letter of Job applications also, they are required to attend both written examination and interview or group discussion. The quality of their performance in both the examinations is often gauged on the basis of the quality of English proficiency.

When applying for a job, being able to speak a second language will set you apart from others vying for the same position. Fluency in another language will also greatly increase your employment opportunities. Improving the English language is a great way to initially bump up your resume's attractiveness and keep your name at the top of your employer's short list.

English language as the bridge at work

                    

   Once they get a job, the students of engineering will have to communicate in the offices mostly in English whenever the need for formal or official communication arises. The language of most of the engineering companies is English. If they are working in a foreign or international company, English is the sole medium of communication in such companies.

In course of communicating officially, they need to prepare various kinds of documents. It is always expected the language of all these documents to be appropriate and sufficiently formal and polite. If they fail to maintain the required degree of courtesy, they may be expelled immediately. For avoiding this unwanted situation to occur, they need to possess sufficiently polite refined and formal language.

As an engineer, they are supposed to prepare reports, submit proposals, and prepare and present the seminar as well as working papers in different national or international seminars and conferences. At this moment, the only language they find appropriate and feel comfortable for communicating with their audience is the English language. English plays a vital role in helping people take their profession to new heights.

A person who's fluent in the English language can pursue a job abroad without hesitation as compared to someone who knows only basic English along with their native language. English is a boon for business houses around the globe. No one can know or understand every single language. English acts as the common thread of communication. Lack of effective communication would only hamper the growth of the business in the world market.

English as a learning tool (Scholarship)

                       

   Every engineer has the ambition to go to a country more advanced than his own winning scholarship for further studies. There are numerous foreign universities which publish their scholarship schemes with clearly stated requirements to be met by the interested candidates.

The candidates have to follow various procedures for filling out the scholarship form to the face to face or online interview for winning the scholarship. To prove their ability, they have to use a standard and proper form of the English language. In this way, the English language is used in every step in the engineering career. These days a large number of students are pursuing their dreams of higher education in the best possible colleges/ universities from around the globe.

It is important for a student to at least have a good command of the English language. As per international educational rules, potential candidates have to pass the English language to prove they would be able to understand and communicate with teachers peers and locals. To study abroad in some of the best universities in the world, students have to take up standardised tests to prove their English language proficiency. These tests play a major role in admissions to most of the universities overseas. These tests are measurements carried out to ensure that the students from non-English speaking countries are able to write, listen and converse in English fluently.

Conclusion

                            

 Communication is a specialized universal human characteristic. For Communication, they use the language of immensely varying forms and nature. English is one of the languages of wider circulation, it has emerged as a means of global communication covering a wide range of fields and professions.

In Nepal also, English has been taught as a subject from the very lowermost level to the university level of education and is used as a medium. In the field of engineering profession also, it serves as a most popular means of communication. It is an integral part of professional communication in engineering in Nepal. English has a vital role to play in the career of engineers. They need English throughout their Engineering career from the moment they start it as a student until they get retirement as an engineer.

Language and communication skills are recognized as important elements in the education of the modern engineer, including English for specific purposes. Consequently, there is a need for a valid and reliable form of assessment for oral communication for the workplace. Most of the world's engineering publication is written in English, Internet language is English etc...for example the ability to communicate effectively in English over the phone is still relevant to the majority of occupations.