BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AT TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

overall oral proficiency of its third-year students highlighted the focus on proficiency and its link to employability.

“The assessment led to more students’ requests to hold oral presentations, while academic programmes included reading lists in English for students to read-and-respond.” The undergraduate’s pathway in learnlish at university is first determined by the ian University English Test (MUET). lower in proficiency at entry level, the the need for fundamental language dge and skills. t often students who are at this level rerich and extensive input of the language as extended opportunities for language

ita said the English language curriculum ersity comprises three categories — FounEnglish, English for Academic Purposes glish for Workplace Communication.

Foundation English caters for the beginner where general linguistic knowledge and general English proficiency skills are given focus.

“This level is for in-coming students who achieved Band 1 and Band 2 levels in the MUET test. As the entry requirement for MUET Band 3 is not mandatory at most public universities, it is thus incumbent on them to provide training for students to attain the said level before they can go on to academic English.”

MUET Band 1 and Band 2 levels are for the extremely limited user and limited user respectively while Band 3 level is for the modest user.

Those who have achieved Band 3 learn English for Academic Purposes to prepare for reading at the tertiary level.

“In both speaking and writing tasks, students are trained to synthesise and respond to the written information. Students in their second year or third semester at university learn English for Workplace Communication. Presentation skills are also given focus but not extensively.”

Depending on the university, two to three credit hours are allocated for this basic level per semester.