UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Drawing the line : a study of the communication and language needs of accounting, business and economics students in a tertiary EFL context

Symon, Miriam; (2012) Drawing the line : a study of the communication and language needs of accounting, business and economics students in a tertiary EFL context. Doctoral thesis , Institute of Education, University of London. Green open access

[thumbnail of __d6_Shared$_SUPP_Library_User Services_Circulation_Inter-Library Loans_IOE ETHOS_ETHOS digitised by ILL_SYMON, M.pdf]
Preview
Text
__d6_Shared$_SUPP_Library_User Services_Circulation_Inter-Library Loans_IOE ETHOS_ETHOS digitised by ILL_SYMON, M.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike.

Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

This study investigates the specificity of students' language and communication needs in the related disciplines of business, economics and accounting in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context in Israel. The objective was to identify the convergences and divergences of their perceived needs in order to consider how students should be prepared during their tertiary education for these needs, and in particular whether the same course can meet the needs of students in neighbouring disciplines. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with subject specialists in the three disciplines, workplace representatives, third-year students and Business English course providers, comparing the perceived specific language and communication needs of business, economics and accounting students for short-term academic purposes and long-term professional purposes. Qualitative analysis of the interviews reveals that differences between these disciplines for EFL courses extend beyond technical vocabulary and topics of readings, and include tasks and genres, with the most unexpected findings in the field of accounting. Results suggest that business, economics and accounting should not be regarded as one discipline category, and the English course should be customised for each of these disciplines with greater emphasis on long-term professional needs. This research contributes to the specificity debate in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) in favour of provision of English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) courses.

Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Title: Drawing the line : a study of the communication and language needs of accounting, business and economics students in a tertiary EFL context
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Publisher version: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos...
Language: English
Additional information: Thesis: (EdD) University of London Institute of Education, 2012.
UCL classification: UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10020671
Downloads since deposit
278Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item