Factors in the design of an English language syllabus for engineering students at the Malawi Polytechnic
This thesis sets out to identify and examine two research questions: (a) is it desirable and (b) is it practicable to have an English language syllabus based on the language and communication needs o~ engineering students? These questions are examined in relation to students' negative attitudes to language and the decline in motivation. The methods used to gather data are through the questionnaire, interviews and observation. Thus, Chapter 1 gives the background history o~ the University o~ Malawi and its role in national development. It discusses the role and status o~ English in Malawi and the University as well as outlining language teaching objectives in a technical college. Chapter 2 is a comprehensive review o~ the psycholinguistic literature on Ll and L2 acquisition and learning pointing out areas o~ controversy. It looks at the major learning theories o~ behaviourism, cognitivism and humanistic thought and discusses the part played by motivation and attitudes in L2 learning as well as the role of formal instruction in SLA. Chapter 3 is also a comprehensive review o~ current attitudes to L2 learner errors, communication and learning strategies and examines the implications o~ these on teaching. Chapter
Gondwe, L.
Linguistics
Factors in the design of an English language syllabus for engineering students at the Malawi Polytechnic. This thesis sets out to identify and examine two research questions: (a) is it desirable and (b) is it practicable to have an English language syllabus based on the language and communication needs o~ engineering students? These questions are examined in relation to students' negative attitudes to language and the decline in motivation. The methods used to gather data are through the questionnaire, interviews and observation. Thus, Chapter 1 gives the background history o~ the University o~ Malawi and its role in national development. It discusses the role and status o~ English in Malawi and the University as well as outlining language teaching objectives in a technical college. Chapter 2 is a comprehensive review o~ the psycholinguistic literature on Ll and L2 acquisition and learning pointing out areas o~ controversy. It looks at the major learning theories o~ behaviourism, cognitivism and humanistic thought and discusses the part played by motivation and attitudes in L2 learning as well as the role of formal instruction in SLA. Chapter 3 is also a comprehensive review o~ current attitudes to L2 learner errors, communication and learning strategies and examines the implications o~ these on teaching. Chapter
factors design english_language syllabus engineering student malawi set identify examine two_question desirable english_language syllabus base language communication need engineering student question examine_relation student negative attitude language decline motivation method_use gather_data questionnaire_interview observation thus give background history university malawi role national development discus role status english malawi university well outline language_teach objective technical college comprehensive_review psycholinguistic literature acquisition learn point area controversy look major learn theory cognitivism humanistic thought discus part_play motivation attitude learn well role formal instruction sla also comprehensive_review current attitude learner error communication learn strategy examine implication_teach