Communication Needs of Post-Graduate Engineers in Saudi Arabia: An Exploration of English Language Proficiency Requirements

Abstract

English language has become the established language for academic communication, the international language for science and technology and the most reputable journals in engineering publish mainly in English language. This study investigates the English language speaking and writing functions needed by postgraduate engineers in Saudi Arabia upon joining the labor market. To this end, the researcher selected fifty experienced engineers from different engineering companies in Jeddah. The researcher prepared a few questions related to the communications needs in English language that post graduate students usually find important while dealing with other multi-nationality engineers. He also built a questionnaire for the same purpose. The findings of the study revealed that there is agreement that speaking and writing functions in English language are unavoidable and an engineer unable to communicate orally and in writing in English language is considered illiterate. This study found an urgent need for a syllabus as a remedial procedure to train fresh graduate engineers on enhancing their competence in speaking and writing in English language.