English and Communication Skills for the Global Engineer

Central Idea:

Engineering graduates require an ever-increasing range of skills to maintain relevance with theglobal environment of the new millennium. Communication skills are an vital component of this,recognized by academia and industry alike. English language skills are also important given itswidespread status across the globe as a lingua franca. Indeed, multilingual skills are considered a salientelement in the make-up of the new global engineer. English for specific purposes focuses the learner’sattention on the particular terminology and communication skills required in the internationalprofessional field. Communication skills development is discussed in the paper, with examples givenof different methods of teaching and assessment. The impacts on communication skills developmentinclude various elements, including gender equality. A lack of sufficient communication skills servesonly to undermine the image of the engineer, but this can be tackled by engaging features ofemotional intelligence (EQ) in the education of engineers. EQ offers various components that canimprove communication skills and emphasize a more experiential approach to learning.

Lingua francaLingua franca

A A lingua francalingua franca is any language widely used beyond the is any language widely used beyond the population of its native speakers. The population of its native speakers. The de factode facto status of status of lingua lingua francafranca is usually "awarded" by the masses to the language of the is usually "awarded" by the masses to the language of the most influential most influential nation(snation(s) of the time. Any given language normally ) of the time. Any given language normally becomes a becomes a lingua francalingua franca primarily by being used for international primarily by being used for international commerce, but can be accepted in other cultural exchanges, commerce, but can be accepted in other cultural exchanges, especially especially diplomacydiplomacy. Occasionally the term "lingua franca" is . Occasionally the term "lingua franca" is applied to a fully established formal language; thus formerly itapplied to a fully established formal language; thus formerly it was was said that French was the lingua franca of diplomacy.said that French was the lingua franca of diplomacy.The term "lingua franca" was originally used by Arabs to name alThe term "lingua franca" was originally used by Arabs to name all l Romance languages, and especially Italian (Arabs used to name Romance languages, and especially Italian (Arabs used to name Franks all peoples in Western Europe). Then, it meant a languageFranks all peoples in Western Europe). Then, it meant a languagewith a Romance lexicon (most of words derived from Italian and with a Romance lexicon (most of words derived from Italian and Spanish) and a very simple grammar, that till the end of XIX Spanish) and a very simple grammar, that till the end of XIX century was used by mariners in the Mediterranean Sea, century was used by mariners in the Mediterranean Sea, particularly in Middle East and Northern Africa.particularly in Middle East and Northern Africa.

Different Aspects of a Gloabal Different Aspects of a Gloabal EngineerEngineer

What is “THE GLOBAL ENGINEER”Globalization directly influences industry’s needs; a global engineer must be able to easily

cross national and cultural boundaries. This in turn directly affects engineering education. A common code for communication is required. Those education institutions, whichmeet the language requirements for the new global engineer, will be ready to face the new

millennium.H.P. Jensen states that employers want:…a number of new competencies, with anemphasis on an increased ability tocommunicate…and good foreign languageskills [2].

This is reinforced in N. Grünwald’s study of competencies required by the engineer of tomorrow, which includes hard skills like good foreign language skills. He goes further to claim that cross-disciplinary language skills are not sufficiently taught [3]. This indicates a lack of a direct fit between graduate skillsand those required by industry.

Engineers can relate the same theories of mathematics, of mechanics and technology, but the modern engineer must also be able to communicate effectively n a shared tongue. This is especially importantgiven that engineering projects are now planned and implemented across national and

cultural borders.

ENGLISH AND ENGINEERING

Comparises of the folowing sections:Comparises of the folowing sections:The Globalization of EnglishEnglish Language InstructionEnglish for Specific Purposes

THE INTERNET AND MULTILINGUALISM

The Internet has become increasingly a crucible for world languages. This has direct implications on engineering education, as the Internet is central to various elements of engineering education. It also increases the global access to engineering education information, as under-served languages come online.

Statistics indicate that the prime language of Internet sites is becoming increasingly regionalized, with the local dominant language being the first choice in language options (see Figure 1). English is still strong, but it is becoming the second choice in an increasingly

multilingual international community. The Internet, as an instrument of globalization, contributes to this process of recognizing diversity.

This has clear implications for engineering education. Language will no longer be the prime determinant for access to engineering education based on traditional European structures because large, previously under-represented communities will gain greater representation. Furthermore, this expanded access to the Internet builds a new dimension in the education process in this era of globalization: by combining language education with technology education. This also generates a greater element of regionalization as these large under-represented groups in Asia and Africa demand the skills required to operate competitively in the world. However, language stillremains a strong barrier.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

A recent report from Melbourne, Australia, stated that employers now seek graduates with skills beyond the standard paper degree; this includes an excellent level of skills in:• Communication• Decision-making• Teamwork

However, the report also found that most graduates felt that they had gained analytical and problem solving skills, subject-specific knowledge, research and improved decision-making abilities through theirdegrees. Yet despite this, much fewer felt that their graduate degree provided:

• Oral communication skills.• Awareness of the social implications of theirdiscipline’s developments.• Management skills.• Understanding of other points of view and othercultures.• Confidence and competence to work in internationalenvironments [11].

COMMUNICATION SKILLSDEVELOPMENT

While the study of famous speeches, learning oral communication theories and techniques from textbooks will still be beneficial, it should be noted that the literature has indicated that experiential methods have generally yielded better results than purely didactic means.

How to improve one‘s How to improve one‘s Communication skillsCommunication skills

PresentationsPeer ReviewRole-playVideoTechnologyInternational Elements

ISSUES IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION

Three sources of weakness that can significantly impact on an engineer’s communication skills education were identified as:• Students’ attitudes to communication.• Insufficient course content.• Deficient or inappropriate teaching methods [17].

Emotional IntelligenceEmotional IntelligenceEmotional IntelligenceEmotional Intelligence, also called , also called EIEI and often measured as an and often measured as an Emotional Intelligence Emotional Intelligence QuotientQuotient or or EQEQ, describes an ability, capacity, or , describes an ability, capacity, or skillskill to perceive, assess, and manage the to perceive, assess, and manage the emotionsemotions of one's self, of others, and of groups. However, being a relatof one's self, of others, and of groups. However, being a relatively new area, the ively new area, the definition of emotional intelligence is still in a state of fluxdefinition of emotional intelligence is still in a state of flux. Some, such as . Some, such as John D. MayerJohn D. Mayer(2005a)(2005a) prefer to distinguish prefer to distinguish emotional knowledgeemotional knowledge from emotional intelligence, as discussed from emotional intelligence, as discussed below.below.In 1920, In 1920, E. L. ThorndikeE. L. Thorndike, at Columbia University, , at Columbia University, (Thorndike 1920)(Thorndike 1920), used the term "social , used the term "social intelligence" to describe the skill of getting along with other intelligence" to describe the skill of getting along with other people. In 1975, people. In 1975, Howard GardnerHoward Gardner's 's The Shattered Mind,The Shattered Mind, (Gardner 1975)(Gardner 1975) began the formulation of the idea for "Multiple began the formulation of the idea for "Multiple Intelligences" (he identifies eight intelligences, later 2 more Intelligences" (he identifies eight intelligences, later 2 more are added), including both are added), including both interpersonal intelligence and intrapersonal intelligence. Many interpersonal intelligence and intrapersonal intelligence. Many psychologists, such as Gardner, psychologists, such as Gardner, believe that traditional measures of intelligence, such as the Ibelieve that traditional measures of intelligence, such as the IQ test, fail to fully explain Q test, fail to fully explain cognitive ability. cognitive ability. (Smith 2002)(Smith 2002)The term "emotional intelligence" appears to have originated witThe term "emotional intelligence" appears to have originated with Wayne Payne h Wayne Payne (1985)(1985), but , but was popularized by was popularized by Daniel Daniel GolemanGoleman (1995)(1995). The leading research on the concept originated . The leading research on the concept originated with with Peter Peter SaloveySalovey and John "Jack" Mayer starting in the late 1980s. In 1990, theiand John "Jack" Mayer starting in the late 1980s. In 1990, their seminal r seminal paper paper (1990)(1990) defined the concept as an intelligence. Mayer and defined the concept as an intelligence. Mayer and SaloveySalovey continue to research continue to research the concept. The term "emotional quotient" seems to have originathe concept. The term "emotional quotient" seems to have originated in an article by Keith ted in an article by Keith Beasley Beasley (1987)(1987). There are numerous other assessments of emotional intelligence. There are numerous other assessments of emotional intelligence each each advocating different models and measures.advocating different models and measures.

Cont. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

The theory of emotional intelligence (EQ) states that IQ is actually less important for success in life and work than EQ – a set of skills that are not directly related to academic ability [20].Communication may be inhibited depending on the level of self-actualization of the communicator. This ties in with the EQ elements of self-awareness and self-regulation. Given that communication is ranked as one of the prime characteristics required by employers in the engineering industry, EQ has an important role to play in strengthening communication skills when certain EQ elements are enhanced in the student. It should be noted that EQ is not the opposite of IQ.In industry, IQ gets you hired, but EQ gets youpromoted [21]. For example, a manager at AT&TBell Labs was asked to rank his top performing engineers.High IQ was not the deciding factor, butinstead how the person performed regarding answeringe-mails, how good they were at collaborating and networkingwith colleagues (rather than lone wolf), andtheir popularity with others (rather than sociallyawkward) in order to achieve the cooperation requiredto attain the goals [21].

CONCLUSIONS

Language and communication skills are recognized asimportant elements in the education of the modernengineer, including English for specific purposes. Yet,there seems to be limited implementation of Englishcourses globally, despite its current lingua francastatus. Those institutions that have already implementedmultilingual and communication elements willbe at the forefront of providing the demands of industryand society.The incorporation of several components of thefundamentals of emotional intelligence in education willfacilitate advanced communication skills. However,given the traditionalist nature of many engineeringcurricula, this may take some time before change isevidenced.

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