Challenges in BCOM: Student and Faculty Perceptions on English as an Additional Language

Susie McGann Brigham Young University ; Norman W. Evans ; Benjamin L. McMurry Brigham Young University ; Kurt Sandholtz Brigham Young University

Abstract

Business remains a popular major for international students in the United States. Little is known, however, about how these students fare in business communication (BCOM) classes. This qualitative study evaluates the challenges and needs of English as an additional language (EAL) students in BCOM courses at a private university in the United States. We surveyed and interviewed 15 BCOM instructors and 30 students previously enrolled in BCOM. Results reveal faculty are aware of some, but not all, of the linguistic, cultural, emotional, time, and accommodation challenges EAL students face. We discuss suggestions for accommodating EAL students’ unique needs in BCOM courses.

Journal
Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
Published
2020-09-01
DOI
10.1177/2329490620944880
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
Export

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

  1. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly

References (58) · 2 in this index

  1. Al-Ali M. N., Sahawneh M. B. (2008). An investigation into the generic features of English requestive e-mail …
  2. Andrade M. S. (2006). International students in English-speaking universities: Adjustment factors. Journal of…
  3. Andrade M. S. (2010). Increasing accountability: Faculty perspectives on the English language competence of n…
  4. Andrade M. S., Evans N. W., Hartshorn K. J. (2014). Linguistic support for non-native English speakers: Highe…
  5. Andrade M. S., Evans N. W., Hartshorn K. J. (2016). Internationalizing higher education: English language pol…
Show all 58 →
  1. Andrade M. S., Hartshorn K. J., Evans N. W., Davis S. (2019). Good, better, best: English language developmen…
  2. Bacha N. N., Bahous R. (2008). Contrasting views of business students’ writing needs in an EFL environment. E…
  3. Baker S. E., Edwards R. (2012). How many qualitative interviews is enough. National Centre for Research Metho…
  4. Biesenbach-Lucas S. (2007). Students writing emails to faculty: An examination of e-politeness among native a…
  5. Blackmore J., Gribble C., Rahimi M. (2017). International education, the formation of capital and graduate em…
  6. Brigham Young University Marriot School of Business Fact Sheet. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2020 from https://…
  7. Discourse and context in language teaching: A guide for language teachers
  8. 10.3115/1654629.1654635
  9. Clément R., Baker S. C., MacIntyre P. D. (2003). Willingness to communicate in a second language: The effects…
  10. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  11. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches
  12. Crystal D. (2012). English as a global language (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.101…
  13. Davis M. (2012). International postgraduate students’ experiences of plagiarism education in the UK: Student,…
  14. DeCapua A., Wintergerst A. C. (2016). Crossing cultures in the language classroom (2nd ed.). University of Mi…
  15. Economidou-Kogetsidis M. (2011). “Please answer me as soon as possible”: Pragmatic failure in non-native spea…
  16. ESL readers and writers in higher education: Understanding challenges, providing support
  17. Engstrom C. M. (2008). Curricular learning communities and unprepared students: How faculty can provide a fou…
  18. 10.4324/9781315762654
  19. Ferris D. R. (2009). Teaching college writing to diverse student populations. University of Michigan Press. h…
  20. Hartshorn K. J., Evans N. W., Egbert J., Johnson A. (2017). Discipline-specific reading expectation and chall…
  21. Hooker J. (2012). Cultural differences in business communication. In Paulston C. B., Kiesling S. F., Rangel E…
  22. Horine L. (1990). The Johari Window: Solving sport management communication problems. Journal of Physical Edu…
  23. Hu J., Hoare A. (2017). Employer perspectives on EAL employee writing problems. Comparative and International…
  24. Huang J. (2009). Factors affecting the assessment of ESL students’ writing. International Journal of Applied …
  25. Institute of International Education. (2018). Open doors: Research and insights. http://www.iie.org/Research-…
  26. Jenkins S. (2000). Cultural and linguistic miscues: A case study of international teaching assistant and acad…
  27. Johns A. M. (1981). The ESL student in the business communications class. International Journal of Business C…
  28. Jones M., Baldi C., Phillips C., Waikar A. (2016). The hard truth about soft skills: What recruiters look for…
  29. Kang H. S., Veitch H. (2017). Mainstream teacher candidates’ perspectives on ESL writing: The effects of writ…
  30. 10.4324/9780203829387
  31. Kibler K. A., Hardigree C. (2017). Using evidence in L2 argumentative writing: A longitudinal case study acro…
  32. Principles and practice in second language acquisition
  33. ESL readers and writers in higher education: Understanding challenges, providing support
  34. Lee G. (2009). Speaking up: Six Korean students’ oral participation in class discussions in US graduate semin…
  35. Lee J. J., Hitchcock C., Casal J. E. (2018). Citation practices of L2 university students in first-year writi…
  36. Lewis S. D., McGrew L. G., Adams C. N. (2002). Assessing business communication assignments of English-as-sec…
  37. Lin S. Y., Scherz S. D. (2014). Challenges facing Asian international graduate students in the US: Pedagogica…
  38. Luft J. (1961). The Johari Window: A graphic model of awareness in interpersonal relations. Human Relations T…
  39. MacDonald L. R. (2013). Communication support for international students. Workplace Review, 2013(October), 71…
  40. Milnes T., Cheng L. (2008). Teachers’ assessment of ESL students in mainstream classes: Challenges, strategie…
  41. Myles J. (2002). Second language writing and research: The writing process and error analysis in student text…
  42. Harvard Business Review
  43. O’Rourke J. S.IV. (1993). Grading the work of non-native speakers of English. Bulletin of the Association for…
  44. 10.4324/9780203777282
  45. International Journal of Management Research and Reviews
  46. Roy M., Lu Z., Loo B. (2016). Improving the international student experience: Implications for recruitment an…
  47. Sawir E. (2005). Language difficulties of international students in Australia: The effects of prior learning …
  48. SIT Journal of Management
  49. Intercultural communication: A discourse approach
  50. 10.1177/1080569912471187
  51. Sherwin S., Stevenson L. (2011). Assessing the learning needs of students. British Journal of School Nursing,…
  52. Thampy H. (2013). How to . Identify learning needs. Education for Primary Care, 24(2), 138-140. https://doi.o…
  53. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly