English for Science and Technology: A Project Based Approach

摘要

This paper deals with the importance of communicative skills and the learner-centered environment to the engineering students. Learner-initiated teaching approach satisfies students' needs. English language skills are essential for the engineering students to meet the requirements and needs of technical development in academy, employability and research. Under the circumstance, students have to attain both the subject knowledge and the scientific language to communicate. Courses that aim to meet such needs are categorized as English for science and technology (EST). But traditional EST program leads to engineering students' lack of language proficiency. According to questionnaires, interviews and class observations, the survey result finds that requirements of EST courses overlap the study skills of EAP courses, and EAP programs with a learner-centered PBL approach will be the best choice for engineering students. Besides, the result shows that EST teachers should acquire specialized competencies and get trained.