THE USE OF ENGLISH AMONG UNIVERSITY TECHNICAL LECTURERS

This study investigates the use of English amongst several technical lecturers in a maritime university in northern Malaysia. There are some issues involving the practice of English language in classes as a medium of communication by technical lecturers. The need to understand the perception of these technical knowledge bearers concerning the use of English in their classrooms was the driving force for this research. The data were collected from 150 technical lecturers via a five-point response scale and a random interview with five of them for triangulation purposes. The questionnaire was directed at investigating the lecturers' perception on the conduciveness of teaching and learning using English as well as their personal preferences on the usage of English language itself. Consequently, the data analysis based on the questionnaire revealed that the lecturers were in favour of practicing English in presenting their technical lessons to the students.