Abstract

This article reports an investigative study of professional language learning needs of science and language majors in the Chinese university context. Surveys with both rating and open-ended questions and participant observation were conducted with 158 participants from science and language programs who enrolled in business English courses in the Chinese university in February 2017. The results show that science and language majors had different purposes for learning professional English as they had discipline specific learning needs. Language majors had more communication with English users than science majors. However both science and language majors reported limited English language use and learning out of class. There were difficulties in English learning due to lack of motivation and interest. Based on the results, suggestions are offered for teaching improvement. This study has positive implications for college English teaching reform in both China and worldwide context.

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