AAA

Development of soft skills as a part of an LSP course

Joanna Kic-Drgas

Abstract

TThe lack of knowledge of a foreign language for specific purposes and the increasing internationalization of domestic markets cause many communicative difficulties at the corporate level. Inefficient communication slows down decision-making processes and lowers the quality of services offered. In this respect, soft skills are gaining more and more importance in professional environments. Considering the need for providing a high level of foreign language even at the interview level, the idea of soft skills oriented LSP teaching can close the existing gap in employee training and enhance employees’ chances for success in an international environment. This article presents the results of a survey conducted among LSP teachers in Poland.

Keywords: soft skills, LSP, training, foreign language teaching strategies

References

  • Bhatnagar, N., Bhatnagar, M. (2012). Effective Communication and Soft Skills, Strategies for Success. London: Pearson.
  • Bracaj, M. (2014). Teaching English for Specific Purposes and Teacher Training. European Scientific Journal, Vol. 10, no. 2, 40-49.
  • Chamorro-Premuzic, T., Arteche, A., Bremner, A.J., Greven, C., Furnham, A. (2010). Soft skills in higher education: importance and improvement ratings as a function of individual differences and academic performance. Educational Psychology, 30(2), 221-241.
  • Fischer-Kania, S. (2008). Die Förderung der Schreibfertigkeit in den DaF-Lehrwerken Delfin, em neu-Hauptkurs und Auf neuen Wegen. Info DaF, No. 5, 481-517.
  • Clinque, M. (2016). Lost in translation. Soft Skills Development in European Countries. Tuning Journal. Retrieved from: http://www.tuningjournal.org/article/view/1063/1273.
  • Fastnacht, D. (2006). Miękkie kompetencje w zarzadzaniu. Zeszyty Naukowe Wyższej Szkoły Zarządzania Ochroną Pracy w Katowicach, 109-114.
  • Fastnacht, D., Kubiczek, B. (2001). Nie trać czasu! Aktywne metody pracy z grupą - część I i II. Gliwice: Nowator Szkoła Aktywna.
  • Grygiel, M. (2015). In Search of a Theory of Business English. B. Kepska-Borkowska, G. Gwóźdź, P. Mamet (Eds.). LSP Perspectives. Dąbrowa Górnicza: University of Dąbrowa Górnicza, 75-87.
  • Hutchinson, T., Waters, A. (1987). English for Specific Purposes: A learner-centered Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Kwiecińska-Zdrenka, M. (2012). Zapotrzebowanie pracodawców na tzw. kompetencje miękkie absolwentów kierunków ścisłych. Torun: Biuro Zawodowej Promocji Studentów i Absolwentów UMK.
  • Mousawa, D., Elyas, T. (2015). Presentation as Employability Soft Skills to ESP Learners in the English Language Institute at King Abdulaziz University. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, Vol. 6, 1058-1062.
  • Price, D. (2015). Getting Students Ready for the Workplace: strategies to integrate soft skills in your class. Retrieved from: http://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/2015/10/13/strategies-integrate-soft-skills-class/
  • Proudfoot Consulting, (2008). Global Productivity Report 2008. A World of unrealised Opportunities. Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/2pioU0O.
  • Ramesh, G., Ramesh M. (2010). The ACE of Soft Skills: Attitude, Communication and Etiquette for Success. New Delphi: Dorling Kindersley.
  • Shakir, R. (2009). Soft Skills at the Malaysian Institutes of Higher Learning. Asia Pacific Educational Review, 10, 309-315.
  • Schulz, B. (2008). The Importance of Soft Skills: Education beyond academic knowledge. Nawa Journal of Language and Communication, 1(2), 146-154. Retrieved from: http://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/2015/10/strategies-integrate-soft-skills-class/.
  • Spitzberg, B.H., Cupach, W.R. (2002). Interpersonal Skills. H.L. Knapp, J.A. Daly (Eds.). Handbook of Interpersonal Communication, 564-611.
  • Tevdovska, E., (2015). Integrating Soft Skills in Higher Education and the EFL Classroom: knowledge beyond language learning. SEEU Review, 11(2), 97-108.
  • Yadav, A. (2012). Making of Employable Resources: Training on Soft Skills through Simulation. M.S. Rangaraju, S. Hanuman (Eds.). Innovation in Management Challenges and Opportunities in the Next Decade, 197-202.
AUTHORS

Joanna Kic-Drgas

The Author graduated in linguistics and economics (Ph.D.) and is an Assistant Professor in Teaching Languages for Specific Purposes at the Institute of Applied Linguistics in the Faculty of Modern Languages and Literature of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. She has ten years of experience in teaching languages for specific purposes. She has authored and co-authored academic and professional papers focused on teaching methodology in languages for specific purposes.

About the article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15219/em74.1349

The article is in the printed version on pages 27-36.

pdf download PDF

pdf read the article (English)

How to cite

Kic-Drgas, J. (2018). Development of soft skills as a part of an LSP course. e-mentor, 2(74), 27-36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15219/em74.1349