Using Practice-Based Approach in Business English Courses: A Comparative Study of China’s English-Major and Non-English-Major Undergraduates

This study reports on an investigative study about using practice-based approach in business English curricula with 74 English-majors and 58 non-English majors using two stage surveys. The study found that the English-major participants had stronger oral communication needs whereas the non-English-major participants had stronger needs to develop reading and writing skills in business English. Both the groups reported improvements in practice abilities, as well as changes in beliefs about the workplaces, and enhanced understanding of workplace affairs. Most English-major and non-English-major participants reported positive experiences through the practice-based approach. Both the English-major and non-English-major participants reported following the similar learning processes of previewing, preparing for business presentations, in-class learning, group work, practice-based tasks, review and reflection. Most participants had positive comments about all elements in the teaching materials and teaching activities, as they enriched the curriculum and developed practice abilities and communicative competence.