From Fluency to Flourishing: The Influence of English Language Proficiency on Research Student Success (81569)

Session Information: Foreign Languages Education & Applied Linguistics
Session Chair: Doaa Hamam

Monday, 17 June 2024 10:25
Session: Session 1
Room: Room C (Live-Stream)
Presentation Type:Live-Stream Presentation

All presentation times are UTC + 1 (Europe/Paris)

In most post-colonial African states, colonial languages occupy prominent teaching, learning, and research spaces. While South Africa has made significant strides in recognising indigenous languages through policies and restorative legislation, the level of uptake of indigenous languages has remained a thorny issue. The marginalisation of indigenous languages can have dire consequences for research students in particular, for example, cultural disconnection and biases, linguistic barriers, and identity conflict, among other things. On this basis, this study sought to explore how proficiency in English influences student success in postgraduate student research. The study employed a qualitative research approach and a case study design to achieve this aim. Data were collected from 25 participants comprising ten doctoral students, ten Master's students, and five supervisors who were purposively sampled. The study's findings reveal that proficiency in English significantly influences the success of postgraduate students at the selected university in several ways, including communication skills, engagement with supervisors and peers, and networking and collaboration with researchers from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The study recommends language support programs, intercultural competence training, mentorship and support structures, and facilitating networking opportunities. Through promoting inclusive practices, the university can enhance the academic success of postgraduate students.

Authors:
Bonginkosi Hardy Mutongoza, University of Fort Hare, South Africa
Manthekeleng Agnes Linake, University of Fort Hare, South Africa
Sive Makeleni, University of Fort Hare, South Africa


About the Presenter(s)
Dr Bonginkosi Mutongoza is a social justice and transformation researcher and lecturer at the University of Fort
Hare. His publications address critical issues like decolonisation, violence, and inequality in education.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonginkosi-hardy-mutongoza-39bba6268/

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bonginkosi-Mutongoza

Additional website of interest
https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?hl=en&user=mwXZhMQAAAAJ

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Posted by Clive Staples Lewis

Last updated: 2023-02-23 23:45:00