3.4.3. Measures to promote learning English
Responding to the question of «if you were in charge of
education in Tunisia, what would you do to promote English language teaching at
university?» 31% of the students proposed that «increasing the
coefficient of English» is the best solution in comparison to 23% who
chose the alternative of «obliging teachers to use tape recorders and
multimedia in teaching English». The rest of the students (21%) chose
«establishing English clubs in every university» or «increase
the time allocated for studying English» (18%), and only 7% claimed that
they prefer «teaching English literature and civilisation» as an
efficient measure to promote the learning of English among students in the
sciences.
Figure 14: Students' preferred solutions to promote
learning English at science institutions
Oblige teachers to use tape recorders and multimedia in
teaching English
Increase the coefficient of English
Establish English clubs in every university Increase the time
allocated
Teach English literature and civilization
Number of students and percentage
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
23
31
21
18
7
3.5. The use of English among students
Three alternatives were given to students as a possible
response to the question «have you ever sent e-mails written only in
English?» 53% of the students claimed that they have «never»
sent e-mails written in English in comparison to 47% who claimed
that they sent e-mails written in English either «few
times» (34%) or «many times» (13%).
Figure 15: English in science students' exchange of
e-mails
40
60
50
30
20
10
0
Never
53
Few times
34
Many times
13
Number of Students and percentage
The analysis of the responses of the students concerning the
question «have you ever found yourself obliged to use English» shows
that only 11% of them answered by «never» compared to 89% who have
been obliged in times to use English either «when chatting» (14%),
«consulting English documents» (30%), or «with foreigners»
(45%).
Figure 16: Major situations where students were obliged
to use English
45%
11%
14%
30%
Never
When chatting
When consulting English documents
With foreigners
Concerning the language used in students' mobile phone, Figure
17 below indicates that 81% of them use French in comparison to 15% who use
English and 0% who use Arabic. Surprisingly, the rest of the students (4%) use
other languages.
Figure 17: The languages of science students' mobile
phones
100
40
20
60
80
0 French English Arabic Other
81
15
0 4
Number of Students and percentage
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