Effectiveness of Bilingual Education Program at University: Case Study of Business English Major in South-central University for Nationalities Wuhan

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the effectiveness of a bilingual education program in business English major in Chinese education. Participants were 100 undergraduate students enrolled in their third year education program at a university in South-central University for Nationalities Wuhan-China. The research evidence indicates that, the use of English as a medium of instruction in major courses is effective.

Methodology:  A semi-structured interviews with 100 undergraduate students majoring in Business English

Was administered. The analysis of the interviews used both mixed-methodological approach so as to better understand the participants views and how efficient is bilingual education programs to them.

Finding: The analysis identified that the participants hold very great expectation towards the use of the English in their class especially their current programs. The participants, furthermore, expressed their complete choice to join the college especially the only department that conduct in English. However,in this article also recognized new factors that led the participants to assume hopefulness, maintaining a global friendship, obtaining a leadership position in the future, and connect with international scholars. But,all analysis was done by incorporating both quantitative and qualitative results which also suggested that the bilingual education model successfully enhanced students’ level of English proficiency and the mastery of subject knowledge teaching quality which was also another aspect to be considered important aspect in this research associated with the bilingual education program for Business English Major. Strengths and weaknesses of the business English major in bilingual education program model and its implications for educational practices in South-central University for Nationalities Wuhan-China education were explored.

Research Implication: However, a big sum of participants expressed their positive attitudes towards the use of the English as a medium of instruction in their courses and the strategy in their programs have highlighted their needs  not only for inviting international lecturers but also for accomplishing their hopes and ambitions. They, furthermore, the mean gain scores of participants as the more they interact and get familiar with the medium of instruction the more it implies that using bilingualism in teaching does contribute good effect in student’s engagement and academic performance.

Practical implication:The findings of the study will be of additional knowledge to the academic institutions in China especially in Wuhan cities understand their students and strategies that could help to increase more majors in English for Chinese students and also will give a wide choices of major to study currently and in the future. The findings also hoped to benefit the policy makers to re-consider needs and preferences of their local students. The Chinese students are interested in join programs that are taught in English and the policy makers need to put up with these students' needs by realizing their views in reality.

Originality: The study contributes to the scanty literature on bilingual education in Chinese university especially South-central University for Nationalities in Wuhan and other institutions. It may also be used as a source of reference for other researchers

Keywords: Teaching quality, academic performance and bilingual education.

DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/68-04