ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: PERCEPTIONS OF ENGLISH EDUCATION STUDENTS
Abstract
Despite its growing importance, students’ perceptions and experiences of English for Business remain diverse and often underexplored, especially among English Education majors. This study aims to examine the perceptions of English Education students toward the English for Business course and to identify the various challenges they encounter throughout the learning process. Employing an explanatory sequential mixed-method design, data were collected through a survey of 35 seventh-semester students at a private university in Malang and in-depth interviews with 4 selected participants. The findings reveal that students hold positive perceptions of the course, recognizing its relevance and usefulness in preparing for the global workforce, particularly in professional communication, teamwork, and intercultural competence. Their motivation is high, driven by personal interest and career goals. However, challenges remain, especially in writing business documents and speaking professionally, largely due to limited vocabulary, low confidence, and difficulty distinguishing between formal and informal language.
Keywords: English education; English Education Student; English for business; Challenges; Perceptions
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