Added Value of English Training at a Higher Education Institution in Colombia

Abstract

English is an international language relevant for intercultural communication. Its proficiency generates job opportunities that translate into access to a broader labor market and better salaries. Diagnosing the level of English of higher education students and determining the impact of the training they receive is essential to improve the relevance of academic programs. The general objective of this research is to determine the added value of English language training in undergraduate technological programs. To this end, a quantitative longitudinal study was carried out with a sample of 192 students. The study relates the level of English of the students, at entry and exit, according to their gender, hours of English training, schedule, and academic program within the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The findings revealed that the English training given to students provides significant value in improving their skills, with an effect size of d = 0,476 p<0,001, IC 95% (0,341-0,592). Also, that there is a relationship between training hours, working hours, gender, and programs and the results obtained from students’ English tests. Finally, it is recommended that academic programs consider the number of hours allocated to training and that future research conduct analyses in accordance with the type of skill: speaking, writing, listening, and reading.

Keywords

• language learning
• higher education
• english level
• added value