Research on the Practice Programmes for English Majors in Application- oriented Talent Training: Evidence from Tangshan University

Abstract

Cultivating university students’ practical skills is essential for application-oriented talents. Tangshan University sets up a relatively systematic practice programs, such as in-class practice program and centralized internship and practical training, to achieve the target. This study adopted the research method of questionnaire and surveyed 133 undergraduate students majoring in English language at Tangshan University in order to investigate the current situation of practice program and explores the paths to improve it. The participants who were willing to participate in the survey were from three cohorts: the grade of 2022 (38 students), the grade of 2023 (41 students), and the grade of 2024 (54 students). The questionnaire was reviewed by two colleagues in the field for content validity before administration. A pilot test was conducted with 10 students to check the clarity and comprehensibility of the items. An internal consistency reliability test was conducted on a scale containing ten core items. A total of 133 valid samples were included in the test, and the calculated Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.701, indicating that the scale used in this study has good overall internal consistency reliability, which can support further data analysis and research inferences. The findings reveal that the present practical form is too monotonous and the difference between in-class practice programs and centralized internship and practical training is indistinct. The practical activities that are closely connected to the real occupational environment are insufficient. The practical evaluation is lack of fairness and transparency, and there is a gap between teachers’ role and students’ expectations in the process of practical training. Based on the current situation, this study explored the paths for improving the practice programs including horizontally-integrated in-class practice programs, vertically-articulated centralized internship and practical training and multi-dimensional evaluation system for practice programs. The research design constraints, such as time, sample size, and data collection methods, may limit the depth and validity of the analysis. In addition, the recommendations presented are not the established solutions, need further validation under the approval of relevant authorities.