Understanding English language education in Taiwanese vocational institutions through students' voices

This case study was carried out to investigate Taiwanese vocational students' transition between junior college and the institute of technology through the study of the English language education that students received in junior college and their academic study in the institute of technology.;Face-to-face open-ended structured interviews were conducted with eight vocational students. The interview questions explored both the students' past experiences in junior college and current experiences in the institute of technology as well as their opinions of a better and smoother transition from one educational level to another.;All study participants considered English reading skills the most needed tool for academic success in the institute of technology. Unfortunately, they were the least cultivated skills in the study participants' junior college English language education. The majority of the study participants indicated feeling ill-prepared for the higher expectations for students' English proficiency in the institute of technology where imported college-level English textbooks were often used in major subject courses. As a result of their insufficient English proficiency, the study participants reported experiencing various degrees of difficulties and frustration in learning major subjects.