Abstract
This study reports on the development of support programs for STEM university students presenting research in English at international conferences. According to an in-depth needs assessment involving stakeholders in the field of STEM in Japan, it was found that undergraduate students had opportunities to present their research in English (Kawano & Fukuchi, 2022). It is crucial to navigate students, who are novice, nonnative English-speaking scholars, in following certain protocols within their genres during preparations (Noguchi, Terui, & Fujita, 2014). The authors, who include both discipline and English faculty members, collaborated to develop and implement workshops for Japanese undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of STEM in 2022-2023. Eight participants in total prepared slides and scripts, practiced their presentations, and received feedback on vocabulary, expressions, and delivery. Simulations of interactions with session chairs and questioners were also conducted. Post-presentation interviews were recorded and analyzed via text-mining and open-coding, which revealed that the workshops were effective in improving word usage, slide clarity, and delivery skills. However, the participants recalled that they faced challenges during Q and A sessions and were affected by technical difficulties caused by the online conference system. The collaboration of discipline and English faculty proved effective in supporting students' international conference presentations. It will be necessary to focus more on simulating conference communication and on spontaneous responses in Q and A sessions. From this study, the audience will understand the design, implementation, and evaluation of collaborative workshops in the context of an ESP setting in Japan.
Author Information
Madoka Kawano, Meiji University, Japan
James Elwood, Meiji University, Japan
Kentaro Fukuchi, Meiji University, Japan
Paper Information
Conference: IICE2024
Stream: Higher education
This paper is part of the IICE2024 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Kawano M., Elwood J., & Fukuchi K. (2024) Japanese STEM Students in English Conference Presentations: A Collaborative Approach ISSN: 2189-1036 – The IAFOR International Conference on Education – Hawaii 2024 Official Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-1036.2024.24
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-1036.2024.24
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