A STUDY ON ON-JOB COMMUNICATIVE REQUIREMENTS OF THE EMPLOYEES

OF PRIVATE SECTORS WITH REFERENCE TO KANCHIPURAM DISTRICT

Instructions
This questionnaire was developed as part of my doctoral dissertation. It intends to
identify the English language needs of the employees of private sectors in Kanchipuram District,
Tamilnadu. Your contribution will help in enhancing language programs designed to teach
English for Engineering Purposes to students in the engineering field. This will help in bridging
the gap between the needs of engineering professionals at their workplace and the language
courses offered to the engineering students enrolled at English Language programs at the
college/university level. You have been selected as the best source of information to contribute to
this study by responding to the attached questionnaire.
Please answer all the questions as accurately as you can. Please note that you do not have
to write your name. Please note that by completing this questionnaire you agree that the
researcher is allowed and permitted to use the information that you provide for research and
publication purposes only. Your answers will be confidentially treated as well.
The researcher will answer any further questions about the research, now or during the
course of the project, and can be reached by mobile at: 9894217135 or email at:
drpush.eng@gmail.com. I am grateful for your time and effort in completing the questionnaire.
This questionnaire is divided into two parts.
Part I : Personal Information
Part II : On-Job Communicative requirements

Part I: Personal Information

Please put Tick (

) for your answer in the given box ().

1. Gender
Male
Female
2. Age
Not over 25 years 26-35 years
36-45 years
3. Name of the company _________________________________
4. Designation_________________________________________
5. Educational Qualification______________________________
6. Parents Education
Post Graduate
Graduate School
Illiterate
7. Medium of Instruction at school
English
Tamil

Over 45 years

Part II: On-Job Communicative requirements

The following 50 questions intend to identify the English language needs of the employees.
Please put Tick (

) for your answer in the given box ().

1. I have to read notices from supervisors about changes to procedures.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

2. I have to read memos and bulletins or notices issued by the company about health and
safety.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

3. I have to read Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on new products.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

4. I have to read identification labels on boxes of screws, panels and final products.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

5. I have to check off items on the work order.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

6. I have to read invoices and delivery sheets from suppliers to verify that numbers received
match the numbers billed.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

7. I have to read tables showing product specifications.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

8. I have to complete production data sheets showing the quantity and quality of products
coming off the line. (every half hour)
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often
2

d) Not at all

9. I have to read and interpret graphs when evaluating and testing components.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

10. I have to read assembly drawings in manuals in order to carry out repairs to equipment.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

11. I have to read schematic diagrams of equipment in engineering reports.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

12. I have to write comments on production forms to describe a problem.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

13. I have to read specifications to install components.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

14. I have to write letters to clients about the results of equipment evaluations.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

15. I have to write non-conformity reports to describe defects and rejections.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

16. I have to write reports to record the status of major activities.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

17. I have to interact with customers to sell products, explain warranties or point out where
products are stored in the yard.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

18. I have to instruct other workers on how to use production equipment.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

19. I have to take directions from supervisors and discuss with them problems encountered.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

20. I have to brief co-workers on survey and test results.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

21. I have to participate in early morning meetings with managers and co-workers to discuss
the daily work plan.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

22. I have to read agendas and notes posted on bulletin boards to obtain information on
meetings held in the plant related to safety or teamwork. (daily)
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

23. I have to read service bulletins issued by manufacturing companies.

3

 a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

24. I have to read trade magazines to stay abreast of industry trends and new techniques.
(monthly)
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

25. I have to refer to technical manuals to learn about new assemblies and to find information
about mechanical products. (frequently)
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

26. I have to use checklists as prompts for sequencing assembly tasks and to record that each
step was completed.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

27. I have to read parts lists to ensure that the parts necessary for each assembly are on hand.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

28. I have to read Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) labels on
products, such as solvents and chemicals, to follow safety procedures.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

29. I have to read work orders to obtain information about the customers set up preferences.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

30. I have to interpret three dimensional pictures which use exploded drawings to show how
parts are assembled.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

31. I have to take measurements from blueprints.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

32. I have to write explanatory comments about assembly instructions to learn how to
assemble new mechanical products.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

33. I have to write memos to buyers at head office to inform them of parts substitutions that
were made so that they may in turn communicate this information to dealers.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

34. I have to write detailed comments of up to a page in length on work order forms to
explain the need for the work performed and to justify related costs to customers.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

35. I have to communicate with seasonal employees and helpers to assign tasks, provide onthe-job training and oversee their work.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

36. I have to read company bulletins describing grading changes to apply to inspection
procedures. (monthly)
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

37. I have to read government rules and regulations regarding policies.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

38. I have to read plant manuals to review machine operation information. (rarely)
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

39. I have to read invoices and shipping forms.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

40. I have to complete invoices with customer specifications.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

41. I have to fill in sheets to record the grades, weights and values.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

42. I have to write notes to keep track of work completed or as reminders of work to
complete. (daily)
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

43. I have to fill in repair notices when machines are not working properly. (weekly)
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

44. I have to complete government records and permits.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

45. I have to complete a variety of forms, such as time tickets, work orders, inspection sheets
and defect forms. (daily)
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

46. I have to complete reports of shipments, including details of transportation.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

47. I have to write letters to customers concerning orders. (weekly)

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

48. I have to communicate with assistants to assign tasks such as tagging and sorting
products.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

49. I have to interact with suppliers to place orders.

a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

50. I have to communicate with customers to discuss their needs and complaints and to
suggest options for their orders.
a) Quiet often

b) Often

c) Less often

d) Not at all

Thank you for your kind cooperation in completing this questionnaire.