IELTS Research Reports

A multiple case study of the relationship between the indicators of students’ English languagecompetence on entry and students’ academic progress at an international postgraduate universitystudy the views of academic staff who were themselves multilingual, non-native English speakers(German and Egyptian). Some of the focus group members had experience of teaching in other UKHEIs and abroad and so were able to offer comparative viewpoints. Another MSc programme wasomitted (although it had been used in the pilot study) when it was realised that the Director was onmaternity leave and her role was temporarily being undertaken by a colleague.IntervieweeCodeSchool Demand MonolingualgroupsClasssizeCourse DirectorshipexperienceCH Cranfield Health unspecified None 14 4 yearsSAS1ASAS1BSAS2SAS3SAS4SAS5SOE1SOE2SOE3SOE4SOM1SOM2SOM3School of AppliedSciencesSchool of AppliedSciencesSchool of AppliedSciencesSchool of AppliedSciencesSchool of AppliedSciencesSchool ofEngineeringSchool ofEngineeringSchool ofEngineeringSchool ofEngineeringSchool ofManagementSchool ofManagementSchool ofManagementhigh 14 French 49 In first year of post6 yearshigh None 30 10 years +low None 32 4 yearslow None 10-15 6 yearsmedium None 10 3 yearshigh None 36 10 years +low 10 Polish 42 10 years +high 19 French 52 4 yearshigh None 50 10 years +high None 42 3 yearshigh None 30 1 yearhigh None 55 5 yearsTable 5. Sampling for Course Directors’ Interview studyThe selected interviewees were approached by email and/or telephone and given a briefsummary of the research, an explanation for their selection and an invitation to participatein an interview about admission and selection practices of NNES students. They wereinformed that the interview would be audio-recorded and transcribed but that his or heridentity would be protected in future presentations and publications. For the purpose ofreporting, School titles have been retained but, for reasons of confidentiality, the MScProgramme titles have been coded in order to protect the confidentiality of participants.IELTS Research Reports Volume 11149