Integrating Functional English Language Course in Engineering Curriculum: A Case of Bangladesh

The implementation of English-medium instruction by non-native speaking lecturers to non-native speaking students is one of the most challenging processes in engineering education. This article aims with a view to analyzing the need of introducing Functional English Language course to the engineering curriculum in the context of Islamic University of Technology, Bangladesh. It also elaborates the use and importance of English course in IUT. This paper proposed a complete course outline (syllabus) that can be covered in first two semesters. More emphasis could be given on Language Skill and Fundamentals of Grammar in the first semester whereas Research competence could be kept in prime concern in the second semester so as to prepare students for facing the next challenges like project paper writing, presenting paper in seminars or conferences etc. Some guidelines also provided to the curriculum planners, teachers and coordinators to run the course in an effective and efficient manner. Further research is required to identify the problems of implementing Functional English Couse in Engineering curriculum as a whole and also finding ways to come up with solution to those problems.