Research and Practice of Higher Vocational English Courses Based on Core Competencies

Abstract

This study investigates and explores the teaching of higher vocational English courses for non-English majors from the perspective of core competencies. First, it outlines the current research status of core competencies and analyzes the national-level requirements for English core competencies. Subsequently, based on professional training objectives and curriculum standards, a questionnaire on the core competencies of English courses has been designed to understand students’ perceptions and experiences regarding the development of their competencies in areas such as workplace communication, cross-cultural exchange, language thinking enhancement, and autonomous learning improvement. The survey results showed that the majority of students had a positive attitude towards the effectiveness of English courses in cultivating the aforementioned core competencies. However, some students also suggest improvements, such as increasing practical opportunities and strengthening cultural exchange. Based on this, the study further explores how to integrate the cultivation of core competencies into classroom teaching, including the use of a combination of formative and summative assessments, the design of teaching content and activities related to the workplace and cross-cultural communication, and the guidance of students to actively explore and apply their knowledge, thereby enhancing their English language application abilities. This study has certain reference value for the optimization of the higher vocational English curriculum system and the reform of teaching methods.