THE PERCEPTION OF ENGLISH-MAJOR STUDENTS AT CAN THO UNIVERSITY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENGLISH AND NON-LANGUAGE-RELATED CAREERS

Abstract

This study examines the perceptions and attitudes of English-major students at Can Tho University (CTU) toward the role of English in non-language-related careers, focusing on the influence of career counseling and practical work experience. With English increasingly vital across industries, understanding students’ views on applying their skills beyond traditional roles is critical. A quantitative survey of 150 students across all academic years utilized a questionnaire analyzed via Cronbach’s Alpha, descriptive statistics, correlation, and t-tests for gender differences. Findings show students recognize English’s applicability (M = 3.15, SD = 1.397), though confidence in its necessity varies. They exhibit positive attitudes toward non-language-related careers (M = 3.06-3.19), with career counseling (M = 3.34) and practical work experience (M = 3.31) strongly shaping attitudes (r = 0.795-0.808, p < 0.001), but less so perceptions (r = 0.079, p > 0.05). Males rated attitudes (Sig. = 0.005), counseling (Sig. = 0.003), and practical experience (Sig. = 0.001) higher than females. The study highlights English’s interdisciplinary value and the need to enhance career counseling and practical exposure, particularly for females, to prepare students for diverse, English-enabled career paths.