How eeffective is workplace English for occupational purposes (EOP) training? Case studies of corporate programs in the Chinese context

Workplace English for occupational purposes (EOP) training programs represent corporate investment in language skills enhancement, which is perceived by employers as essential for business globalization. However, there is a lack of empirical research on the evaluation of workplace EOP training programs. This study focuses on the effectiveness of the EOP programs offered in Chinese workplaces and the factors that contribute to or hinder the effectiveness of EOP training programs in the Chinese workplace. Based on a synthesis of existing theories and evaluation models, a framework for evaluating EOP programs in the workplace is developed. Using case studies of two programs, the study applies the evaluation framework to investigate their effectiveness. The self-assessment results demonstrate that training participants of the two programs reached an intermediate level of language competence. The study findings also indicate that while EOP training programs are effective in preparing employees for business communication in the short term (i.e. as the course ends), long-term progress may decline which could be influenced by such factors as language use environment and learners' commitment to the learning process. Nevertheless, this might not preclude individual success cases.