Learners’ Attitudes and Practices towards Learning Communication Skills: The Cases of Mbeya University of Science and Technology and Arusha Technical College

Abstract

This study investigated learners' attitudes towards learning 
communication skills as a fundamental module among ordinary 
diploma students of science programmes. The study involved a 
sample of 112 students. A cross-sectional research design was 
employed. Data were collected through questionnaires and 
interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 20, 
while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings 
revealed that diploma students have positive attitudes towards 
learning communication skills. By comparison, female students were 
revealed to be more positive than male students. Moreover, first- and 
third-year students showed more positive attitudes than second-year 
students. It is recommended that students be emphasised about the 
importance of communication skills as future professional engineers 
and for the competitive labour market. To make training sessions 
more interesting and facilitate the smooth acquisition of the 
necessary skills, efforts must be made to strengthen communication 
skills training at colleges and universities.