This study aims to understand students' perceptions of English as a compulsory subject at the University of Quintana Roo. A mixed methodology will be used, including questionnaires and interviews. The population includes all 7,088 undergraduates from 2003-2013. Students will be selected from programs with high and low failure rates for questionnaires. Ten interview participants will be chosen from students providing contact information. Interviews will explore students' motivations for studying English and views on its importance. Data collection and analysis will occur from January to May.

1. CHAPTER 2
METHOD

2. S T U D E N T S ’ P E R C E P T I O N S T O W A R D S THE
IMP LEMENTATION OF ENGL I SH AS A
COMPUL SORY SUBJECT IN UQROO
S T U D E N T S ’ C U R R I C U L U M .

3. For the purpose of this study, a qualitative design will be used basing the
results on the theory grounded approach.

4. QUESTIONS
1. What are students’ perceptions towards the implementation of English as a
compulsory subject?
2. What are some reasons or motivations students have to study English?
3. What do students use English for?
4. Do students consider English important?
5. Do they (students) think English is relevant for their academic purposes?
6. How do students think English will help you in the future as professional?

5. PARTICIPANTS
The complete population for this study includes students of different majors at the
University of Quintana Roo campus Chetumal. The complete population comprehends
7,088 undergraduate students that enrolled in or have completed courses in English
between 2003 and summer 2013 at the University of Quintana Roo campus Chetumal.
 This is a result of the exclusion of: a) students enrolled in graduate programs b)
students from other campus or academic units. For surveys, there are randomly
selected students in careers that have higher academic performance or lower
performance. Subsequently, ten of these participants will be chosen for the interviews.

6. INTRUMENTS
Semi- structured interviews
According to Kvale (2009), Gillham (2000), Drever (2003) interview is considered as the most
direct method to obtain information about the object of study.
The following are some of the main questions in the interviews guides:
 Why are you studying English?
 Are there any other reasons that motivates you to study English?
 What is your opinion about English as a compulsory subject?
 What difficulties could arise when including English as a compulsory?
 Do you consider English important in your future professional life?
 What do you think you can do to improve your English level?

7.  This study forms part of a broader research project which aims at identifying
the impact of including English as a compulsory subject across disciplines. The
methodology used a mixed design, involving two main phases: a quantitative and a
qualitative one.
 In the questionnaire, participants were invited to write their personal
information for contact in case they were interested and selected for participation in
the following phase of the study: the interviews.
 Students will be selected for the interviews from those who included their
personal information in the questionnaire.

8. F RO M E A C H A C A D E M I C D I V I S I O N T H E P RO G R A M
WI T H A H I G H E R A N D L OWE R R A T E O F FA I L U R E WA S
S E L E C T E D I N O R D E R T O PA R T I C I PA T E I N T H E
Q U E S T I O N N A I R E ,

9. DATA

10. T IME TAB L E FOR AC T IVI T I ES
Month January February March April May
Week
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Activity
Introduction
* * *
Literature review
and theoretical
framework
* * * *
Data collection
* * *
Apply
instruments/
interviews
* * * *
Data analysis
* * *
correction and
writing
conclusions
* * * * *