Methodology

The main objective of this quasi-experimental study was to describe the impact on learning 3D Design of using English as a Foreign Language (EFL) as a means of instruction for eight weeks with sixth semester students of the Graphic Design career in a public university in Guayaquil in 2015-2016. The study describes content and English learning as well as the participants’ perceptions of the experience. A control group was used to compare content learning for the innovation group and the control group at the end of the eight weeks. The only variables controlled were the program and the teacher. Content learning is measured by final grades for the semester of the software usage project for each group.

The innovation consisted of a quasi-experimental study with analysis of qualitative and quantitative data in order to know the effect of using direct instruction in English and peer assessment of an authentic professional task to help students learn professional English. The weekly Design Report in English was not included as part of the final course grade. The research design consisted of a pretest and posttest in Weeks 1 and 8 for the innovation group to determine learning of professional content and vocabulary in English and both groups had to complete a software usage project in Spanish. Scores were compared between the two groups to make sure the innovation did not affect content learning. Six students were interviewed at the end of the innovation to learn students’ perspectives of receiving content classes in English.