The Application Report Of VCTS (Virtual Company Training System) To Business English Teaching In Higher Vocational Colleges

After China's entry into the WTO, the business communication between China and the world has become more and more frequent, so there is a great demand for qualified compound talents with proficient English and business knowledge as well as rich BE (Business English) practical skills. BE major has been established in many higher vocational colleges (HVCs), and BE teaching, therefore, has received more and more concern. But the status quo of BE teaching in HVCs is far from satisfactory mainly due to the reason that the traditional teaching methods can not guarantee the effect of BE teaching.In recent years, some colleges have started to adopt Virtual Company Training System (VCTS) teaching model which provides simulated commercial environment by means of some hardware and software. In this "virtual company", students can "experience" business practice from which their English level is enhanced, BE knowledge increased and BE practical ability improved. Apparently, this model has more advantages over the traditional teaching method, but it is applied to BE teaching in very few HVCs up to now.Recently, Hunan Vocational College of Foreign Languages has created EEBVRM(EGP+ESP+PSSTS/VCTS+RCP+Mon)model in which VCTS is applied to BE teaching. This study selects 0801 (50students) and 0802 (52students) of BE major in Hunan Vocational College of Foreign Languages as subjects and conducts a research of one semester, aiming to explore the effectiveness of VCTS on BE teaching and the students'attitudes towards VCTS.Through data analysis and discussion of pretest and posttest, questionnaires and interviews, the results of the research indicate that even though there are no significant differences in the students'English comprehensive level, the students'BE knowledge is enhanced more in the experimental class than the controlled class and the BE practical ability in the experimental class is much higher than that of the controlled class. Furthermore, VCTS is very popular among the students and their interests in BE study are increased and self confidence enhanced.This study has approved the effectiveness of VCTS on BE teaching in HVCs and puts forward some beneficial thinking to the reformation of BE teaching in HVCs:1) enhancement in Basic English teaching; 2) construction of the teaching staff; 3) developing of school-based teaching materials; 4) adjustment and construction of VCTS; 5) adoption of the model combining virtuality and reality.