Challenges in Teaching English at Technical Higher Education: A Literature Review of Malaysian Technical Universities

Abstract

English proficiency remains a critical challenge across the technical universities in Malaysia, impacting graduate employability. This literature review synthesises ten recent studies, identifies challenges, and highlights gaps in research at Malaysia's technical universities. There are three highlighted themes: (1) high student speaking anxiety paired with low confidence, (2) misalignment between academic curricula and workplace communication demands, and (3) institutional pedagogical constraints. By highlighting current research gaps, this review offers a framework for future studies to better align technical instruction with industry expectations.