An analysis of curriculum renewal in ESP context

Abstract

This article is devoted to the research of the foreign language curriculum set by the department of language training. Specifically, it proposes some changes to the current curriculum of the module “English for lawyers”. In fact, the data were collected from second-year learners and the curriculum of this module. The current curriculum for this module partially meets the standards of the university. The research entails several steps prior to the drawn conclusion. The first step was carried out through needs analysis in order to gather sufficient data about the learners and their preferences. Secondly, the existing curriculum was researched and its advantages and disadvantages were found out. Some drawbacks contain inappropriate teaching materials, lack of legal writing and not well-explained assessment criteria. The gathered outcomes helped to provide some suggestions which include changes regarding the syllabus, textbooks, and methods of the teachers. All these suggestions are based on the drawbacks and advantages of the curriculum. The suggested curriculum includes the integration of all skills; content, skill and task-based syllabus; reading novels related to their profession and succinct explanation of the tasks as well as the assessment criteria. All of these suggestions would be effective for the further development of future lawyers.