Intensive Experiential ESP Programmes for Continuing Education: Analysis and Effectiveness

Abstract

Acquiring and improving advanced foreign language communication skills are considerable challenges for graduates, especially when they require a specialised approach. Additionally, their specific needs and time limitations condition their possibilities of getting suitable programmes once they finish their higher education. This research tries to fill this gap by describing an intensive experiential programme design based on foreign language learning principles and checking the possible effectiveness of this structure in three areas: opportunities to practice, motivating atmosphere, and language improvement. A survey was administered to all the participants present in the last session of each intensive programme (28 in total; 381 participants). Participants had to indicate to what extent they agreed or disagreed with a series of statements regarding the programme’s effectiveness. It was made clear that participation was anonymous, voluntary, and confidential. Results suggest that the experiential programme’s intensive and focussed character is especially suitable for this target group within the context of continuing education due to the extensive access to meaningful input and interaction and the emotionally favourable learning environment. Regarding learning outcomes, students found that the intensive experience was successful from a language acquisition perspective, and they reported improvement in their perceived comprehension, lexical development, and general communication skills.