Saudi Students’ Perception of ESP Courses in the Preparatory Year

Abstract

Globalisation has made English a dominant language both in education and in manpower recruitment worldwide. Due to globalisation and Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia which enhanced the involvement of Saudi youth in the work force, the study of English language, especially English for Specific Purposes (ESP), has become increasingly important in the Saudi context. Therefore, this research study aims to investigate the importance of learning ESP by highlighting students’ perceptions of the ESP courses delivered in the preparatory year in a Saudi university. To achieve this, a quantitative method was employed to collect data. The study briefly explores the impact of students’ perceptions of the subject matter on their performance. It focusses on students’ perception of the impact of learning the different components of ESP, i.e., reading, writing, listening and speaking, on their current studies and future career. A study sample of 70 participants responded to the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) questionnaire. The results revealed that the students indicated that ESP was important for, not only their current studies, but also for their future careers. Another significant outcome of the research was that the students believed that competence in ESP can help them to understand specialised textbooks.