English For Specific Purposes Context Research Articles

Leveraging Canva to create a biographical recount text for vocational secondary students in ESP instruction

Integrating technology into English for Specific Purposes (ESP) instruction is essential for adapting to rapid technological advancements, and Canva offers significant potential in this area. However, research on Canva has mainly focused on general English instruction, with limited examination of its application in ESP. This study explores how vocational secondary school teachers used Canva to teach biographical recount texts in an ESP context, along with the rationale behind this choice. A qualitative study was conducted at SMKN 13 Malang, West Java, within the Merchant Nautical Ship Department. Data were collected through classroom observation and interviews with an experienced English teacher. Observations revealed the structured steps of using Canva to teach biographical recount texts, enabling more active students’ participation in class. Canva was chosen for its practical benefits, including students’ familiarity with the platform, ready-to-use templates, and the potential to boost students’ creativity, all of which support its effective use in vocational education.

Using Mother Tongue in Teaching and Learning Legal English Terminology in a Vietnamese University: Teachers and Learners’ Voices

Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) approach has led to the minimization of the use of the mother tongue (L1) in second (L2/SL)/ foreign (FL) language/ English for Specific Purposes (ESP) settings. Nevertheless, in recent years, there has been an increasingly tendency to use L1 in language teaching and learning, especially in the ESP contexts, for its undeniable efficacy, one of which is terminological standardization (Glušac, 2023, p.100). Accordingly, this paper focuses on investigating the teachers and learners’ perceptions together with their L1 utilization in teaching and learning legal English (LE) terminology in English-for-law classes at a tertiary law education institution. To achieve the aims, a mixed-method approach by dint of a survey questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with the participation of 164 students and five LE instructors. Classroom observations were also conducted to justify the teachers’ practice of using L1. The findings show that there was congruence between learners and teachers’ supportive views on the benefits of L1 in teaching and learning LE terms. LE majors and law majors share similar attitudes in the choice of either L1 or L2, yet statistically significant differences were witnessed as regards their English language proficiency levels in acquiring LE terms. Such findings are hoped to be worthy to both LE instructors and learners in teaching and learning LE terminology process.

THE EFFECT OF PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT APPROACH ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS IN ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES CONTEXT

Reading comprehension is a crucial component of academic development for students engaged in English for Specific Purposes (ESP). This study investigates the efficacy of alternative assessment methods, specifically performance assessment, in enhancing reading comprehension skills within the ESP context. Given that reading comprehension is a fundamental input skill, deficiencies in this area can significantly impede academic progress. The research employed a pre-test and post-test experimental design with a control group to evaluate the impact of performance assessment on reading comprehension. Participants, after a proficiency test, were randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group, each of comparable proficiency levels. The experimental group received continuous assessment and immediate, relevant feedback during the training, while the control group did not receive such assessment or feedback. The experimental group's assessment was facilitated through a detailed assessment grid. Data were collected through pre-tests and post-tests administered to both groups and analyzed using SPSS (2018). Statistical analyses, including paired samples t-tests and independent samples t-tests, were conducted to measure intra-group progress and inter-group differences. Findings indicate that both groups showed significant improvement in reading comprehension; however, the experimental group exhibited superior performance across all comprehension categories compared to the control group. The results underscore the effectiveness of performance assessment in fostering both higher-order and lower-order reading comprehension skills, suggesting a pronounced advantage over traditional assessment methods. The study affirms the value of performance assessment in ESP contexts while also acknowledging the continued relevance of traditional assessment techniques.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0871/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Exploring Students’ Perspective on Project Based Learning Approach

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on innovative pedagogical approaches that aim to enhance language learning experiences, particularly within the realm of English for Specific Purposes (ESP). One such approach that has gained traction is project-based learning (PjBL), which offers a dynamic framework for integrating language acquisition with disciplinary content and real-world problem-solving. This study investigates students’ perceptions of project-based learning (PjBL) within the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) class. With a focus on understanding how learners engage with and perceive PjBL methodologies in ESP contexts, this research employs a qualitative approach, utilizing interviews and observation to gather insights from a participant of 15 students. Findings reveal multifaceted perspectives on the efficacy, challenges, and benefits of PjBL in ESP education. Students express positive perceptionss toward PjBL, noting its effectiveness in enhancing language proficiency, fostering critical thinking skills, and promoting real-world application of language learning. However, issues such as time constraints and varying levels of group dynamics also emerge. These findings highlight the importance of tailored pedagogical strategies that align with students' needs and preferences, suggesting avenues for enhancing PjBL implementation in ESP classrooms. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on innovative pedagogical approaches in language education, providing valuable insights for educators, curriculum developers, and policymakers aiming to optimize learning experiences in ESP contexts.

Investigating the Writing Skills Alternative Assessment Strategies used in Moroccan ESP Classrooms: Teachers’ Perceptions and Prevailing Practices

Assessment is the backbone of the learning-teaching process. Several studies have proven that assessment goes hand in hand with learning. Classroom assessment can be either traditionally of learning or formatively an ongoing process for learning. The current study explores the writing skills alternative assessment strategies used by Moroccan English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teachers in their classrooms. To reach this, the study seeks to explore Moroccan ESP practitioners’ perceptions and prevailing practices of writing skills alternative assessment strategies. Similarly, the study tries to identify possible challenges that impede the proper implementation of alternative assessment pedagogy in the Moroccan ESP context. Following a qualitative research design, the current paper deploys semi-structured interviews to collect data from 10 ESP instructors working in different higher institutes and universities in Morocco. The findings reveal that the participants possess favorable opinions regarding alternative assessment methods of writing skills. Nevertheless, these optimistic viewpoints are not clearly reflected in their assessment practices. The research paper can benefit both practitioners and policymakers in the field of education.

Using social media platform X to enhance student medical English learning: an attempt based on design-based research (DBR) in a medical English for specific purposes (ESP) course

This study aimed to (1) elaborate on microblogging-based instruction, which was built on social media platform X and designed based on the four phases of the design-based research (DBR) framework (Amiel and Reeves in J Educ Technol Soc 11(4):29–40, https://www.jstor.org/stable/jeductechsoci.11.4.29, 2008); (2) put microblogging-based instruction into practice in a medical English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course; (3) examine students’ perceptions of the pedagogical value of X platform usage on their learning experiences; and (4) investigate how well microblogging-based instruction enhances the students’ specialised-language performance. On the basis of the four phases of the DBR framework, a study was conducted with students studying a medical ESP course to identify the problems in the teaching practices used in ESP courses. To improve the identified problems, following the second phase, social media platform X was used to supplement ESP face-to-face instruction. Three tasks were designed for the students to do on X. These tasks were implemented and assessed on 19 EFL first-year premedical undergraduate students over 16 weeks at a university in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data collected from the students included a copy version of the ESP final test, a questionnaire, and semi- structured interviews. The results revealed that X-based instruction improved students’ ability to use medicine-specialised language, offered opportunities for students to become more familiar with medicine-specific terms, perceived ability in using writing and reading skills, collaborative learning, and generated thoughtful discussions outside the confines of the classroom. However, the students’ inadequate knowledge of the specialised subject, the stress of making X mandatory, and log- in overload remain key challenges against the effective appropriation of X use in an ESP context.

Translanguaging in the ESP Context: Saudi Students' Perceptions of the Bilingual Practices

Applied linguists address translanguaging from a variety of angles to comprehend its effectiveness, applicability, and how it supports or undermines social and educational goals in various bilingual and multilingual environments around the world. A small number of studies have been carried out to demonstrate the reality of pedagogical translanguaging in the context of higher education and, more specifically, in countries where the official language is distinct from the language of instruction in language education. Therefore, this study broadens the understanding of translanguaging practices in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) programs in Saudi universities through the perceptions and perspectives of ESP undergraduate students. The participants of this study were ESP 150 students at the University of Bisha. The data was obtained quantitatively and qualitatively using three research tools: the learners’ questionnaire, observation of teaching sessions, and semi-structured interviews with the learners. The findings indicated that students have a positive attitude towards translanguaging. They found it a useful pedagogical strategy to improve their understanding of ESP terminologies and their field-related complex terms. On the pedagogical level, the study contributed to the field of translanguaging by providing a clear picture of how students perceive translanguaging and how the use of the mother tongue along with English in the classrooms was significant in engaging the students in the learning process.

Exploring the Interplay of Vocabulary Size, Depth, and Reading Performance among Engineering Students in an ESP Context

The primary objective of this research is to examine the impact of vocabulary size and vocabulary depth on reading performance in an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) context. To this end, we administered three tests to a group of 92 engineering students enrolled at the National Graduate School of Arts and Crafts (ENSAM) in Meknes, Morocco. The tests included the Vocabulary Size Test developed by Nation and Beglar (2007), the Words Associate Test designed by Read (1998), and a reading performance test with a high-reliability score of .87. The collected data was subjected to statistical analysis using linear regression and Pearson correlation. The findings revealed significant correlations between both vocabulary size and vocabulary depth with reading performance. Interestingly, the results indicated that vocabulary depth exhibited a stronger predictive association with reading performance compared to vocabulary size.

Virtual Reality and Language Learning in Hospitality: An Investigation of Students' Perceptions

This research investigates the perceptions of students within the hospitality management program at Politeknik Negeri Lampung (Polinela) regarding the utilization of Virtual Reality (VR)-based learning in English for Hospitality, a specialized branch of English for Specific Purposes (ESP). With a qualitative approach, the study aims to uncover students’ perspectives on both the challenges encountered and the aspects appreciated in the context of VR-based language learning. The participants, comprising 23 individuals, responded to open-ended questions that aimed to delve into their experiences. The findings shed light on the feasibility and effectiveness of VR-based learning, with the majority of participants reporting minimal difficulties. Appreciation for the immersive learning experience, novelty, realism, and engagement factors were evident in their responses. This research contributes to the understanding of incorporating innovative technologies like VR in ESP contexts, highlighting the need to address technical challenges and optimize language support for a diverse learner population. The outcomes offer insights into the potential of VR-based learning to enhance language acquisition within specific vocational domains.

Integrating Digital Literacy in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Instruction Via English for Law e-module

<p>Nowadays, integration of technology through digital literacy in English instruction is demanded highly, but in practice, digital material like electronic modules still lacks investigation, especially in the ESP context. Therefore, this qualitative study tries to describe the digital literacy demand related to the material in ESP teaching and the implementation of digitalized based ESP material to facilitate law students’ digital literacy. 25 law students were involved as participants, with the questionnaires and interviews as the primary data and class observation as the secondary data. The results reveal that ESP language-teaching process demands digitalized material which facilitates the students’ needs in enhancing their English skills by exploring authentic learning sources digitally. The implementation of the English for Law e-module facilitates students’ digital literacy, especially in accessing the digital material in the e-module by 70% of the whole participants, 57,7 % of students use their digital literacy for finishing the lectures assignment, and 74% of students able to overcome their digital obstacle independently. The finding recommends the utilization of digitalized material based on e-module to cultivate the students’ digital literacy in ESP instruction.</p>

Relationship Between Collocational Competence and Collocation Learning Strategies in an English for Specific Purposes Context

Relationship Between Collocational Competence and Collocation Learning Strategies in an English for Specific Purposes Context

Tıp Fakültesi Öğrencilerinin İngilizce Öğrenme Motivasyonları Ölçeğinin Geliştirilmesi

This study aims to develop a scale determining the extrinsic, integrative, and intrinsic factors that motivate medical students learning English as a foreign language in an ESP context. Derived from Gardner and Lambert’s socio-educational model (1972) and Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory (1985), the study is based on the motivational framework of Noels et al. (2000) which categorizes the three main motives as intrinsic, instrumental and integrative. With the participation of 320 medical students, a 14-item scale was developed with satisfactory internal consistency. Four different methods were used to create the motivation scale. First, a focus group interview was conducted with the participation of randomly selected medical students, and 22 items were determined as a result of the content analysis and were sent to five medical doctors for their opinions, and 6 items were removed from the pool upon their feedback. Next, the literature was reviewed and comparisons were made between existing scales. Finally, based on the opinions of 3 English for Specific Purposes (ESP) experts from the field, the concept of extrinsic motivation was used instead of instrumental motivation, and a 16-item five-point Likert type scale was decided. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) statistical procedures were also utilized. Principal Components Factor Analysis (PCA) was applied to reveal the construct validity of the motivation scale, and Direct Oblimin with Kaiser Normalization method was applied as the rotation method. In order to calculate the adequacy of the sample, the Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin (KMO) coefficient was calculated. Finally, as a result of Bartlett sphericity tests to detect correlations between the items, it was determined that the norm values were provided for all statistical processes for the 3-factor structure explaining 64.62% of the total variance. Finally, this study presents a new data collection tool that is statistically valid and reliable to measure medical students’ motivational factors.

Identifying Basic Aircraft Structures Using Project-Based Learning in ESP Context: Is It Effective?

<p><strong>Abstract:</strong> English for specific purposes (ESP) is a branch of English instruction prepared to facilitate the students master English used in a particular field. In aerospace field, one of the objectives of ESP is mastering basic aircraft structures as the fundamental knowledge for further development such as aircraft maintenance and management. Mastering a number of technical terms in aerospace is challenging since they are not commonly used in daily life. Thus, a strategy is needed. Project-based learning (PBL) is proposed as an appropriate technique for engineering students due to its advantages; facilitating communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Nevertheless, identifying whether it really gives any impact and how much it gives impact are important. Therefore, an experimental study was carried out with one experimental group in mechanical engineering class and one controlled group in industrial engineering class. To investigate the effects, the achievement from the pre-test and post-test of employing the PBL in the experimental group and employing the conventional technique in the controlled group were investigated using t-test of SPSS. Based on the data analysis, the score in each group depicted the achievement increases however in comparing both groups the significant value of the experimental group was higher than in the controlled group. In conclusion, PBL is more effective in increasing the students’ achievement in identifying basic aircraft structures.</p>

Impact of Using WhatsApp and Facebook on Learners' Performance in ESP Contexts at Private Yemeni Universities

The present study aimed at exploring the extent to which WhatsApp (WA) and Facebook (FB) are used in ESP (English for Specific Purposes) contexts and their impact on ESP students' learning performance. To achieve this objective, two questionnaires and a semi-structured interview were developed. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the questionnaires were administered online to a sample of 13 ESP male and female teachers and 406 ESP male and female students from eight Private Yemeni universities in Amanat Al Asimah and from four disciplines: engineering, computing and information technology, business, and medicine. The interviews with the teachers were also conducted via phone due to the restrictions imposed because of Covid-19.While SPSS was used to analyse the quantitative data, thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. The results of the study revealed that teachers' use and students' use of WA and FB in ESP contexts was moderate. The impact of WA and FB on students' learning performance was moderate from teachers' perspective while it was high from students' perspective. There was also a strong correlation between using WA and FB in ESP contexts and their impact on students' learning performance. The study recommended that universities train their teachers to use these applications and add a requirement course focusing on using technology tools for teaching and learning English language.

Vocabulary Learning Strategies in ESP Context: Knowledge and Implication

The present study aims to explore the knowledge level and preferences regarding vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) among the EFL university students studying English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses. It also investigates the impact of vocabulary learning strategies on EFL learners’ performance. A sample of twenty students from an intact class participated in the study. For data collection, a triangulated approach has been employed through the usage of a questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, together with classroom observations. Moreover, the cumulative percentage of scores in the pre-tests and post-tests has been incorporated to investigate the impact of vocabulary learning strategies. SPSS software is used to calculate the T-test value. The findings demonstrate that the implementation of various vocabulary learning strategies has a substantial impact on the performance of the English language learners within the context of an English for Specific Purposes classroom. The findings have pedagogical implications in the teaching and learning of vocabulary within the ESP context.

ICT Comes to ESP Course: Iranian Students and Teachers’ Perceptions of ICT Integration into ESP Instruction

The present study aimed to examine ESP teachers and students’ perceptions of using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) to identify advantages and potential challenges in using ICT in the Iranian ESP context. The sample under study was 100 undergraduate students and three TEFL teachers. An adapted questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were employed for data collection. The results showed that although most of the participants had positive perceptions of benefits of ICT integration in ESP instruction, lack of infra-structures, insufficient time, lack of syllabus consist of ICT-based materials, lack of teachers’ competence, lack of positive attitudes, and social and cultural barriers prevented them from using ICT. The results of this study have practical implications for changing from the status quo ESP teaching in Iran to ICT-based ESP teaching and for enriching ESP courses through incorporating ICT-based materials in the ESP curriculum.

Active Subtitling as a Learning Tool for ESP Students

This article aims at approaching subtitling as a tool for English for Specific Purposes (ESP) students. It provides a description of the important role audiovisual translation (AVT) plays in language teaching/learning. It is based on scholars' work, including (Sokoli 2006; Diaz Cintas 2013; Talavan 2007). This paper tackles the pedagogical application of subtitling in an ESP context as it enhances individual and collaborative learning, exposure to and interaction with real and new complex situations, and developing different linguistic skills. The article presents a classification of the different types of subtitles that are used in language teaching/learning and considers the pros of using subtitled videos as a didactic tool to enhance vocabulary learning for ESP students. Accordingly, the paper emphasises active subtitling, a technique in which learners create their own subtitles, especially with the groundbreaking progress of IT technology (Diaz Cintas 2012; Talavan 2013). The article ends by presenting the findings of an experiment I have conducted in my engineering classes on the basis of active subtitles.

Applicability of translation in english for specific purposes context: Students' perception

This paper aims at highlighting the outcome of a survey carried out on students of English at the University of Chemical Technologies and Metallurgy - Sofia in the spring semester of 2020. The survey hinged on the usefulness of translation in the teaching of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) at univer- sity level and consisted of six questions proposed to thirty-two students in their 6th semester. Students were requested to express their opinions about the possible positive influence of translation as a useful tool in their ESP learning process, on the basis of their experience in foreign language classes. After a brief introduction dealing with some scholarly opinions about translation as a pedagogical tool, the survey is described, and its results are made visible through 6 bar graphs, showing that students generally considered translation as a useful pedagogical instrument in their foreign language stud- ies, particularly as far as vocabulary acquisition and professional language practice are concerned.

Choosing specialized vocabulary to teach with data-driven learning: An example from civil engineering

This paper presents a three-part methodology for identifying special-purposes words to teach in data-driven learning (DDL) vocabulary activities. Previous methods have focused on either identifying important words for an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) context or identifying learner vocabulary gaps—and little or no research has addressed how to determine whether specific words are well suited to teaching through DDL rather than through a more traditional, deductive approach. The system in this study used a corpus-based approach to identify words that are (1) important to the ESP context, (2) difficult for students, and (3) well suited to teaching through DDL. This study applied the system to the context of civil engineering and found that it was overall effective in identifying 18 words that are prevalent in civil engineering writing, that were problematic for the students whose writing was examined, and that showed indications of being well suited to DDL. This paper discusses a drawback of the system—the time required to apply it—and discusses two valuable strengths: revealing how the words functioned in civil engineering discourse and identifying words not overtly connected to engineering (e.g., existing or using) that could be easily overlooked by an instructor.

Genre-Based Approach: Can It Improve the Informatics Engineering Students’ Writing Skill?

Because instructional process in English for Specific Purpose (ESP) context is oriented to students’ academic and professional settings within discourse community, challenges appear. Learning language and learning language are directed to improving students’ language skills to survive the 21st century. On the other hand, score-documentations proved that the students performed low skills; especially writing skill. This study aimed at improving the students’ skill in writing explanation text by using Genre-Based Approach (GBA) to Informatics Engineering students of a private university in South, Indonesia. Classroom Action Research (CAR) was conducted to the third semester students of the university within two cycles. To validate the findings, writing test, observation and questionnaire were employed. The test result proved implementing GBA improved the classroom’s average score from 54 to 59.95 in cycle 1. This improvement was supported by the students’ engagement and enthusiasm to the instructional process as suggested by questionnaire and observation respectively. Further, the implementation of cycle 2 revealed the average score improved from 59.5 to 70.5. This score improvement is followed by the students’ agility and cooperativeness during the instructional process. This concludes that implementing GBA can improve the students’ skill in writing explanation text. This finding is expected to give insight for teachers to undoubtedly using GBA in English for specific purposes context.
 HIGHLIGHTS:
 
 The instructional practice of teaching English for informatics engineering students in the private university still focuses on form-based mastery.
 The informatics engineering students are eager and high-determinate to learn language skills especially writing in collaborative framework.