English For Specific Purposes Students Research Articles

Flipbook as a Learning Medium: A Study on Indonesian ESP Students

Technological advancements are significantly transforming the landscape of Indonesian education, shifting from traditional methods to digital learning media. This study examines the adoption of Flipbook, a digital tool, in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses, aiming to enhance the learning experience for students enrolled in English language study programs. Utilizing Flipbook as an instructional medium, lecturers anticipate offering a novel approach to integrating technology in education. Data were gathered through questionnaires administered to seventy-six students focusing on ESP materials. The questionnaire, comprising thirty-one items with both positive and negative statements, evaluated four key aspects: the completeness of the learning content delivered through Flipbook, student engagement in learning activities, the effectiveness of lecturers in managing the digital learning environment, and the adequacy of facilities and infrastructure supporting the use of Flipbook. The findings demonstrated varying levels of effectiveness: The lecturer's ability to manage Learning was notably effective, with a high mean score of 44.97, indicating that Flipbook facilitates dynamic classroom management. Learning Activities also showed positive outcomes, with a mean score of 36.43, suggesting satisfactory engagement and interactivity. However, Learning Completeness and Facilities and Infrastructure highlighted areas needing improvement, with mean scores of 31.57 and 27.24, respectively. These lower scores reveal significant gaps in content delivery completeness and the supporting infrastructure, which are critical for effectively using digital learning tools.

The Need of Teaching Gender-inclusive Language in English for Specific Purposes in Order to Provide the Future Specialists for Using Gendered Language

The theoretical significance of this article lies in the fact that the work collected and analyzed information about the need of teaching gender inclusive language for English for Specific Purposes students in English, which makes a certain contribution to the development and solution of topical issues in usage of gendered English language. Although suggested several effective strategies in teaching inclusive vocabulary and pronoun usage in English lessons by English for Specific Purposes students.

Exploring English for Specific Purpose Students' Perceptions of Digital Materials in English Language Learning: Benefits, Challenges, and Recommendations

This study aimed to discover how English for Specific Purposes (ESP) students perceived the utilization of digital resources during their language-learning process. A questionnaire with 20 statements divided into categories like usability, engagement, problems, and recommendations was completed by 28 study participants. According to a Likert scale that ranged from highly agree to strongly disagree, the participants gave their answers. The research found that ESP students generally had favourable opinions of digital resources. They thought the resources were easy to use, available on a variety of platforms and devices, and offered flexibility in their study. The participants acknowledged the motivating qualities of digital resources as well as their role in motivation and the growth of English language proficiency. They did, nonetheless, draw attention to several difficulties, such as the need for more help and technical problems. These opinions of ESP students toward digital materials are revealed, and this knowledge aids teachers and curriculum writers in creating resources for language acquisition that are beneficial. Future studies can concentrate on resolving the issues found and improving the advantages of digital resources in ESP scenarios.

Evaluating the blackboard technology's influence on English for specific purpose education: Using technology to teach English

This study examines the impact of Blackboard technology on the learning of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) among students and teachers in public universities in Saudi Arabia. Blackboard is a popular online platform for teaching ESP because it is easy to use and accessible and provides affordable e-learning with interactive activities and a variety of educational materials. The research uses both qualitative and quantitative methods to examine how students and teachers view Blackboard. A 5-point scale survey was administered to 114 students (60 males and 54 females) to determine how often they use Blackboard for ESP instruction. In addition, interviews were conducted with six male and five female teachers to evaluate Blackboard's effectiveness in academics and its influence on students' learning and memory. The study focused on four main areas: how often Blackboard is used by different age groups and genders, students' opinions about Blackboard, and teachers' opinions about using Blackboard for discussion. The results show that ESP students enjoy using Blackboard discussions and find them somewhat engaging and motivating. Blackboard helps with learning and communication both in and out of the classroom. The study also found that students prefer to learn in both English and their native language, while teachers believe that using the native language could slow down English learning. This research highlights the positive effects of Blackboard on ESP learning, overcoming age differences, and shows its value in education, suggesting it as a useful tool for educational institutions and policymakers to improve education and student-teacher interactions. It also points to the need for the right technological tools to meet students' needs.

Exploring ESP Students’ Perception toward the Potential of Artificial Intelligence to Promote Students’ Self-Efficacy in English Writing Skill

This study aimed to explain ESP (English for Specific Purposes) students’ perception toward the potential of AI to promote their self-efficacy in their English writing skill by examining its impact on students’ learning experiences and perceptions. The present investigation employed a qualitative case study. The data collected by open-ended questionnaire in online form distributed to forty students in accounting major. The findings showed that the students positively perceived toward the potential of AI to promote students’ self-efficacy in their English writing skill, they believed that AI play important role and impact their self-efficacy, enhance their motivation, reduce their anxiety, give easy access to the students to get feedback quickly with better recommendation of writing and provide interactive learning in achieving consistency in student’ English writing skill.

Formation of sustainable development competencies in Ukrainian English for specific purposes students

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the formation of sustainable development competencies (SDCs) in future primary school teachers during English for specific purposes classes, and to assess the correlation between English proficiency and the development of SDCs, including Collaboration, Strategic thinking, Critical thinking, Modelling sustainable behaviour, Systems thinking and Future thinking.Design/methodology/approachThe research experiment involved the application of content and language integrated learning and facilitation methods in three higher education institutions in Ukraine. The students’ level of English language proficiency was assessed based on the results of the online Cambridge English Language Assessment test, while the level of SDC formation was measured using research methods adapted to the Ukrainian context.FindingsThe experiment revealed positive changes in the levels of SDCs and English language proficiency through integrated learning and the application of facilitation methods.Originality/valueThe study established a correlation between the level of English language proficiency and the formation of competencies, such as Collaboration, Strategic thinking, Critical thinking, Modelling sustainable behaviour, Systems thinking and Future thinking, all of which are vital for sustainable development.

The effectiveness of Authentic Materials For Reading Comprehension of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Students

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using authentic materials on ESP students in reading comprehension. The participants of this study were the second semester students. Purposive sampling technique was used in this study. The participants were divided into two groups, the experimental was 30 students and the control group was 30 students. This study used quasi-experimental research. The instrument used in collecting data was multiple choice test. The total items of the test were 20 items. The finding shows that a mean score of 29.87 on the pre-test and 52.07 on the post-test reading through authentic materials can help students become more proficient readers, particularly in areas such as identifying primary ideas, supporting details, factual interactions, topic-related vocabulary, pronouncing references, and word meaning recognition. It shows that the hypothesis alternative (ha) was accepted. As conclusion that using authentic materials has positive effect of the students’ reading comprehension of English for specific purposes (ESP) class at UKI Paulus Makassar.

Use of Games in ESP Classes: Perceptions from Students and Teachers

Games are a powerful tool that can generate students’ interest and add variety to the traditional process of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) instruction. Therefore, our aim was to explore their motivational and didactic potential in ESP classes at the university, particularly, to analyze teachers’ and students’ attitudes toward the use of games and to examine the effect of games on learning vocabulary and grammar. To achieve this, we used a mixed methods research design collecting qualitative and quantitative data through surveys and tests from both teachers and students. The survey results showed that both ESP teachers and students had positive attitudes toward the use of games in the learning process due to the motivational power of games, their ability to make learning enjoyable, involve and stimulate students to active enquiry, and create a relaxed environment. We observed statistically higher results in the post-test for ESP vocabulary and grammar in the experimental groups where games were incorporated, signifying the effectiveness of this method. The study contributes to our understanding of the motivational potential of games and their possibilities for teaching ESP. In future research, the assessment of gamified activities could be explored to further enrich our knowledge in this area.

Source Use in Integrated Writing among Chinese College ESP Learners with Different Language Proficiency

Recent decades have witnessed the increasing importance and necessity of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teaching. Integrated writing task evaluating test-takers’ discourse synthesis ability is an effective tool for ESP teaching with improved authenticity, but its mechanism is still far from clear. This study investigated the processes related to source material use in a TEM8 reading–writing task with a medical topic among ESP students. Source material use variations among students with different language proficiency were also examined in terms of organization, obtaining opinion and language support, and context comprehension. Results demonstrated that compared with low proficient student, high proficient ones exhibited higher awareness of effectively using source material and stronger tendency for organizational support, idea selection and gaining idea, but the difference in context comprehension and language support did not vary between two groups. These evidence underlie further design and development of integrated task in ESP writing course.

Classtime.Com as an Ai-Based Testing Platform: Analysing ESP Students’ Performances and Feedback

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in education has grown in popularity, especially in online assessments. This research evaluates the effectiveness of an AI-based online testing platform, Classtime.com, in teaching tenses in English for Specific Purposes (ESP). The study uses a mixed-methods approach, collecting data from 246 Economic Sharia Law students who took the midterm exam during the 2022-2023 school year. The results show that the average score on the exam was 88.21, indicating a high overall performance. Females scored higher and more consistently than males. The study suggests that Classtime.com's AI-based testing is an effective tool for teaching tenses in ESP assessment, providing immediate feedback and personalized learning experiences. However, the study's focus on one language subject limits its generalizability to other subjects. Nevertheless, the use of AI-based online testing in ESP assessment can improve language learning outcomes and contribute to effective teaching practices. Future research should explore the use of AI-based online testing platforms in other language subjects, investigate factors influencing student performance, and examine long-term effects on language learning outcomes and attitudes toward language education and assessment.

USING TED TALKS IN TEACHING ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES AT UNIVERSITY LEVEL

This study considers TED talks as an effective authentic resource for mastering English. The purpose of the article is to outline a methodology for using TED talks in teaching English for specific purposes (ESP) at the university level. To achieve this goal, we set the following objectives: to introduce and describe the steps of utilizing TED talks, as well as provide examples to each step. We applied a number of methods which helped to fulfil the task of the paper. They include establishing the cognitive and educational value of ESP and its place in the system of university education; defining the tasks and its content of the discipline; developing methodical means and organizational forms of training according to these tasks and content. TED talks are informative presentations delivered by experts in their fields. They provide a great opportunity for language teachers to incorporate authentic listening and speaking tasks in their teaching methods. A welldesigned lesson plan that utilizes TED talks as a teaching tool can benefit ESP students in various ways. The methodology of incorporating TED talks in the teaching process should involve a series of steps that aim to maximize effective learning outcomes. These steps include selecting the theme of the talk, searching the TED talk, delivering the speech, designing pre-listening and post-listening activities. The article presents examples of exercises that can be done at each step with reference to specific TED talks from the site https:// ed.ted.com. The first step ensures that the chosen TED talks are suitable and engaging. Teachers can provide students with choices and allow them to vote. The aim of the second step is to support students’ understanding of the TED talk. The third step develops listening comprehension skills. The fourth step engages and promotes students’ active listening skills. The fifth step helps to develop skills of discourse analysis. The video content that the teacher chooses for the lesson should correspond to the professional interests of students. In such a way this video will be able to increase the motivation to study not only a foreign language but also specialized disciplines. The work with TED talks, however, differs from ordinary academic lectures and presentations. Thus, it requires special training of both the teacher and students. Firstly, students` level of English is an important factor defining the choice of a lecture. The teacher considers the level of listening skills, knowledge of the topic, and terminology. Secondly, it is important to take into account the duration of the presentation. If students are not familiar with the topic, they can have some difficulties with comprehension. Therefore, they will need to listen to the lecture twice. So, the preferable length of the video should be about 5-6 minutes. Incorporating TED talks as a teaching tool in English for Specific Purposes can be a highly effective way of promoting active learning in the classroom. TED talks are a source of authentic and relevant topics for students to engage in while providing a more enjoyable and efficient way of learning. The methodology of using videos from the resource has clear benefits. They include improving comprehension skills, vocabulary acquisition, note-taking, and speaking skills. By following the steps mentioned in this paper, lecturers can deliver enriching, pedagogical sessions that will provide students with a foundation to become successful professionals in their respective fields.

ESP STUDENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARDS JAMBOARD: REVOLUTIONIZING SELF-INTRODUCTION IN THE DIGITAL AGE

This study explores the use of Jamboard as a tool for revolutionizing self-introduction among English for Specific Purposes (ESP) students in the digital age. It examines ESP students' attitudes towards the use of Jamboard in enhancing their self-introduction skills through a mixed-method approach, using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. A survey questionnaire was administered to 131 ESP students. The study found that the respondents have a high perception of Jamboard's usefulness, ease of use, appearance, and interaction towards their self-introduction, with a mean score of 3.8. The technology was found to be user-friendly, easy to use, and helpful in presenting ideas and showcasing creativity. However, some students also encountered difficulties with Jamboard's usability and features. The recommendations include providing support and training for the effective use of digital tools like Jamboard and incorporating user-friendly features. These implications can inform educators and developers in promoting student engagement, creativity, and collaborative learning. Further research can explore the impact of Jamboard on student learning outcomes and their perceptions and use of digital tools in the classroom.

Rhetorical Strategies Used by Information Technology Students in In-Class Presentations

Rhetoric plays an important role in helping information technology (IT) professionals communicate their ideas clearly and effectively. By employing rhetorical devices when speaking about technology topics, IT professionals can present logical and convincing arguments, and demonstrate their knowledge and expertise while engaging the audience and making complex technical concepts more accessible for non-experts. This study attempts to understand how IT students construct and develop persuasive arguments by analysing their use of rhetorical strategies in a sample of persuasive presentations delivered in the course “English for IT”. Both corpus analysis and manual analysis were used to identify different types of rhetorical strategies students employed to influence their audiences’ attitudes. The results show that IT students not only created a logical appeal which might be more natural for them but also employed a wide range of rhetorical strategies and devices to establish disciplinary credibility and create a more personal connection with their audience, thus maintaining an appropriate balance of logos, ethos and pathos. The study further recommends systematic and careful rhetorical analysis of ESP (English for specific purposes) students’ spoken language across disciplines and the consequent adaption of learning materials and teaching methods to improve ESP students’ rhetoric skills.

On the Correlation between Problem-solving Skills and Online Information-seeking Behavior of English for Specific Purposes Students

On the Correlation between Problem-solving Skills and Online Information-seeking Behavior of English for Specific Purposes Students

Using Social Media Platforms By English For Specific Purposes Students At The National Institute Of Technology

This research analyses how students enrolled in the English for Specific Purposes program at the National Institute of Technology utilize various social media platforms during their English studies. The students are studying English at the National Institute of Technology. The researcher collected the data via a questionnaire filled out by 50 students and through semi-structured interviews with 10 male and female students. The results of the qualitative interviews were studied via the lens of an experienced case study and coded according to themes, while the quantitative questionnaire results were reviewed through the lens of fundamental statistics. According to the study, social platforms are crucial for students learning English as a foreign language. Currently, students use seven different social platforms to learn English, enhance their language skills, and support in developing their language competency. On the other hand, students at the National Institute of Technology taking English lessons for various reasons utilize Instagram more than other social media sites to practice their English at home and in other academic settings.

Flipping ESP Classrooms in Hybrid Environment

The use of flipped learning in ESP (English for Specific Purposes) classes may have not been frequently portrayed. This recent study attempts to depict the implementation of a flipped learning model applied in an English for Management course. A single qualitative case study was applied. One lecturer of the English for Management course was involved in this study. The data were obtained using interviews and observations. The findings revealed that the flipped learning in the ESP class is realized in the following steps: 1) distributing materials and tasks to students, 2) providing guidance for students to discuss the materials and tasks, 3) assessing students with tests or quizzes, and 4) providing reinforcement for students in face-to-face meetings. The lecturer admitted that she encountered some challenges using flipped classrooms in ESP classes: the issues of bandwidth, students’ readiness, the lecturer's need for non-authentic materials, and the institution's policy on curriculum and facilities. Potential research in investigating ESP students’ perceptions of the use of flipped learning is strongly advised.

Students' Perceptions and Challenges in Learning Business English: Understanding Students’ Needs and Job Market Requirements

English for specific purposes (ESP) is intrinsically a student-centered subject. Learners’ perspectives are the fundamental determinants of the learning outcomes of ESP students. Research shows that the distinction between ‘General English’ and ESP is that the latter focuses on understanding the learners’ wants, needs, and necessities. To address this gap in the literature, this paper undertakes an exploratory, mixed-methods study of 120 senior, ESP Saudi Business and Management college students, with the objective of formulating strategies for improving ESP programs to enhance students’ employability. The participants’ perceptions regarding the importance of Business English in preparing them for the job market, along with a self-assessment of their language needs, were gathered via a 16-item close-ended questionnaire, followed by interviews with some students. The results indicate that senior college students are fully aware of their language needs and can make decisions regarding the particular language skills that are needed for their own success in the job market. The results also show that students hold very positive attitudes towards Business English and believe that success in the job market is dependent on proper and adequate Business English provision at college level.

CONCEPTUALIZING CREDIBILITY-BUILDING STRATEGIES WITH SPECIALIZATION FOR TEACHING ADVERTISING WRITING

Advertising discourse instruction challenges English-for-Specific-Purposes (ESP) teachers with no advertising specialist background. Teaching persuasive language structure and choice may develop students' linguistic repertoires for realizing advertising strategies in copywriting assignments; however, the rationale for deploying particular strategies and the underlying principles forming the strategies may remain invisible to both the ESP teacher and students. Considering this, the present study adopts the concepts of Specialization for revealing the knowledge-knower structure of brand credibility and conceptualizing credibility-building strategies as Specialization codes. This paper also describes how the knowledge about brand credibility and credibility-building strategies were applied and taught in a marketing and public relations (MPR) writing course. The conceptualization, recontextualization, and transfer of such knowledge shed light on how ESP teachers can integrate their knowledge about language into subject knowledge for more effective design and planning of the ESP courses.

Investigating the Anxiety Factors among English for Specific Purposes Students in a Vocational Education setting

Investigating the Anxiety Factors among English for Specific Purposes Students in a Vocational Education setting

SOLVING ESP PROBLEMS: STUDENTS AND TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF INTEGRATING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY INTO ESP INSTRUCTION

Background and Purpose: English for Specific Purposes (ESP) instruction in Iran is still mostly focused on traditional ways. This study aims to investigate ESP teachers’ and students’ perceptions of integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in ESP instruction to solve traditional ESP instruction problems in Iran.
 
 Methodology: This concurrent parallel mixed method study investigated students’ and teachers’ perceptions of solving ESP instruction problems through ICT. The sample concluded 300 undergraduate engineering students and 24 experienced and novice ESP teachers. In the quantitative phase of the study, data were collected through two adapted questionnaires. In the qualitative phase, data were obtained from interviews with 12 undergraduate students, three experienced, and three novice ESP teachers.
 
 Findings: The findings revealed that the participants had positive perceptions of integrating different ICT tools for solving the problems with traditional ESP materials and methods, problems with low language skills, lack of autonomy, demotivation problem, inactivity problem, and problems with lack of exposure to real-life situations. The findings also showed that integrating different ICT tools and ICT-based interactive activities promote students’ communication skills subconsciously through experiencing direct participation in communications.
 
 Conclusion and Contributions:he findings might contribute significantly to change the ESP instruction status quo in Iran, which is not based on the ESP students’ communication needs, and replace it with innovative approaches to meet the needs of the modern ESP student. The results also provide a unique outlook of promoting ESP instruction in tertiary education by integrating ICTs through divergent stakeholder perceptions.
 
 Keywords: English for Specific Purposes (ESP), Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Perception, Promoting English for Specific Purposes instruction
 
 Cite as: Keshtiarast, B., Salehi, H., Tabatabaei, O., & Baharlooie, R. (2022). Solving ESP problems: Students and teachers’ perceptions of integrating information and communication technology into ESP instruction. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 7(2), 444-472. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol7iss2pp444-472