ESP Students Research Articles

Methodology of Lexical Competence Formation of Power-Engineering Students based on CBA and its Experimental Research in Teaching ESP

This article considers about methodology of lexical competence formation of power - engineering students and its experimental research in ESP teaching. Here some theoretical approaches are discussed, and new methodology suggested by the author is tested in practice. Experimental work was carried out in 3 non-philological universities of the Republic of Uzbekistan as Tashkent State Technical University named after Islam Karimov (TSTU), Fergana Polytechnic Institute (FerPI) and Navoi State Mining Institute (NSMI). Anonymous questionnaires were obtained from students and teachers, written control works are received from students. Using the results obtained, the existing difficulties in teaching and mastering the terms of power engineering were identified. With the help of these difficulties there have been developed a typology of exercises aimed at overcoming the identified challenges. The exercises given here were prepared and published in the textbook "Foreign language for 3rd year power engineering students" for the development of lexical competence, used at English language course for students of the 3rd year of the Faculty of "Power engineering" of non-philological higher educational institutions of the republic. The texts in the manual is based on the content of teaching special subjects and textbooks in the field of power engineering of TSTU, 3rd year "Foreign language" educational and methodological complex, O.G.Smirnova, E.A. Protsukovich's e-book English for Power Engineering, David Bonamy's Technical English 1, and Internet sources. Besides this there are given some recommendations and suggestions on teaching technical terms to ESP students in higher educational establishments.

An Error Analysis Of Article System: A Case Of ESP Students

Analyzing errors is very important for ESP students because they can relate to their work, it also provides ESP students with corrections Errors in learning behavior. This research aimed to investigate the errors, the most prominent type, and the causes of errors in using English articles in academic writing. The Researcher examined the academic writing by the ESP students. The researchers use an analytical parameter developed based on Biber et al. (1999) to analyze article errors. The causes of errors were obtained through a questionnaire developed based on the categories proposed by Brown (2007). After analyzing the data, the Researcher found 30 errors in Addition, Omission, and substitution categories. The most prominent type of Error is omission error, with a frequency of 293 occurrences or 76%. The main type of omission error is an omission of the definite article "the" before nouns or noun phrases. In contrast, the major cause of errors is mother tongue influence, with an average mean of 4.17 in the questionnaire responses. This study's findings indicate the need for teaching strategies and materials to prevent common article usage errors.

ESP Students’ Self-Reflection on English Speaking Anxiety: An Investigation on Gender’s Perspectives

Speaking in a foreign language becomes a challenge for many students, including ESP students. In ESP class, the students learn English for specific context related to the professional fields. Thus, having anxiety in the English class could affect their future performance in their future job. The current study seeks for insight on identifying speaking anxiety awareness among ESP students through self-reflection. The students are required to describe on of the tourist attraction in front of the class and have a self-reflection on their performance. With the total of 15 male and 15 female students, the study applied a qualitative study with case study design. The data were collected through classroom observation, questionnaires, and interview. The data were triangulated and analyzed through data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing. As a result, the male students tend to have speaking anxiety than the female students. Based on the male students’ perceptions, pronunciation difficulty, lack of grammar comprehension, lack of vocabulary mastery, and lack of confidence become the cause of the speaking anxiety, while the female students have lack of practice, nervousness, and pronunciation difficulty as the problem. Thus, it is suggested the English lecturer to provide more practice on language system, such as grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation to shape students’ comprehensibility on English. Also, the ESP students need to have extensive speaking practice to boost their confidence in speaking in front of the class.

Developing ESP students’ online text reading performance and strategies in small group discussion

Developing ESP students’ online text reading performance and strategies in small group discussion

Ict use and instruction modes in pandemic and post-pandemic contexts: A study on ESP students’ motivation and academic performance

The implementation of information and communication technology became crucial amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Several studies have been carried out on the effect of technology-mediated instruction modes on learners from diverse educational backgrounds, yet few articles have discussed the pandemic aftereffects in ESP students. This study seeks to investigate the use of technologies and the impact of the pandemic on ESP students’ motivation and academic outcomes. Data was collected from 116 students assigned to three groups, the Experimental 1 group (N=39) and the Control group (N=48) data was gathered in 2021-2022 post-pandemic context. The Experimental group 2 (N=29) data collection took place in 2020-2021 pandemic context. A medium-impact blend ESP course was implemented with both Experimental groups while the Control group experienced coursebook based traditional instruction. Group comparisons revealed the detrimental effects of the pandemic and the positive impact of the ICT-mediated medium blend implementation on both students’ motivation and academic outcomes. These findings contribute to identify the pandemic aftereffects and the challenges for all of the stakeholders in this particular context.

ESP Students’ Perception on Role Playing for Boosting Their Speaking Skill

ESP Students’ Perception on Role Playing for Boosting Their Speaking Skill

The effect of face-to-face versus web-based structured peer review on writing improvement: Evidence from ESP students

Engaging students in peer review to improve their writing has become a pedagogical approach. However, little evidence has supported the effects of web-based (WB) peer evaluation on students’ writing enhancement. Correspondingly, the present study, employing a quasi-experimental design, investigated the effect of WB versus face-to-face (FTF) peer review on ESP students’ writing in terms of linguistic features. To this aim, three intact classes (N = 48, 53) were split into two experimental and one control groups at random. The results of pretests revealed that all the participants were homogenous with respect to language proficiency and writing ability based on Oxford Quick Placement Test (OQPT) and a writing test. While there was no peer review for the control group, the two experimental groups practiced peer review; one through FTF interaction and one via Peermark, a WB program provided through Turnitin. The findings indicated that the experimental group outperformed the control group. The findings also showed that FTF group outperformed WB group in writing. However, the analysis of linguistic features in the two modes of peer review demonstrated that WB interaction can be more effective in writing fluency than FTF peer review. Implementation of the findings for the teachers and teacher trainers has been discussed.

The genre of PechaKucha presentations: Analysis and implications for enhancing multimodal literacy at university

ESP students need to develop their multimodal literacy to become literate in today's professional spaces. For this purpose, ESP teachers should revisit pedagogy practices to best engage students in the navigation and construction of multimodal genres. As a case in point, we explore PechaKucha (PK) presentations. This multimodal genre consists of 20 slides, which are automatically advanced every 20 s. PK presentations entail a complex format that requires speakers to choose how to convey content, design suitable visuals, and engage audiences. The dataset for the study consists of 7 PK presentations delivered during a social event at an architecture conference. Adopting a multimodal discourse analysis lens, we analyse this set of PK presentations in terms of rhetorical structure and the way in which intersemiotic relations unfolded (synchronisation between speech and visuals and the modal density of slides). The analysis demonstrates that PK presentations entail an intricate multimodal composition consisting of three moves in which professional and personal narratives intertwine. The examination of intersemiotic relations reveals how speech and visuals interplay effectively to transmit meaning and engage the audience. The results of this study provide critical information to design a research-informed pedagogy to enhance ESP students' multimodal literacy.

Development Model of Augmented Reality: A Need Analysis of Vocabulary Book for ESP Students

Abstract. The real challenge in 5.0 society requires meeting the needs of future generations who can use foreign languages and master technology. This study investigated the need for specific learning sources or materials for vocational students specifically majoring in Informatics Engineering in vocabulary learning. Since vocabulary is a fundamental language aspect of using English in reciprocal communications, this study is a type of survey research that uses quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques. The instruments used to obtain the data were developed referring to the principal notion of a need assessment proposed by Hutchinson and Waters, validated by a language expert, and served through a questionnaire. The setting of this study involved 48 students of Vocational Students of Informatics Engineering at a private vocational school in Jakarta, Indonesia. The results showed that students of Informatics Engineering at vocational schools must be able to communicate in English, both written and spoken, using the specific term related to their department. Besides studying ESP to work, some students planned to continue to higher education with expertise in linear education. Therefore, they need to learn vocabulary with the integration of technology as they are supposed to deal with it in their field of work in informatics engineering to join the 5.0 society with the advancement of augmented reality-based media. Keywords: Technology, Augmented Reality, Vocabulary, English for Specific Purposes, Vocational School

Harmonious learning: songs in English for ESP

Abstract The ubiquitous nature and diffusion of songs sung in English has meant that a great number of EFL and ESP students are listening to English and acquiring some notions about the language almost subconsciously. Such songs have also been incorporated into English as an L2 practice for, probably, almost as long as English has been taught as a foreign language. However, sometimes they are used as filler exercises or only as an exercise to keep the students happy. Slowly, songs have been gaining more acceptance as a valid didactic tool to be used in various moments of the general English L2 lesson and for various functions (Tegg 2018). This article reports on a project to use songs in English for Specific purposes lessons at an Italian university with students of two Master degree courses (Social Work and Social Policy; Sociology and Social Research). During the English modules, songs from various artists were specifically chosen and language-learning exercises devised around them to be used in almost every lesson for different learning objectives: these included introducing a new subject, presenting and revising grammar, learning individual words or short phrases including idiomatic expressions, as lead-ins to discussions. At the end of the course, the students completed a questionnaire aimed at eliciting their opinions about the use of songs in ESP lessons. The results indicate that the use of popular songs is an effective tool in an ESP lesson and that their inclusion can help motivate students as well as help them learn.

Unraveling the Connections: English Proficiency, Motivational Orientations, and Online Community Engagement among ESP Students

Unraveling the Connections: English Proficiency, Motivational Orientations, and Online Community Engagement among ESP Students

The effect of team teaching on Iranian ESP learners reading comprehension

This article defines team teaching as a teaching approach that utilizes the expertise and instructional capabilities of distinct educators to enrich the process of learning. Team teaching refers to an instructional strategy that involves the collaborative efforts of multiple teachers who jointly plan, deliver, and assess the learning experiences of a group of students. This approach integrates the diverse knowledge, skills, and perspectives of the participating educators to create a more comprehensive and engaging educational environment. This paper has examined the use of team teaching as a means of enhancing reading comprehension of English for specific purposes in Iranian context. A number of 100 intermediate-level ESP students in Iran participated in this study. They were divided to two groups, control group with 50 students and experimental group with 50 ones. Team teaching or collaborative teaching strategy was used for experimental group. For control group individual teaching or none collaborative teaching was employed. The data obtained from the study was given to SPSS software. Statistical procedure appropriate for this study was analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The results of the study showed that in comparison with individual or none collaborative teaching, collaborative or team teaching has a better effect on Iranian ESP learners reading comprehension. It is also found that multilevel class has positive effect on learning language skills.

Needs Analysis of College Students for ESP Under the Scope “New Liberal Arts”

The term “new liberal arts” encourages integrating traditional liberal arts with other disciplines to promote the efficacy of education. It has been well received all around China, especially in higher education. Under such a background, ESP courses must be tailored to equip college students with sufficient knowledge and training that integrates English with professional expertise. The researchers designed a questionnaire to collect data from five perspectives to better gain insight into students’ needs for ESP courses. The central part of the questionnaire adopted 32 items of the Likert scale and one open-ended question, focusing on the evaluation of ESP courses, assessment of students’ current English ability, students’ needs for ESP courses, and what are the main problems hindering current ESP teaching for students and teachers. The questionnaire was distributed to the participants on an online survey platform. The participants were junior or senior undergraduates and ESP teachers from twelve public universities in China. After the survey, the researchers collected 1078 questionnaires for students and 213 for teachers. The results showed that students and teachers did not think positively of current ESP courses and students’ current English ability, and students had the need for ESP courses on different scales. Furthermore, the study also found that there were discrepancies between the students and teachers with regard to specific items. The findings suggest that an interdisciplinary perspective is needed when carrying out ESP courses, and consensus-based collaboration between students and teachers is also indispensable.

Linguistic effect of focus projection in the ESP classroom: some pedagogical implications

Placing emphasis on words, which in turn spread this emphasis to the preceding word, is a phenomenon typical of English. This is technically known as focus projection, or projection. Since projection as defined above is realised in and through speaking, the relation between projection and speaking is studied in the context of ESP. Due to the lack of enough practice, speaking appears to constitute a challenge for most ESP students. Although practice remains the best solution, the question is how to practice, or how to encourage students, in an artificial environment. I define artificial environment as an environment where learners of English are not surrounded by native speakers, so the former do not have the opportunity to practice, i.e. to speak, English on a regular everyday basis. Hence, a research question emerges naturally, namely can projection be used to facilitate speaking? This paper studies the relevance of focus projection in the ESP classroom. The introductory section exemplifies the concept of projection, sets the objectives of the study, and briefly describes the methods that are used. The main objective is to study if awareness of focus projection on the part of the teacher can serve as a tool to facilitate learning, especially speaking, in an ESP context. The second section deals with theoretical and practical, including pedagogical, implications, and is followed by empirical data on the basis of which these implications are further discussed.The concluding section continues the discussion by lending weight to the constraints the teacher faces if they apply the above presented ideas but also reinforces the practical benefit of encouraging students to attach emphasis to particular words in the sentence. / Keywords: linguistic affect, emphasis, focus projection, ESP, pedagogical implications

An Investigation of Vocabulary Learning Strategies of ESP Students

English is an indispensable language, especially in the digital age. For students who are not specialized in English vocabulary, understanding effective vocabulary learning strategies becomes crucial, helps increase their chances of being hired, and improves coherence in written and spoken communication. This study investigates the vocabulary learning strategies most and least commonly employed by ESP students. The research involved 59 participants from three majors: business administration, accounting, and tourism. Data collection was carried out through questionnaires and interviews. The findings highlight students' preference for metacognitive strategies and their positive attitude toward technology as a supportive tool for vocabulary acquisition. Additionally, cognitive and memory strategies linked to learned vocabulary were occasionally utilized. The implications of this research extend to teachers, students, and curriculum designers, providing insights for developing appropriate methods to enhance ESP vocabulary learning.

The Influence of Task-Based Language Teaching on Classroom Enjoyment among ESP Students in Tertiary Schools—A Case Study

The Influence of Task-Based Language Teaching on Classroom Enjoyment among ESP Students in Tertiary Schools—A Case Study

Türk ÖAİ Öğrencilerinde ODİ Farkındalığı

The study, which was based on quantitative data, sought to shed light on how much ELF influences language learning goals for ESP learners, how they relate to the new ELF phenomena, and how far they are aware of the changing role of English, which was one of the least researched area in the literature. The findings indicated that the Turkish ESP students showed great awareness about the issue that today English is considered as a primary lingua franca that enables them to communicate and interact with others around the world. It was also revealed that besides that they did not place only native varieties of English or only native speakers in their English learning process, communicating with non-native speakers of English had more importance than native speakers of English in their purpose of ESP learning. They did not see the role of accuracy in English as an ultimate goal as long as intelligibility was achieved in communication. This article calls for more future research and effort devoted to enhancing ELF awareness in Turkish ESP programmes.

The Motivational Landscape of Indonesian ESP Students

Recognizing the critical role of motivation in language learning, this mixed-methods study explored the primary sources of motivation among Indonesian ESP students and their impact on engagement, aiming to inform effective instructional practices. The research revealed a strong positive correlation between motivation and engagement. Intrinsic motivation, rooted in enjoyment, interest, and personal relevance, emerged as a particularly powerful predictor of active participation, consistent effort, and proactive learning behaviours. The study also highlighted the importance of supportive teachers and a positive learning environment in cultivating intrinsic motivation. These findings underscore the need for ESP educators to prioritize strategies that tap into students’ inherent interests, provide opportunities for autonomy and competence, and foster a sense of relevance and connection to the subject matter. By creating a more motivating learning environment, ESP instructors can empower students to achieve their language learning goals and succeed in their chosen fields.

Aspectual Errors in Romanian and Serbian ESP Learners Majoring in Tourism and Hospitality Management

Abstract This paper examines the interference of the mother tongue, Serbian and Romanian, in the case of students of English for Tourism and Hospitality Purposes (ESP) at the university level in the field of verbal aspect. The first part of the paper focuses on the ways in which the category of aspect is defined and expressed in Serbian and Romanian in comparison to English. It was hypothesised that the native speakers of these three languages may conceptualize verbal aspect rather differently, especially given their inherent relevant linguistic differences, particularly with Serbian having a more complex system of grammaticalized aspectuality than English and Romanian. This paper analyses the difficulties that Serbian and Romanian ESP learners might encounter in attempting to comprehend the features specific to aspect in English and in capturing the different aspectual uses of English verbs. For this analysis, a study was carried out featuring a questionnaire on the specific context of aspectual uses, which was completed by the participating Serbian and Romanian ESP students.

Digital multimodal PechaKucha presentations in ESP: insights from students’ learning experiences

Abstract Advances in digital and audiovisual communication have contributed to the remediation and emergence of genres (Luzón and Pérez-Llantada 2022, giving rise to new discourse practices. Against this backdrop, it becomes important to review ESP pedagogy to better prepare students to communicate effectively in professional settings. For this purpose, ESP teachers should move beyond traditional literacy to embrace multimodality and develop students’ multimodal literacy. This study presents a multimodal genre-based approach to teaching PechaKucha (PK) presentations (Querol-Julián and Beltrán-Palanques 2021) and reports on students’ learning experiences. This pedagogical approach allowed students to explore the genre of PK presentations and reflect on how to construct their own version. The recipients of this approach were 127 ESP students, of which 44 voluntarily completed a survey purposely designed to explore their learning experiences regarding the preparation and performance of a digital PK presentation. Findings suggest that students made a great effort to effectively construct a digitalised PK mainly because of the format requirements. The students were faced with the challenge of making decisions about what and how to represent ideational, textual, and interpersonal meanings through a PK. Finally, this study suggests that students seemed to have become aware of the complexity of expressing meanings through the multimodal genre of PK presentations.