English For Specific Purposes Teachers Research Articles

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.

Blended learning in English for specific purposes instruction: A systematic review

Due to Covid-19 pandemic, using ICT for teaching purposes has been the subject of a growing field of study in educational research. Thus, this systematic review aims to provide ESP practitioners with a current synthesis of the impact of blended learning on English for specific purposes (ESP) instruction. The current study systematically reviews and synthesizes studies related to blended learning and ESP with the aim of providing a comprehensive analysis of 28 research articles published across 2012-2022 and meeting selection criteria. Findings show that blended learning can foster university ESP students’ language skills. The majority of studies stress that blended learning brings considerable benefits to their ESP learning, namely flexibility, autonomy, and collaboration. The findings also revealed that few students faced some challenges such as demotivation, procrastination, and technical issues. In light of these results, the review ends up with implications for ESP teachers and researchers.

Translanguaging Pedagogies in an ESP Course: A Case in Indonesia

This study investigates into the implementation of translanguaging pedagogy within Indonesian English for Specific Purposes (ESP) classrooms. In Indonesia, where multilingualism is prevalent, there is a growing trend to integrate local languages, such as Indonesian and Javanese, into educational contexts. This approach, which values and purposefully employs students' first languages (L1s), has been increasingly adopted by teachers. The research aims to explore Indonesian ESP teachers' perspectives on translanguaging and its application in their teaching practices. Through a qualitative case study, this paper examines how translanguaging facilitates communication, enhances teacher-student relationships, and aids in the processing of educational material. It also investigates potential resistance to monolingual pedagogies and the constructive use of translanguaging to further educational objectives. Data were gathered via semi-structured interviews with five ESP teachers and through classroom observations. The findings highlight the positive role of translanguaging in education. Teachers reported that translanguaging aids in knowledge construction, boosts vocabulary comprehension, strengthens interactions between teachers and students, and fosters a comfortable and engaging learning environment. These insights underline the importance of developing translingual strategies, encouraging teachers to incorporate students’ complete linguistic repertoire in their teaching. This approach not only facilitates English language learning but also acknowledges and leverages the linguistic diversity in Indonesian classrooms.

Exploring Contradiction‐Driven Language Teacher Identity Transformation During Curriculum Reforms: A Chinese Tale

AbstractThe existing literature in TESOL has revealed the multilayered, dynamic, and situated nature of teacher identity, but how language teachers construct their identities during curriculum reforms receives relatively limited attention, particularly in the context of teaching English for specific purposes (ESP). Theoretically anchored by the notion of contradiction in activity theory, this study investigates an ESP teacher's identity transformation in a Chinese university. Drawing on data from semi‐structured interviews, classroom observations, and artifacts (policy documents and course materials), the findings reveal that the participant constructed her identities including “a skiff drifting in the dark,” “an optimistic warrior,” and “a nonconformist” through the teaching reform mediated by the corporatized culture and accountability system in higher education. The process of identity transformation was accompanied by her identity‐driven efforts to resolve various contradictions and seek the delicate equilibrium between her agency and object‐oriented reform. The study offers practical recommendations on teacher development and curriculum reforms for both language teachers and other stakeholders (e.g., teacher educators and school leaders) in different educational contexts.

ИЗАЗОВИ НАСТАВЕ ЕНГЛЕСКОГ ЈЕЗИКА СТРУКЕ У ДИГИТАЛНОМ ОКРУЖЕЊУ

Teaching a foreign language in a digital environment is characterized by a large number of challenges that must be overcome in order for the teaching process to take place continuously and purposefully. In this paper, the challenges of teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in a digital environment will be presented, on the basis of the author’s practical experiences in creating and implementing online courses in English Language 1, 2, 3 and 4 at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of East Sarajevo. Before that, in the introductory chapters, an overview of the features of teaching ESP within higher education will be given, with special reference to the ESP that deals with the specifics of the register of technical sciences, electrical engineering and computer science. In the final part of the paper, the results will be summarized and certain ideas and recommendations will be presented, on the basis of which the ESP teaching in the digital environment could be further improved.

Self-regulated strategy instruction: Insights from ESP teachers at a Chinese university and vocational college

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is pivotal in second language (L2) learning but is often inadequately addressed in classroom instruction. This qualitative study examines the SRL-promoting strategies employed by English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teachers at a university and a vocational college in China, both of which offer English-medium instruction (EMI) programmes. Grounded in Zimmerman's SRL model, this study employs multiple data sources, including interviews, classroom observations, and teaching materials. Findings reveal that teachers from both settings use a blend of explicit and implicit strategy instruction to foster both cognitive and metacognitive facets of SRL. University teachers integrate strong self-assessment methods, such as peer and teacher feedback, in their teaching. However, gaps in the teachers' conceptual understanding of SRL lead to inconsistent emphasis on various components and phases of SRL. Furthermore, our study identifies several factors, such as student characteristics, teacher knowledge and beliefs, and institutional constraints, that influence these instructional practices. The research stands out for its focus on ESP instruction within a Chinese educational context by juxtaposing two different educational settings. It underscores the need for specialized SRL-focused professional development, especially for vocational teachers, and underscores the importance of bolstering SRL in ESP to facilitate a seamless EMI transition.

Przygotowanie absolwentów studiów filologicznych do nauczania specjalistycznych odmian języka angielskiego na poziomie akademi

Introduction: Contemporarily it is not enough to be able to use English solely for general purposes. Thus, foreign language teachers have to obtain a great deal of competences, among which some researchers point to the skills and knowledge from the specialist field. Research aim: The objective of the article consists in analysing if foreign language teachers are sufficiently prepared to teach English for Specific Purposes (ESP) to students of higher education institutions. Evidence-based Facts: The graduates of philology are fully unprepared to teach ESP, while graduates of applied linguistics are partially prepared to undertake such tasks. The main problem with teaching ESP lies, however, in the lack of appropriate didactic materials. Thus, foreign language teachers are left with no other choice than to create their own materials, apply creative teaching methods (e.g. presentations prepared by the students), or to search for the materials loosely connected with a given discipline. Summary: The practical solutions to the problem depicted in the article are suggested, and they are as follows: incorporation of “specialist foreign language methodology” into academic curricula, organisation of courses from a specific field for foreign language teachers, researching the scale of the problem, mutual exchange of experience and materials between the teachers, improvement of the hitherto created coursebooks and materials with account taken of the communicative approach towards language learning, creation of specialist coursebooks.

Developing communicative LMS-based English for specific purposes learning materials with CLIL approach

Teaching English for Specific Purposes in the age of technological innovation necessitates a new strategy for communicative contexts that incorporates technology into the teaching and learning process. CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) approach is considered a suitable approach in which students not only understand the content and context of situations that are practiced following the actual conditions in the industry but are also expected to be fluent in two-way communication. This study aims to develop an LMS-based communicative teaching material with the CLIL approach. Using the Research and Development method by applying the ADDIE model, 60 students were involved as the research subject, two lecturers were observed and interviewed, and three expert judges evaluated the quality of the communicative LMS-based materials developed. The results show that the developed materials were of excellent quality, with a mean score of 4.98 from the three expert judges, and the students have perfect perceptions towards both the LMS’s features in English learning materials and the use of the CLIL approach in English learning materials. Pedagogically, it is advised that if internet access is unavailable, the lecturers figure out a means to get over last-minute obstacles.

Pre-service teachers’ belief changes in an English for specific purposes teacher education context

While pre-service teachers’ beliefs about different dimensions of English language teaching have been widely researched, little is known about their beliefs related to English for Specific Purposes (ESP). This article reports on three Vietnamese pre-service teachers’ beliefs about ESP teaching, captured over a six-month period. Data from semi-structured interviews, stimulated recall interviews, observations, and reflective journals were collected at two critical points in the teacher education programme: the methodology course and the practicum. The findings add fresh insights into pre-service teachers’ beliefs, particularly how these beliefs may change over time. The three case studies presented in this paper illustrate how participants developed their beliefs. The six belief changes identified are then discussed in terms of levels (from no to significant change) and the underlying motives. Implications are also discussed for teacher educators in designing or improving teacher education programmes and for researchers interested in pre-service teachers’ belief change.

LANGUAGE LEARNING STRATEGIES OF ESP LEARNERS: A COMPARISON BETWEEN DURING AND POST-PANDEMIC SITUATION

Several studies have highlighted the importance of language learning strategies (LLS) for second and foreign-language learners. These strategies have played a significant role in distinguishing between more successful and less successful language learners. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought about unprecedented changes in the teaching-learning process, with a shift towards online platforms. This study aimed to determine what language learning strategies were applied by the 85 learners of the Mathematics and Biology Departments, ESP (English for Specific Purposes) learners taking English courses during and after the pandemic. In addition, this study also investigated whether there are any similarities or differences in the language learning strategies employed by using comparative design. To collect data, the researcher utilized the Strategy Inventory of Language Learning from Oxford (1990), translated into Indonesian, to ensure clear comprehension among the learners. Descriptive statistics for means and standard deviations were then used to analyze the data. The analysis revealed that, regardless of the circumstances, the students applied all strategies in their learning. Then, they consistently applied the metacognitive and memory strategies more frequently than others.Additionally, the findings indicated that the students utilized the social strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the affective strategy was employed somewhat in the post-pandemic period. The outcomes of this study have significant implications as they raise awareness among learners and ESP instructors about the benefits of employing language learning strategies. Recognizing and utilizing these strategies can significantly enhance language learning outcomes. By understanding the preferred strategies employed by students during different periods, instructors can tailor their teaching approaches accordingly to maximize the effectiveness of language instruction.

Thailand’s higher education ESP practitioners: Problems, solutions and a potential practices model

A comprehensive needs analysis is crucial to guide the design and teaching of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses. However, a number of studies neglect certain elements of needs analysis, which can result in problems in subsequent stages of ESP teaching. This mixed-method study aimed to identify the problems that higher education ESP practitioners in Thailand encountered and the solutions they employed and to develop a potential practices model for ESP practitioners. Semi-structured interviews and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) pairwise comparisons were employed to reveal 54 problems in six categories. Three highest-ranked problems were 1) the ESP practitioners’ lack of specialization in relevant fields (34.62%), 2) unsuitable classrooms and facilities (29.15%), and 3) the lack of specific course objective-oriented and cost-effective commercial textbooks (19.09%). The average consistency ratio (C.R.) was 0.32. The study suggested the need for training provisions and inclusion of ESP courses in English curricula. The ESP practices model suggested practices for institutions, such as conducting comprehensive needs analysis and providing suitable facilities and budgets. ESP practitioners were advised to utilize needs analysis for course design and employ active learning approaches. These recommendations aimed to enhance ESP education and improve an English curriculum, teaching practices, and evaluation processes.

TEACHING ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES THROUGH CASE STUDIES: DESIGN, TEACHING, AND EVALUATION

This paper examines the use of the case study approach to teach English for specific purposes (ESP). Cases are used to teach disciplines, such as law, medicine, economics, etc. Nevertheless, they are less common in the areas related to teaching languages. A few articles describe the case study approach to teaching English for specific purposes, and mostly all of them deal with business English. Hence, we explore the advantages of teaching other types of ESP. The paper describes the practical elements that will guide an ESP practitioner through the process of designing their own case study and will offer insights into the teaching particularities of the case study approach.

Hackathon in Differentiated English for Specific Purposes Instruction of Information Technology Students

The current study aims to check the effectiveness of differentiated ESP instruction using the hackathon. This study used the mixed research method. The participants of the study were 24 Information Technology (IT) students of the Physics and Technology Institute of National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” who voluntarily took part in the study in 2022-2023. They were divided into two experimental groups and differentiated according to the social roles and the level of English language proficiency. Sensory, interactive and graphic scaffolding as the temporary assistance was integrated in the educational process. As shown by the results of the experimental learning, the second group, where the IT students performed auxiliary roles and the duration of scaffolding use was defined by both students and teachers, demonstrated significantly better results than the first group, where the IT students performed auxiliary roles and the duration of scaffolding use was defined by IT students only. Scaffolding should be regulated by both the teacher and the students. It was concluded that the use of hackathon with a focus on learners’ differentiation helps to diversify ESP learning at technical university and facilitates the development of professional communicative skills (speaking and writing) as well as other soft and hard skills.

An Inconvenient Fact: Impact of EMI on Nursing Education

With the internationalization of higher education, English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) has become one of the most significant global educational trends in the 21st century (Aizawa et al., 2023). Medium of instruction refers to the language used when teaching non-language academic/content subjects such as science (Lo & Lo, 2014). The aims of EMI include developing students' English professional expertise, expanding their knowledge of different academic disciplines, and preparing them to participate in the international community. EMI is used in many countries, including Taiwan, as an internationalization strategy in higher education (HE). In 2018, Taiwan's National Development Council proposed a blueprint for developing Taiwan into a bilingual nation by 2030, with related policies promoting the widespread use of English in HE. In 2021, Taiwan's Ministry of Education announced a new program on bilingual education for students to promote EMI courses in HE. However, in addition to English language proficiency, internationalization is essential to nursing education. Thus, it is also necessary to actively strengthen the international outlook and global village citizenship of Taiwan's nursing students. In both university and vocational nursing education, English education focuses mostly on English for Specific Purpose (ESP)-oriented English courses designed to help learners do well in their academic and professional preparations for their future careers (Saragih, 2014), while English for Academic Purposes (EAP) focuses on enabling learners to use English in their study and research activities (Flowerdew & Peacock, 2001; Hyland & Hamp-Lyons, 2002). EAP is concerned with using English in academic domains (Walkinshaw et al., 2017). In contrast to ESP and EAP, EMI, although also using English as a teaching tool and conveying academic knowledge in English, does not include improving English proficiency and abilities as a primary goal (Dearden & Macaro, 2016). The current global explosion of EMI in higher education is unprecedented (Aizawa et al., 2023), leading to EMI being described as an 'unstoppable train' from which EMI educators must safely ensure their students alight at their destination (Macaro, 2018). To reduce the challenges students face on their EMI journeys, educators must first understand the common challenges experienced by students. In this EMI educational scenario, educators experience how the change in the language of instruction impacts their teaching and their students' learning effect. From a pedagogical perspective, studies have confirmed that, in addition to teacher training support (Lauridsen, 2017; Sánchez-Pérez, 2020), HE should focus on providing more solid and diverse training courses that teach strategies for pronunciation and discourse, accommodate diversity in the classroom, and teach multicultural competencies (Orduna-Nocito & Sánchez-García, 2022). Therefore, for this column, we have invited authors with backgrounds in different disciplines to share their ESP and EMI teaching experiences, suggest the next steps beyond EMI, and offer insights into how to apply multimodal design in nursing education. After reading this column, we hope readers will be able to employ different levels of thinking to help the development of nursing education in Taiwan keep pace with the times and internationalization trends, prepare for EMI training, successfully face the challenges of EMI, and take EMI beyond the first step.

‘’Once I enter the class, I just feel like in the middle of nowhere’’: a narration of ESP teacher's emotional geographies

While studies on the teaching of English for specific purposes (ESP) in higher institutions have been widely explored, there is a paucity of research addressing how ESP teachers in higher education deal with their emotional geography when teaching ESP. The data of this present study were garnered through in-depth interviews and analyzed following Braun and Clarke’s (2014) thematic analysis. Anchored by Hargreaves' (2001) emotional geography, the study revealed that the participant had undergone negotiated emotional changes in his experiences as an ESP teacher, which were anchored by physical, social, moral, professional, and political aspects. The findings of this study informed that the participant experienced sustainable adaptation through negotiated emotional changes in his role as an ESP teacher in tertiary education. Furthermore, the present study revealed that ESP lecturer shows five aspects of emotional geographies. Understanding the results of the current study may encourage ESP teachers to handle their feelings when instructing with caution. The participant's stories in this study provide pedagogical insights for redesigning curriculum that focus on ESP learning. Policymakers could also use the results of this study to implement training programs for ESP teachers on how to successfully teach English for specific purposes for non-English department students.

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.

A Systematic Review on ESP Teachers: Current Focus, Collaboration, and Sustainability

Since its emergence in the 1960s, English for Specific Purposes (ESP) has been a dominant subfield in language education and English language teaching. The mainstream ESP literature appears to be linguistic-oriented with less attention directed towards ESP teachers. Responding to the calls for more ESP teacher research, this systematic review aims to be a substantial starting point in scrutinising research on ESP teachers published from 2010 to 2022 in the Scopus-indexed journals to frame current research foci, explore existing pedagogical collaborations, and propose suggestions regarding the issue of sustainability. Thirty-seven empirical studies were initially short-listed, of which thirty-two were analysed. A synthesis of ESP teacher articles yields seven lines of research: teachers’ perceptions and beliefs, teachers’ identity development and agency, perceived challenges and needs, collaborative practices, teaching and innovation, teachers’ knowledge, and technology in ESP. Two distinctive types of collaboration to effective instruction across contexts are illustrated. Drawn from the twelve years of research, the sustainability in ESP is presented to depict pedagogical, administrative, and policy implications. Last, future research directions are also proposed.

Winter is coming? University teachers' and students' views on the value of learning English in China

AbstractChina released two new policies in 2021, the ‘double reduction’ and a Gaokao (National College Entrance Examination) regulation, which have significantly impacted English learning and Languages other than English (LOTEs) learning respectively. This has intensified the existing dispute over ‘English fever’ and made people question whether the ‘winter’ of English education in China has come. In this article, findings from a multiple‐case study exploring teachers' and students' opinions on the value of English learning in Chinese higher education are discussed under the circumstances of such new policies. This study employs the Bourdieusian approach and involves English major, non‐English major learners as well as their teachers in Yunnan and Shanghai, two socio‐economically different areas, to see diversity. The participants reported a cooling down of the ‘English fever’ in the universities and the wider society, yet an increasing demand for a higher level of English proficiency in particular industries or disciplines. The findings also demonstrate the tension between the standardised national curriculum and regionally different language needs along with the influence of an incoherent national curricula for different educational stages regarding foreign language education. This paper concludes with suggestions to modify the curriculum and teaching practices for multilingual and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) education in China as well as other English as a Foreign Language contexts. Context and implications Rationale for this study The ‘double reduction’ and the new Gaokao regulation have a top‐down effect on English learning and the learning of LOTEs in China, while individual stakeholders' opinions have drawn little attention. Why the new findings matter This study provides a timely insight into English teachers' and learners' changes in thinking against the backdrop of recent policy changes. Implications for English teachers and policy makers This research revealed a trend away from the English‐only approach towards multilingual learning along with an increasing demand for ESP teaching and learning. English teachers can draw on the findings to design ESP pedagogical activities to accommodate their students' demands. This study also presents a refreshing new perspective on the curriculum by identifying the inconsistency in the national curriculum about foreign language subjects and the tension between the standardised national curriculum and regionally different language needs. Policy makers are suggested to use the findings to improve the curriculum for the greater continuity of language learning and the greater satisfaction of learners' demands.

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>