THE EVALUATION OF ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES (ESP) PROGRAM AT AN ENGINEERING FACULTY AT A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN TURKEY

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) program at the engineering faculty at Toros University in Turkey. The research was based on Hutchinson and Waters’ (1987) framework for ESP, and multiple sources of data collection were used. The participants of this study were 66 engineering faculty students. The study, the abridged version of the MA thesis conducted in 2018-2019 Academic Year, demonstrated that the main objective of the ESP program is to develop personal strategies for reviewing new related vocabulary, to use vocabulary in a variety of academic speaking, listening, writing and reading activities. The students' needs were grouped into three categories which are occupational, social and educational. The primary need of the engineering students is the expansion of vocabulary because they are unfamiliar with the terminology of their future professions. The majority of the students believed they were competent in grammar but needed to develop their vocabulary. Most of the students wanted to use a textbook explicitly prepared for their major study area.

Keywords

• english for specific purposes (esp)
• elt
• needs analysis