Students’ attitudes towards active learner engagement in ESP classes

Abstract

The present study is part of broader research into the quality of teaching English for specific purposes (ESP) with the particular focus on methodology and students’ attitudes to active learner engagement into the learning process. At the foundation of the study lies the belief that language learning, especially, learning a language for specific or occupational purposes, is a lifelong learning endeavour. Therefore, ESP courses should foster the development of learner autonomy and aim at developing personalities who are able to take control over their learning and learn to learn throughout their lives. In light of these observations, the study aims at analysing how learners are involved into an active language learning process and encouraged to become more autonomous by playing their role in course planning, learning process organisation and realisation as well as (self)assessment activities. Participants of this study are 78 first-cycle and second-cycle students of Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) who took four ESP courses, namely Business English, English for Diplomats, English for Politics and Legal English, in 2015 and 2016 spring and autumn semesters. The study is a questionnaire survey. Among other results, the study has revealed that most problematic is the development of those competences that relate to students’ active participation in the learning process and their development of transversal skills. We hope that the findings of the study will contribute to the field of ESP methodology by providing insights into efficient ESP teaching and learning activities and methods.