English for Specific Purposes (ESP): Perceptions of students and teachers of learning needs at a Vietnamese school

Abstract

English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is generating considerable interest and expectation for the quality teaching and learning through the medium of English instruction in Vietnam; however, instructional contents and set course books made by teachers are observed to have little connection with learners’ needs at vocational schools or colleges. This paper therefore provides insights into the perceptions of students and teachers at a vocational college in Vietnam about the needs of students in the ESP classes in civil engineering. In particular, this paper is aimed at finding out academic and occupational English language needs of civil engineering students from the perspectives of the students themselves and their ESP teachers in attempt to meet the increased learning needs of students. Using a quantitative descriptive study, two questionnaires were undertaken with one hundred fifty second-year students majoring in civil engineering and eight teachers who were currently working with ESP programs at this construction college. The findings indicate that both teachers and students shared similar views on the need for tailoring the course contents and language skills to make the ESP courses appropriate and communicative to students with regard to quality.