Needs and Attitudes of the Faculty of Mining, Geology, and Petroleum Engineering Students towards ESP - a qualitative study

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Potrebe i stavovi studenata Rudarsko-geološko-naftnog fakulteta prema ESP-u - kvalitativno istraživanje
• Author: Natalija Vitez
• Mentor: Dubravka Pleše (mentor)
• Mentor: Renata Geld (komentor)
• Committee member: Stela Letica Krevelj (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Jasenka Čengić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Renata Geld (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2022-07-11, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics

Abstract

A major subset of teaching English as a second or foreign language, English for Specific Purposes (ESP) refers to the teaching of English with specific academic or professional needs in mind. For a number of professions, general English classes cannot properly equip students with the technical language and communication skills required to function in the work environment. Many non-philological faculties in Croatia have therefore incorporated specialised English language courses into their curricula. As students are one of the main stakeholders in an ESP programme, more research is needed to understand their perspectives. The purpose of this paper was to investigate needs and attitudes toward ESP among first-year students enrolled at the Faculty of Mining, Geology, and Petroleum Engineering, University of Zagreb. The study also aimed to determine whether there is a connection between student attitudes and achievement, motivated by the fact that students display low interest and effort in their language classes. Instruments used were a short questionnaire containing basic demographic questions and items for language self-evaluation, followed by a semi-structured interview. The findings showed that students are aware of the importance of English in their field and generally have positive attitudes toward the English language and the ESP course, but some changes would be beneficial in order to fully meet their needs.

Abstract (croatian)

Značajna grana poučavanja engleskog kao drugog ili stranog jezika, engleski za posebne namjene (ESP) odnosi se na učenje engleskog jezika za određene akademske ili profesionalne potrebe. Za niz zanimanja, nastava općeg engleskog ne može u potpunosti opremiti studente tehničkim jezikom i komunikacijskim vještinama potrebnim za funkcioniranje u radnom okruženju. Mnogi nefilološki fakulteti u Hrvatskoj stoga su u svoje nastavne planove i programe uključili specijalizirane tečajeve engleskog jezika. Budući da su studenti jedni od glavnih dionika u ESP programu, potrebno je više istraživanja kako bi se razumjela njihova perspektiva. Svrha ovog rada bila je istražiti potrebe i stavove prema ESP-u među studentima prve godine Rudarsko-geološko-naftnog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. Istraživanje je također imalo za cilj utvrditi postoji li veza između stavova polaznika i njihovih postignuća, potaknuto činjenicom da studenti pokazuju nizak interes i trud na nastavi jezika. Korišteni instrumenti bili su kratki upitnik koji je sadržavao osnovna demografska pitanja i stavke za jezičnu samoevaluaciju, nakon čega je slijedio polustrukturirani intervju. Rezultati su pokazali da su studenti svjesni važnosti engleskog jezika u svojoj struci te imaju pretežno pozitivne stavove prema engleskom jeziku i kolegiju ESP-a, no određene promjene bile bi korisne kako bi se u potpunosti zadovoljile njihove potrebe.

• Keywords: English for Specific Purposes; ESP; science and technology fields; engineering students; attitudes and motivation; needs analysis
• Keywords (english): engleski za posebne namjene; ESP; područje znanosti i tehnologije; studenti inženjerstva; stavovi i motivacija; analiza potreba
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:372043
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (double major); specializations in: Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation, TEFL; Course: TEFL; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra edukacije engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra edukacije engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Access restricted to students and staff of home institution
• Created on: 2022-07-14 10:13:02