Evaluation of Computer Engineering ESP Course from Students’ Viewpoints
Mohammad Amin Manoochehri
Department of Foreign Languages and Linguistics, Fars Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdash, Iran and Department of Foreign Languages and Linguistics, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran.
Azadeh Nemati *
Department of English Language Teaching, Jahrom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
As a course is being taught for several years, it should be evaluated to develop an awareness of whether the goals have been achieved. English for Specific Purposes (ESP) has been designed as a mandatory course for students of all disciplines (except English) in Iranian universities. The purpose of this study was to investigate an ESP course in the field of computer engineering in the current situation of Iranian universities by examining the students’ attitudes. The participants were selected through simple randomization. There were 132 undergraduates consisting of 64 males and 68 females from five Iranian universities. The data were gathered by employing a researcher-made questionnaire as well as four open-ended questions. Independent sample t-test and one-sample t-test were employed to analyze the data. The results indicated that the ESP students’ attitudes toward their ESP course were below expectations. The findings revealed that the current situation of the ESP courses in Iran was actually problematic and needed to be rectified.
Keywords: ESP, computer engineering, ESP students, attitude.