STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I hereby acknowledge that this study is mine. The data and findings discussed in the thesis are true and have not been puslished elsewhere. Author Tran Thi Anh Thu i ABSTRACT The research paper is an investigation into ESP teachers‟ strategies in dealing with challenges related to content-subject knowledge at some colleges in Hue city. The thesis gives out the perceptions, advantages, challenges and solution towards ESP teachers in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge.
Finally, the researcher points out some suggestions from ESP teachers in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge. The participants in this research paper included ESP teachers who come from three colleges such as Hue Tourism Colleges, Hue Medical College and Hue Pedagogical College in Hue city. The data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively (questionnaire and interview). The findings showed that most of the ESP teachers appreciated the importance of strategies in dealing with challenges related to content-subject knowledge.
The results showed that most of these ESP teachers had a positive and active attitudes towards the strategies. However, these ESP teachers met challenges in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge. At last, the solution to ESP teachers in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge was given. With much effort, the researcher understood this research project with the hope of improving ESP teachers‟ strategies in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge.
ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all, I would like to show my first debt to my supervisor, Dr. Truong Bach Le, for his sympathetic encouragement and enthusiastic guidance during my process of carrying out this thesis. I am indebted to my teachers at the M.A in the Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching Course 2012-2014 for their devotion in teaching and their great help in the fullfilment of my thesis. I am deeply grateful to Dr.
Tran Van Phuoc, who gave me an opportunity to do this thesis. Finally, I would to thank my family and classmates, who supported and gave me invaluable advice during the thesis. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents Page ABSTRACT .vii LIST OF FIGURES .viii LIST OF TABLES. ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.1 Overview of the study .2 Aims of the study .4 Importance of the study .5 Scope of the study .7 Structure of the thesis.
3 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW .1 An overview of ESP .1 The concept of ESP.2 Classification of ESP .2 ESP teachers and ESP teachers‟ knowledge .1 Teacher decision making .2 The role of ESP teachers .3 ESP teachers and ESP teachers‟ knowledge .2 ESP teachers‟ knowledge.3 Issues in dealing with content-subject knowledge in teaching ESP .4 Strategies in dealing with challenges in content-subject knowledge .1 Moving to next topic .2 Changing example sentence.3 Focusing on morphology .4 Meta-cognitive strategies: Dynamic Self-and Class-assessment .5 Teaching-related strategy. 19 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION .1 Teachers‟ attitudes towards strategies in dealing with challenges related to ESP content-subject knowledge .1 Importance of strategies in dealing with challenges related to ESP content-subject knowledge .2 Frequency of using strategies in dealing with challenges in ESP content-subject knowledge .2 The reality of using ESP teachers‟ strategies in dealing with challenges related to content-subject knowledge at three colleges in Hue city .3 The advantage of using ESP teachers‟ strategies in dealing with challenges related to content-subject knowledge at three colleges in Hue city .1 The role of ESP teachers in teaching ESP related to content-subject knowledge .2 The advantages of strategies in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge at three colleges in Hue city.4 The challenges and solutions of ESP teachers in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge at three colleges in Hue city .1 The challenges of ESP teachers in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge at three colleges in Hue city.2 The solutions to ESP teachers in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge at three colleges in Hue city. 33 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS.5 Suggestions for further studies. 44 APPENDIX 1A: QUESTIONNAIRE QUESTIONS FOR TEACHERS.
46 APPENDIX 1B: INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR TEACHERS. ESP : English for Specific Purposes 2. % : Percentages vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Importance of strategies in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge Figure 2: The ESP teachers‟ attitudes towards strategies in teaching ESP content- subject knowledge Figure 3: Fluency of using strategies in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge Figure 4: Fluency of using strategies in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge Figure 5: The role of ESP teachers in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge Figure 6: The role of ESP teachers in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge Figure 7: The challenges of ESP teachers in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge Figure 8: The challenges of ESP teachers in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge Figure 9: The solution to ESP teachers in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge viii LIST OF TABLES Table 4.1: The number of using ESP teachers‟ strategies in dealing with content- subject knowledge at three colleges in Hue city Table 4.2: The advantages of strategies in teaching ESP content-subject knowledge at three colleges in Hue city Table 4.3: The solution to the lack of knowledge of familiarity with the content subject Table 4.4: The solution to a concept/ a term in the content subject Table 4.5: The solution to the topics in teaching material in the content subject ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Overview of the study Nowadays, English is an international language, so many aspects in a modern life are used in English. English is long-winded and more popular than before.
Therefore, English has been taught in all of the grades including from the first grade to college and university. It has been known that English is a useful means which is able to connect all of the people from many different countries throughout the world. In addition to general English, English for Specific English (ESP) plays an important role in many various fields such as English for Business, English for Medical Professionals, English for Tourism, English for Waiters and English for Technology and so forth. Thus, teaching and learning ESP plays an important role in universities and colleges.
ESP makes a great contribution to developing four skills namely listening, speaking, reading and writing as well as widening specialized knowledge. Nevertheless, teaching ESP is a challenge at most colleges. In reality, ESP teachers should have essential strategies in teaching and learning ESP better and effectively. At present, ESP is one of the difficult subjects for most of the students at some colleges in Hue city.
In order to teach ESP successfully, ESP teachers are expected that: “ESP has typically focused on what should be taught and the implications of this for syllabus and material design, with occasional forays into the role of learners in the learning process” (Wu & Badger, 2009:19). The difficulties of teaching ESP will make teaching and learning less effective. According to Sargsyan (2009), some essential knowledge of the content and the learning process are helpful for teaching ESP more successfully. Some essential knowledge of the content may provide learners with ESP knowledge better and more clearly.
The learning process is an important factor in order that learners are easy to master major knowledge. Daubney (2008) stated that teachers teaching ESP faced problems much more than teaching general English. ESP teachers make a concentration on 1 indiscipline, inadequate materials and motivation. ESP teachers also pay attention to speaking English and motivating.
In order to attain much success in teaching ESP, the strategies of teachers may a great contribution on teaching and learning ESP at some colleges in Hue city. However, ESP teachers‟ strategies should be related to content – subject. Thus, this is the main motivation which helps me decide to carry out this research:“An investigation into ESP teachers‟ strategies in dealing with challenges related to content – subject knowledge at some colleges in Hue city” 1.2 Aims of the study Nowadays, ESP teachers may encounter difficulties in teaching ESP such as time, methods and strategies. In reality, finding out the suitable strategies of ESP teachers is not always easy.
It is important that ESP teachers should be more creative in teaching. Therefore, this study aims to: 1. Find out the reality of ESP teachers in teaching English at some colleges in Hue city. Discover ESP teachers‟ strategies in dealing with challenges related to content – subject knowledge.
Give teachers‟ suggestions for teaching and learning ESP better and more effectively.3 Research questions As an English teacher and an ESP teacher in the future, my study makes a concentration on investigating ESP teachers‟ strategies in dealing with challenges in content – subject knowledge at some colleges in Hue city. What are the challenges that ESP teachers in Hue city encounter when teaching content – subject knowledge? 2. What are the strategies that ESP teachers deal with the challenges in teaching content – subject knowledge? 1.4 Importance of the study Up to now, ESP has been one of the difficult subjects of students at some colleges in Vietnam in general and at some colleges in Hue city in particular. This 2 research paper hereby is chosen to study the useful strategies of ESP teachers at some colleges in Hue city in resolving the problems they face related to content – subject knowledge and provide some effective suggestions to teach ESP courses more successfully.5 Scope of the study Due to the limits of time, I make a main focus on investigating into ESP teachers‟ strategies in dealing with challenges related to content – subject knowledge at some colleges in Hue city such as Hue Tourism College, Hue Medical College and Hue Pedagogical College.6 Research significance The result of the study will promote teaching and learning ESP in some colleges in Hue city better.
I hope that the findings of the research paper will help ESP teachers have their comprehensive perceptions alongside finding out suitable strategies for their students. It is hoped that teaching and learning ESP is no longer a barrier for getting access to content – subject knowledge.7 Structure of the thesis The research paper consists of five chapters with the following structure: Chapter 1: Introduction states the rationale of choosing the topic, the aims, the research questions, the importance, the scope, the significance and the structure of the thesis. Chapter 2: Literature Review presents a theoretical background related to ESP teaching and content – subject knowledge and the studies already done in the same field as a foundation for studying ESP teachers‟ strategies in dealing with challenges related to content – subject knowledge. Chapter 3: Methodology describes the research methods and the data collection and data analysis processes.
Chapter 4: Findings and Discussions present the findings from the data collected and analysed. Chapter 5: Conclusion summarizes the results of the research, the implications and some recommendations for teachers and students in Hue city. 3 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW This research paper deals with ESP teachers‟ strategies, and specially ESP teachers‟ strategies related to content – subject knowledge at some colleges in Hue city. Therefore, chapter 2 plays an important part in focusing the relevant materials of the topic.
This chapter presents a theoretical background related to content–subject knowledge including the overview and teaching ESP in content–subject knowledge. In addition, challenges in teaching ESP related to content-subject knowledge are presented. Finally, strategies are considered when dealing with content-subject knowledge. There were also some studies which were related to ESP teaching for specialized students were carried out before such as “Designing samples units for ESP students of Mathematics at Hue City by Nguyen Le Bao Ngoc (2008), or Exporing stratagies used by ESP teachers in teaching large classes at Hue University College of Economics by Tran Thi Thanh Thuong (2008), or An investigation into ESP teachers‟ role in teaching English for Medical Purposes at College of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University by Nguyen Vo Hoang Anh (2010).
Most of the research papers aim to investigate ESP teaching and studying at some universities and colleges. Thus, it can be said that these research papers play an important role in teaching ESP better. These above studies mention about teaching ESP at some universities or colleges.