Journal of English for Specific Purposes Praxis

Journal of English for Specific Purposes Praxis

A Mismatch Between Course Content and Student Needs: Evaluating ESP Representativeness in a Moroccan Faculty of Sciences

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Department of Communication and Humanities, Ben M'Sik Faculty of Sciences, Hassan II University of Casablanca
2 Department of English, Higher School of Education and Training, Mohamed I University, Oujda Morocco
3 Department of Communication and Humanities, Ben Faculty of Sciences, Hassan II University of Casablanca
Abstract
The importance that English is gaining as an international language has directed attention to its various aspects, among which teaching is one of the most essential. Recently, English for specific purposes (ESP) has gained attention due to the productivity it may offer for the efficient use of English in specialized fields. The present research paper examined the course content of a master's program at the Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed the First in Oujda, Morocco. The study aimed to investigate the extent to which the course content responded to students' needs for English in relation to their field of study. A content analysis method was adopted to study the selected course content. The findings of the research showed that there was a disparity in meeting the needs of the different disciplines taught at the faculty. The study concluded that the course booklet addressed scientific English in general but failed to respond to the specific linguistic needs of each discipline, with general English items occupying the largest proportion (63.53%) while specialized fields such as mathematics received minimal attention (0.5%). This implies that current ESP instruction may not adequately prepare students for effective communication within their specific academic or professional communities. Therefore, it is recommended that each discipline be provided with a tailored syllabus, that productive skills (speaking and writing) be given greater emphasis, and that interactive and real-world simulation activities be integrated into course design.
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