Case Study: An Evaluation of an ESP Textbook Used at the College of Business Studies in Kuwait from the Learners' Perspective Regarding Its Alignment with Future Career Requirements
Keywords:
English for Specific Purposes, English as a Foreign Language, English Language Teaching, checklist, Assessment
Abstract
A key aspect of learning English is evaluating the materials. It is regarded as a cornerstone in the field of English for Specific Purposes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate an ESP textbook that is taught at Kuwait's College of Business Studies. It looks at how learners perceive the textbook. The study also aims to determine whether the textbook helps in preparing learners for their future business careers. A series of research instruments, including a questionnaire, a checklist, and interviews, were developed for this purpose. The results proved that the learners' opinions of the textbook varied. While a minority of students felt that the textbook was unsuitable for their level of English proficiency, the majority of students liked it and thought it was useful and met their requirements. The results also proved that the textbook prepared the learners for their future careers to a certain degree.
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References
1. Anthony, L. (2018). Introducing English for specific purposes. New York, NY: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351031189
2. Byrd, P. (2001). Textbooks: Evaluation for selection and analysis for implementation. In M. Celce-Murcia (Ed.), Teaching English as a second or foreign language (3rd ed.) (pp. 415-427). Boston, MA: Heinle & Heinle Publishers.
3. Cunningsworth, A. (1995). Choosing your coursebook. Oxford, UK: Heinemann.
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8. Ellis, R., Skehan, P., Li, S., Shintani, N., & Lambert, C. (2020). Task-based language teaching: Theory and practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108643689
9. Fajardo-Dack, T. (2016). Teacher disempowerment in the education system of Ecuador. World Journal of Education, 6(3), 82-89. https://doi.org/10.5430/wje.v6n3p82
10. Hutchinson, T., & Torres, E. (1994). The textbook as agent of change. ELT Journal, 48(4), 315-328. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/48.4.315
11. Knight, K. (2022). English for specific purposes project leader profiles: The leadership communication of 55 ESP project leaders. Hong Kong: Candlin & Mynard ePublishing
12. Knoch, U., & Macqueen, S. (2022). Assessing English for professional purposes. London: Routledge.
13. Laborda, G. (2005). A Textbook Analysis of Travel & Tourism Textbooks from thr Perspective of University Students’ Attitudes Towards English as a Foreign Language Learning Newsletter of the IATEFL ESP SIG. (27), 19-24 Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED504831.pdf
14. Liu, Y., & Hu, G. (2021). Mapping the field of English for specific purposes (1980-2018): A co-citation analysis. English for Specific Purposes, 61, 97-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2020.10.003
15. Macalister, J., & Nation, I. (2020). Language curriculum design (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429203763
16. McGrath, I. (2016). Materials evaluation and design for language teaching (2nd ed.). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
17. Mishan, F. (2005). Designing authenticity into language learning materials. Bristol, UK: Intellect.
18. Mukundan, J. (2007). Evaluation of English language textbooks: Some important issues for consideration. Journal of NELTA, 12(1-2), 80-84. https://doi.org/10.3126/nelta.v12i1.3432
19. Mukundan, J., & Kalajahi, S. (2013). Evaluation of Malaysian English language teaching textbooks. International Journal of Education & Literacy Studies, 1(1), 38-46. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.1n.1p.38
20. Richards, J. (2017). Curriculum development in language teaching (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009024556
21. Sheldon, L. (1988). Evaluating ELT textbooks and materials. ELT Journal, 42(4), 237-246. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/42.4.237
22. Siegel, J. (2021). Evaluating EAP notetaking textbooks: Eight key questions. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2020.100952
23. Straszniczky, N. (2010). Evaluating English business coursebooks with a specific focus on Austrian adult learners. Unpublished E- Thesis, Vienna University.
24. Tomlinson, B. (2012). Materials development. In A. Burns & J. Richards (Eds.), The Cambridge guide to pedagogy and practice in second language teaching (pp. 269-278). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009024778
25. Viana, V., Bocorny, A., & Sarmento, S. (2019). Teaching English for specific purposes. Alexandria, Virginia: TESOL Press.
2. Byrd, P. (2001). Textbooks: Evaluation for selection and analysis for implementation. In M. Celce-Murcia (Ed.), Teaching English as a second or foreign language (3rd ed.) (pp. 415-427). Boston, MA: Heinle & Heinle Publishers.
3. Cunningsworth, A. (1995). Choosing your coursebook. Oxford, UK: Heinemann.
4. Dehrab, B. (2002). A Study of Code- Switching in Four English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Classrooms at thr College of Business Studies in Kuwait. Ohio State University, USA.
5. Dornyei, Z. (2007). Research methods in applied linguistics. Oxford University Press.
6. Dudley-Evans, T., & St. John, M. (1998). Developments in English for specific purposes: A multi-disciplinary approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
7. Ellis, R. (1997). The empirical evaluation of language teaching materials. ELT Journal, 51(1), 36-42. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/51.1.36
8. Ellis, R., Skehan, P., Li, S., Shintani, N., & Lambert, C. (2020). Task-based language teaching: Theory and practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108643689
9. Fajardo-Dack, T. (2016). Teacher disempowerment in the education system of Ecuador. World Journal of Education, 6(3), 82-89. https://doi.org/10.5430/wje.v6n3p82
10. Hutchinson, T., & Torres, E. (1994). The textbook as agent of change. ELT Journal, 48(4), 315-328. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/48.4.315
11. Knight, K. (2022). English for specific purposes project leader profiles: The leadership communication of 55 ESP project leaders. Hong Kong: Candlin & Mynard ePublishing
12. Knoch, U., & Macqueen, S. (2022). Assessing English for professional purposes. London: Routledge.
13. Laborda, G. (2005). A Textbook Analysis of Travel & Tourism Textbooks from thr Perspective of University Students’ Attitudes Towards English as a Foreign Language Learning Newsletter of the IATEFL ESP SIG. (27), 19-24 Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED504831.pdf
14. Liu, Y., & Hu, G. (2021). Mapping the field of English for specific purposes (1980-2018): A co-citation analysis. English for Specific Purposes, 61, 97-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2020.10.003
15. Macalister, J., & Nation, I. (2020). Language curriculum design (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429203763
16. McGrath, I. (2016). Materials evaluation and design for language teaching (2nd ed.). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
17. Mishan, F. (2005). Designing authenticity into language learning materials. Bristol, UK: Intellect.
18. Mukundan, J. (2007). Evaluation of English language textbooks: Some important issues for consideration. Journal of NELTA, 12(1-2), 80-84. https://doi.org/10.3126/nelta.v12i1.3432
19. Mukundan, J., & Kalajahi, S. (2013). Evaluation of Malaysian English language teaching textbooks. International Journal of Education & Literacy Studies, 1(1), 38-46. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.1n.1p.38
20. Richards, J. (2017). Curriculum development in language teaching (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009024556
21. Sheldon, L. (1988). Evaluating ELT textbooks and materials. ELT Journal, 42(4), 237-246. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/42.4.237
22. Siegel, J. (2021). Evaluating EAP notetaking textbooks: Eight key questions. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2020.100952
23. Straszniczky, N. (2010). Evaluating English business coursebooks with a specific focus on Austrian adult learners. Unpublished E- Thesis, Vienna University.
24. Tomlinson, B. (2012). Materials development. In A. Burns & J. Richards (Eds.), The Cambridge guide to pedagogy and practice in second language teaching (pp. 269-278). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009024778
25. Viana, V., Bocorny, A., & Sarmento, S. (2019). Teaching English for specific purposes. Alexandria, Virginia: TESOL Press.
Published
2024-11-25
How to Cite
Haidar, N. H. (2024). Case Study: An Evaluation of an ESP Textbook Used at the College of Business Studies in Kuwait from the Learners’ Perspective Regarding Its Alignment with Future Career Requirements. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 35, 496. Retrieved from https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/18791
Section
ESI Preprints
Copyright (c) 2024 Nour Haidar Haidar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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