Students’ attitudes and needs towards online ESP course

Abstract

This research investigates university students’ attitudes and needs concerning the efficiency of using online English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course which helps mixed ability students improve and/or refresh their specialty English. The study explores for what purposes the students use English in the field of police activities and border guard. Furthermore, it investigates what skills in ESP usage they need to possess or strengthen and what their attitudes are towards the use of online ESP course. In order to acquire an overall picture of students’ attitudes and needs, two groups of students were asked to respond a questionnaire. Findings of the survey reveal that there is still much to be improved in e-learning. The categories of task items and language components were identified, assessed and ranked. These research results can be used to improve the pedagogical framework of online ESP course.