| Abstract
Background: The content of courses in English for specific purposes (ESP) has been largely
determined on the basis of the intuitive judgments and personal preferences of syllabus
designers and teachers rather than a standard needs analysis. The present study was an attempt
at assessing the current English language abilities of undergraduate students majoring in the
medical sciences and identifying their target needs for academic success through quantitative
and qualitative methods.
Methods: The participants included 197 undergraduate students, 12 Teaching English as
a Foreign Language (TEFL) teachers, and 15 content teachers from the Tabriz University of
Medical Sciences, Iran. Data were collected through a target needs analysis, self-assessment
questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews.
Results: Pronunciation, technical and general vocabulary knowledge, and use of bilingual
dictionaries were regarded as ‘important’ and ‘very important’ target needs by the participants,
though some significant differences in perceptions were found between content teachers and
students. Writing skill, listening comprehension, and speaking were perceived as the weakest
points in the students’ current level of ability. There was also a significant difference between
the perception of TEFL teachers and students in assessing the students’ linguistic abilities.
Furthermore, both students and TEFL teachers voiced their dissatisfaction with certain areas of
ESP courses, such as an inadequate number of credits and heterogeneity of classes.
Conclusion: To improve the outcome of ESP courses, they should be designed on the basis of
a realistic appreciation of all stakeholders’ perceptions in the field, and they should be taught
through the cooperation of both TEFL teachers and content teachers working together. |