Investigating the English needs of law department students in English for specific purposes

Ummu Artha Tsary Rumalessin; Rafika Rabba   Farah

doi:10.21070/jees.v6i1.1085

(1) Ummu Artha Tsary Rumalessin Higher Education Management, University of Gadjah Mada
Indonesia
(2) * Rafika Rabba Farah English Language Education Department, University of Muhammadiyah Malang
Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21070/jees.v6i1.1085

Abstract

This present study aims at investigating the students’ target needs in learning ESP Speaking of Law department students. The adapted version of Aliakbari & Boghayeri’s (2014) and Alsamadani’s (2017) questionnaire was used as the main instrument of this study to understand the 45 students’ perception about their needs in learning ESP speaking course. A mixed-method research design was implemented in this present research. Students’ responses were analyzed statistically using SPSS 16.0 by calculating the mean, frequency and percentage. To elicit more understanding on the topic, interview was implemented to senior students in order to get deeper investigation about students’ target needs. The interview data were then analyzed using NVivo 12 Plus. This study reveals that most of the students’ needs are concerned with their professional job in the future so they are able to use English in their fields. Thus, this study provides some highlighting points on what to include in course development. In such a notion, this study suggests lecturers provide specific materials related to law in order to face their professional life either in short- or long-term future needs.

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HIGHLIGHTS:

This study pinpoints the result of Law students measurement on their self-rating towards their English competences.
This study highlights on materials related to Law department that are perceived to be strongly needed and less needed.
This study also reveals that according to students’ interview transcript, their needs in learning ESP are found to attain long-term goal compared to the short-term one.

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Author Biographies

Ummu Artha Tsary Rumalessin, Higher Education Management, University of Gadjah Mada

Ummu Artha Tsary Rumalessin is currently studying Master of Higher Education (HE) Management at Gadjah Mada University. Her research interests are Curriculum Development in HE context, Quality Assurrance
(QA), policy and management change in HE.

Rafika Rabba Farah, English Language Education Department, University of Muhammadiyah Malang

Rafika Rabba Farah completed Master in TESOL at University of New South Wales Australia. She is currently a teaching staff at English Education Department Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang. Her research interests are
ELT in Muslim Context, Language and Politics, and ESP.

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