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

Main Article Content



(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

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.


.


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.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

How to Cite
Rumalessin, U. A. T., & Farah, R. R. (2021). Investigating the English needs of law department students in English for specific purposes. JEES (Journal of English Educators Society), 6(1), 126-132. https://doi.org/10.21070/jees.v6i1.1085
Section
Brief Reports
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.

References

Ahmed Alsamadani, H. (2017). Needs Analysis in ESP Context: Saudi Engineering Students as a Case Study. Advances in Language and Literary Studies, 8(6), 58. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.8n.6p.58

Albakrawi, H. T. M. (2013). Needs Analysis of the English Language Secondary Hotel Students in Jordan. International Journal of English Language Teaching, 1(1), 13–23.

Aliakbari, M., & Boghayeri, M. (2014). A Needs Analysis Approach to ESP Design in Iranian Context. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 98, 175–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.404

Bosher, S., & Smalkoski, K. (2002). Needs+Analysis+8+(1).Pdf. English for Specific Purposes, 21, 59–79.

Chostelidou, D. (2011). Needs-based course design: The impact of general English knowledge on the effectiveness of an ESP teaching intervention. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15, 403–409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.03.112

Farah, R. R. (2018). Who am I? Interrogating My Identity as ESP Teacher: Personal Narration. CELTIC A Journal of Culture, English Language Teaching, Literature and Linguistics, 3(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.22219/CELTICUMM.Vol3.No1

Farah, R. R., & Sumarsono, P. (2019). The English Needs of Islamic Studies Learners: ESP Speaking Course Model. Advances in Social Sciences, Education and Humanities Research, 349, 563–566. https://doi.org/.1037//0033-2909.I26.1.78

Indrasari, N. (2016). English for Specific Purposes: A Need Analysis at The Second Semester of Physics Education Students of IAIN Raden Intan Lampung in The Academic Year of 2015/2016. English Education: Jurnal Tadris Bahasa Inggris IAIN Raden Intan, 9(1), 161–172. https://doi.org/10.24042/ee-jtbi.v9i1.425

Ishak, C. N. (2019). Metaphorical Analysis of Teachers’ and Students’ Perception of ESP. 5(1), 56–76.

Lee, C.-L. (2016). Principles and Practices of ESP Course Design-A Case Study of. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 15(2), 94–105.

Liu, J. Y., Chang, Y. J., Yang, F. Y., & Sun, Y. C. (2011). Is what I need what I want? Reconceptualising college students’ needs in English courses for general and specific/academic purposes. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 10(4), 271–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2011.09.002

Poedjiastutie, D., & Oliver, R. (2017). Exploring Students’ Learning Needs: Expectation and Challenges. English Language Teaching, 10(10), 124. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v10n10p124

Pourshahian, B., Gholami, R., Vaseghi, R., & Kalajahi, S. A. R. (2012). Needs of an ESL context: A case study of iranian graduate students. World Applied Sciences Journal, 17(7), 870–873.

Salazar, A. S. (2011). Designing an EGBP Course : Needs Analysis As a Key Determinant. Memorias de Las. Jornadas de Lenguas En Contacto, 133–142.

Xhaferi, B., & Xhaferi, G. (2011). The English language skills in ESP for law course. LFE: Revista de Lenguas Para Fines Específicos, 1127(17), 431–448.