An Attempt for Recognizing the ESP Course Challenges to Explore the Ways of Improving the Quality of ESP Program in Iran Universities

This study examined the challenges, perception and expectation of students and instructors involving ESP coursewhich is seen to be significant in determining the effectiveness of the ESP programs in Iran setting. It was conductedwith 180 students as participants who were requested to answer two kinds of questionnaires. Along with thesequestionnaires, six ESP instructors attended in semi structures interviews on the challenges of the course and on theirattitudes and expectations of the course. Additionally, the ESP courses at this university were observed to see how theprocess of ESP classes is. After obtaining the data from the observation, questionnaires and interviews, they wereanalyzed to get results. The findings indicate some challenges and expectations which should be regarded designing theESP course to improve its quality in Iranian Universities. They include the low language proficiency of students,inexperienced instructors, lack of communicative activities, lack of use of productive and receptive language skills,overcrowded classes and outdated materials in ESP program. As current instruction is limited to training specialvocabulary and reading via translating texts to Persian language, the ESP course doesn’t reflect any activeparticipation and motivation of the ESP students and so it turns to be an ineffective course.

Keywords:

challenges of ESP course , teaching methods in ESP , ESP students