Exploring ESP Students’ Needs and Difficulties A Case Study of Second Year Biology Students at Medea University

Abstract

The current study explores biology students’ specific needs and difficulties when studying English for Specific Purposes at Yahia Fares University of Medea. It targeted forty students and five ESP teachers. The data was gathered by the means of a classroom observation and two questionnaires directed to both ESP students and teachers in the biology department. The obtained results were analyzed and presented as percentages in the form of graphs and pie charts. The major findings revealed that biology students appreciate the importance of English due to globalization. Nevertheless, they struggle with various language skills such as reading and speaking. Moreover, they face difficulties with understanding complex concepts, vocabulary acquisition, finding reliable English materials, and comprehending the teacher’s instructions. The findings also demonstrated that linguistic competence significantly influences students’ comprehension and engagement. Moreover, the students were reported to lack familiarity with the presented topics, often relying on their mother tongue to express their answers and concerns. Consequently, the study recommended more language training, the use of interactive teaching methods and a more comprehensive needs analysis to increase learners’ ability to be successful academically.