The Current Practices of Teaching and Learning ESP at a Sport University in Vietnam

Abstract

In recent years, the field of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) has become one of the primary topics in English language teaching and research. In the educational setting, ESP forms an essential component in the university course as it is designed to provide students with the language and communication skills required for particular fields and occupational or academic purposes. The purpose of this paper was to identify the current practices of teaching and learning ESP for sport students. Lecturers of English and the first-year students undertaking undergraduate courses in Physical Education, Sport Coaching and Sport Management were involved in this research. The data were collected in semester 2 of the academic year 2023-2024 while ESP classes were being conducted. The qualitative method was utilized in this study through the analysis of documentation, classroom observations, one-on-one interviews with lecturers of English and students. The findings revealed a number of problems lecturers and students encountered, including the use of text-book, teaching methods, lack of vocabulary, and dependence on Google Translate. Based on the evidence drawn from this research, recommendations were proposed with an emphasis on the use of technology and ChatGPT to enhance the quality of teaching and learning ESP.