English oral communication skill in ESP classrooms at UEH - a case study of teachers’ perceptions

Abstract

At University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), the number of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) classes is on the rise besides the huge amount of regular Business English classes. In ESP classes, the roles of teachers are not only limiting in helping students with their knowledge in specific fields, but also with better preparation for their future career. According to the actual requirements from employers, employees are assumed to understand their field's knowledge and communicate well in the workplace. The heavy burden of knowledge in ESP classrooms has challenged teachers, as a result, they do not spend time for an English oral communication skill (EOCS) effectively. This case study was conducted in order to investigate in detail what the teachers' perceptions are when using an EOCS in their ESP classrooms with an in-depth interview. Four teachers were asked to give their views, expectations and practices when they use an EOCS in their ESP classes. The findings from the responses were used to make suggestions for better lesson planning and instructional designs with the use of an EOCS in ESP classroom settings.