TESTING IN ESP: AN ANALYTIC STUDY

Abstract

This study is an attempt to investigate testing in ESP to non-specialist university students in North Kordofan and South Kordofan Universities. The study comprises five chapters: Chapter one: introduces the study. It states the objectives and the significance of the study, statement of the problem in addition to the questions the study endeavours to answer. Also some abbreviations and definitions of some terms. Chapter two: provides an episodic background to the topic researched by reviewing the relevant literature and studies concerning the topic. Chapter three: is about the method of approach the study used for analyzing the data collected. Data for the study were gathered by means of two instruments. ESP students’ questionnaire and ESP teacher’s structured interview. The sample was (80) ESP university students selected randomly from University of Kordofan, University of Dalang, University of Holy Quran (El-Obeid branch) and Sudan University of Science and Technology (El-Obeid branch). Also, university teachers participated and responding to the structured interview. Data were the statistically treated by working-out the tallies and percentages of respondents’ responses to the two instruments designed and used. Responses were compared and contrasted on the basis of their statistical convergence and divergence. ivChapter four: is devoted to the discussion of the facts arrived at through the statistical analysis of the two instruments which the study have adopted. Chapter five: is about the conclusion of the study together with the recommendations and suggestion. In the light of the study’s results and findings it appears that ESP testing is different from GPE testing and it is also found that ESP is different from GPE. It is also found that the current practices at Sudanese universities do not cope up with the current practices of ESP testing. To solve the problem of ESP testing a number of recommendations are proposed. Needs analysis should be considered and ESP teachers should be made aware of the importance of needs analysis. ESP testing methodology should also be considered by ESP practitioners. A number of suggestions for further studies are also proposed.