Investigating of ESP Vocabulary Difficulties Encountered by EFL Learners

Abstract

This research attempts to investigate the ESP vocabulary problems which face the EFL learners in their study and to facilitate the learning of ESP courses. The study also investigates the actual difficulty which faces the ESP teachers in the teaching process. To investigate these difficulties, the researcher assumes that firstly, the ESP specialized vocabulary may create some problems to EFL learners. Secondly, the ESP courses may solve these difficulties, and thirdly, these difficulties of the specialized vocabulary affect student`s progress. The researcher uses the descriptive analytical method, statistical package for social science (SPSS), and the data of this study will be collected through teachers’ questionnaire. To confirm or to reject these hypotheses, the researcher uses a teachers` questionnaire in three universities: Sudan University of Science and Technology, Omdurman Islamic University and Elahfad University in Khartoum State which represent all universities in Sudan. The study arrived at: the fact that ESP specialized vocabulary creates some problems to EFL learners, the ESP courses do not meet students` needs, and these difficulties affect the students` progress. The study also arrived at that the ESP teachers need more training. According to what was mentioned above, The ESP teachers should teach the ESP vocabulary in context rather than teaching it in separate lists. To cope with ESP vocabulary, there are many recommendations: 1. ESP teachers should corporate with the subject teachers in designing courses and selecting materials. 2. ESP courses should concentrate on ESP vocabulary in order to enhance the subject. 3. It would be better to increase the teaching hours of ESP courses. 4. The objectives of ESP courses should be clear for both students and teachers. 5. To help the students to comprehend the ESP courses, it is important to give them pre-courses in English language learning. 6. It is very important to give some activities and ESP tasks inside the class. 7. The universities should provide the ESP teachers with regular training. 8. ESP courses should be revised from time to time. 9. It is better to construct a system to evaluate the performance of ESP teachers.